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.
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.
- BSB After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have 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;
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 28:10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
- Mark 16:7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”
- Acts 13:36For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
- 1 Cor 15:18Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
- 2 Pet 3:4and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
- Acts 7:60He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
- 1 Th 4:13But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
- Matt 28:16–17But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
- 1 Th 4:15For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.
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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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