After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
- NASB After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
- NLT After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Christ appeared to over five hundred at once, most still living when Paul wrote. It matters because so many eyewitnesses could verify the resurrection firsthand.
Overview
Paul appeals to a large body of living witnesses, inviting readers to check the testimony for themselves. That most of the five hundred remained alive made the claim publicly testable in his own day. Noting that some had fallen asleep, he gently reminds believers that death does not undo the hope the resurrection secures.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Matt 28:10“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.”
- Mark 16:7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
- Acts 13:36For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. His body was buried with his fathers and saw decay.
- 1 Cor 15:18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
- 2 Pet 3:4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
- Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- 1 Th 4:13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
- Matt 28:16–17Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated.
- 1 Th 4:15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 15:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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