1 Corinthians 15:6
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Original Language Analysis
ὤφθη
he was seen
G3700
ὤφθη
he was seen
Strong's:
G3700
Word #:
2 of 17
to gaze (i.e., with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from g0991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from g1
ἐπάνω
of above
G1883
ἐπάνω
of above
Strong's:
G1883
Word #:
3 of 17
up above, i.e., over or on (of place, amount, rank, etc.)
ἀδελφοῖς
brethren
G80
ἀδελφοῖς
brethren
Strong's:
G80
Word #:
5 of 17
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
ἐξ
of
G1537
ἐξ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
7 of 17
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
ὧν
whom
G3739
ὧν
whom
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
8 of 17
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πλείους
the greater part
G4119
πλείους
the greater part
Strong's:
G4119
Word #:
10 of 17
more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion
μένουσιν
remain
G3306
μένουσιν
remain
Strong's:
G3306
Word #:
11 of 17
to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
ἕως
unto
G2193
ἕως
unto
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
12 of 17
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
Cross References
Matthew 28:10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.Mark 16:7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.Acts 13:36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
Historical Context
When Paul wrote (AD 55), Christ's resurrection was 25 years past, yet 'most' of 500+ witnesses still lived. This is powerful apologetic evidence—Paul couldn't make this claim if easily falsifiable. The Jerusalem church knew these people; skeptics could interview them.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the invitation to verify with living eyewitnesses demonstrate Paul's confidence in resurrection's historicity?
- Why does the simultaneity of 500+ witnesses present an insurmountable problem for naturalistic explanations?
- What does the phrase 'fallen asleep' reveal about early Christian confidence in resurrection?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once (ἔπειτα ὤφθη ἐπάνω πεντακοσίοις ἀδελφοῖς ἐφάπαξ)—The adverb ephapax (ἐφάπαξ, "at one time, simultaneously") demolishes the hallucination hypothesis—mass hallucinations of this scale are psychologically impossible. Paul provides 500+ eyewitnesses, many still living when he wrote (AD 55), inviting verification.
Of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep (ἐξ ὧν οἱ πλείονες μένουσιν ἕως ἄρτι, τινὲς δὲ ἐκοιμήθησαν)—Paul's phrase fallen asleep (ekoimēthēsan, ἐκοιμήθησαν) is the Christian euphemism for death, implying resurrection awaits (1 Thessalonians 4:13). This appearance, unrecorded in the Gospels, may be Matthew 28:16 or another Galilean event. The appeal to living witnesses is unprecedented in ancient literature—Paul invites fact-checking.