My Notes
What Does 1 Corinthians 15:5 Mean?
"And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve." Paul lists the EYEWITNESSES to the resurrection in order: first CEPHAS (Peter), then the TWELVE. The witness-list is structured as EVIDENCE — the resurrection is established by TESTIMONY, not by argument. The witnesses are NAMED and NUMBERED. The evidence is PERSONAL (Cephas by name) and CORPORATE (the twelve as a group). The resurrection stands on witnesses who SAW.
The phrase "he was seen of Cephas" (ōphthē Kēpha — He appeared/was seen by Cephas/Peter) makes Peter the FIRST individual witness: the risen Christ appeared to Peter FIRST among the apostles. The 'was seen' (ōphthē — a divine passive meaning 'He caused Himself to be seen' or 'He appeared') means the SEEING was Christ-initiated. Jesus SHOWED Himself to Peter. The visibility was Jesus' decision, not Peter's discovery.
The "then of the twelve" (eita tois dōdeka — then to the twelve) makes the apostolic group the SECOND witness: after Peter individually, the twelve corporately. The sequential listing — first Peter, then the twelve — builds the evidence CUMULATIVELY. The individual witness is confirmed by the group witness. The personal testimony is supported by the corporate testimony. The evidence doubles.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What evidence for the resurrection have you personally encountered?
- 2.What does the evidence being NAMED (Cephas, not 'someone') teach about the specificity of testimony?
- 3.How does individual witness PLUS corporate witness build a cumulative case?
- 4.What does Christ being 'seen' (He showed Himself) teach about the initiative in resurrection-appearances?
Devotional
He was seen by Cephas. THEN by the twelve. The resurrection-evidence begins with NAMED witnesses: Peter first, individually. The twelve second, collectively. The evidence is structured: personal first, corporate second. The seeing is Christ-initiated. The witnesses are specific. The testimony is cumulative.
The 'was seen of Cephas' makes Peter the FIRST apostolic witness: the risen Christ appeared to Peter — by name, individually, specifically. The personal appearance to Peter is the FIRST piece of evidence in Paul's resurrection-case. The most important claim in Christianity is supported by the most specific testimony: a named person SAW the risen Christ. The evidence begins with a face and a name.
The 'then of the twelve' adds CORPORATE witness to individual witness: after Peter alone, the twelve together. The group seeing confirms the individual seeing. If one person claims to see the risen Christ, it might be hallucination. When TWELVE see Him, the explanation requires something BEYOND individual psychology. The corporate witness eliminates the lone-visionary explanation.
The witness-list will CONTINUE (verses 6-8): five hundred at once, then James, then all the apostles, then PAUL himself ('last of all, as one born out of due time'). The evidence ACCUMULATES — individual to corporate to massive to final. The resurrection-case isn't built on one witness. It's built on LAYERS of witnesses, each adding to the pile, each eliminating another alternative explanation.
What evidence for the resurrection have you personally encountered — and is it the named, specific, personal kind?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And that he was seen of Cephas,.... Or Simon Peter; for Cephas was a name given him by Christ, Joh 1:42. This was not…
And that he was seen of Cephas - Peter; See the note at Joh 1:42. The resurrection of Christ was A fact to be proved,…
That he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve - This refers to the journey to Emmaus, Luk 24:13, Luk 24:34; and to what…
It is the apostle's business in this chapter to assert and establish the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which…
of Cephas See Luk 24:34. St Paul and St John alone use the Aramaic form of the Apostle's surname, the former only in…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture