1 Corinthians 15:7
in 1 Corinthians 15Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles;
KJV
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 15
Commentary
10 notes on this verseAfter that he was seen of James,.... Not James the son of Zebedee, and brother of John, though he was seen by him with other disciples, Joh 20:19 who was now dead when the apostle wrote this, having been killed by Herod many years ago, Act 12:2 and so not quite so proper a witness to be mentioned; but James the son of Alphaeus, and brother of our Lord, a man of great fame and credit with the Jews, and still living, and therefore a proper and pertinent evidence.
This site's exposition
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve
on 1 Corinthians 15:5-7
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: the witness list begins with Peter by his Aramaic name, the same man whose denial the gospels record without flattery, now named first among the risen Christ's witnesses. Verse 6 adds the boldest evidentiary claim in the chapter, seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, an open invitation for any Corinthian doubting the resurrection to go and ask a living eyewitness himself. Verse 7 closes the list with James, the Lord's own brother who did not believe in him before the crucifixion according to the gospels, and then all the apostles, the resurrection turning a skeptical brother into a pillar of the Jerusalem church.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
By this he makes it clear that there are other apostles besides those eleven.
After these points, Celsus proceeds to bring against the Gospel narrative a charge which is not to be lightly passed over, saying that "if Jesus desired to show that his power was really divine, he ought to have appeared to those who had ill-treated him, and to him who had condemned him, and to all men universally." For it appears to us also to be true, according to the Gospel account, that He was not seen after His resurrection in the same manner as He used formerly to show Himself — publicly, and to all men. But it is recorded in the Acts, that "being seen during forty days," He expounded to His disciples "the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." [Acts 1:3] And in the Gospels it is not stated that He was always with them; but that on one occasion He appeared in their midst, after eight days, when the doors were shut [John 20:26], and on another in some similar fashion. And Paul also, in the concluding portions of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, in reference to His not having publicly appeared as He did in the period before He suffered, writes as follows: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto the present time, but some are fallen asleep. After that He was seen of James, then of all the apostles. […]
"After that, He was seen of James." I suppose, His brother. For the Lord is said to have Himself ordained him and made him Bishop in Jerusalem first. "Then to all the apostles." For there were also other apostles, as the seventy.
We believe and confess that, rising on the third day from the dead, according to the Scriptures, he was seen by his holy disciples and others, as it is written. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the Father when he will come at the end of time to raise up all men and to render to each according to his works.
The Medieval Church1 voice
902. – Then, i.e., after this, he was seen by James, i.e., of Alphaeus. The reason for this can be assigned because, as it is read, James vowed that he would not take food, until he saw the Lord. But according to this the order …
3 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
The Brother of the Lord, appointed by Him as the first bishop in Jerusalem. For there were other apostles as well, such as the seventy disciples. …
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
After that, he was seen of James - This appearance is not recorded by the evangelists. It is mentioned in the fragment of the apocryphal Gospel according to the Hebrews, which is, however, of no authority. It is probable that the Lord Jesus appeared often to the disciples, since he was 40 days on earth after his resurrection, and the evangelists have only mentioned the more prominent instances, and enough to substantiate the fact of his resurrection. This James, the fathers say, was James the Less, the brother or cousin-german of the Lord Jesus.
After that, he was seen of James - But where, and on what occasion, we are not told; nor indeed do we know which James is intended; James the son of Zebedee, or James the son of Alpheus. But one thing is sufficiently evident, from what is here said, that this James, of whom the apostle speaks, was still alive; for the apostle’s manner of speaking justifies this conclusion. Then of all the apostles - Including, not only the eleven, but, as some suppose, the seventy-two disciples.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἔπειτα | epeita | Then | G1899 → | 16 times |
| ὤφθη | ophthe | He appeared | G3700 → | 54 times |
| Ἰακώβῳ, | iakobo | to James, | G2385 → | |
| εἶτα | eita | then | G1534 → | 15 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποστόλοις | apostolois | apostles | G652 → | 79 times |
| πᾶσιν. | pasin | all. | G3956 → | 1235 times |
ἔπειταThen
epeitaG1899 →16 times
ὤφθηHe appeared
ophtheG3700 →54 times
Ἰακώβῳ,to James,
iakoboG2385 →
εἶταthen
eitaG1534 →15 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἀποστόλοιςapostles
apostoloisG652 →79 times
πᾶσιν.all.
pasinG3956 →1235 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 24:36While they were describing these events, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
- Isaiah 57:18
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
- John 20:19–23
It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be…
- Mark 16:14
Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
- Luke 10:5
Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Through
Acts 12:17Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for…
it leads to
- Acts 21:40
Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:
- Acts 13:16
Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!
- Acts 19:33
The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.
- Acts 21:40
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, HOMILIES ON NUMBERS 27.11; Basil of Caesarea, CONCERNING FAITH; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 38; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, Contra Celsum, Book II, Chapter 63; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.