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It is evident from what the Apostle writes, that to deny the resurrection, sweeps aside
the complete testimony of the Apostles, including the Baptism they received from "The
Spirit of Truth" on the day of Pentecost, to empower them in their witness.
"For I delivered unto you first of all THAT WHICH I ALSO RECEIVED" (3).
In chapter 11: Paul claimed to have received from the Lord particulars concerning the
Lord's Supper, and these can be compared with the witness given in the Gospels by those
who were actually present. At his conversion he was told by Ananias "The God of our
fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and SEE that Just One, and
shouldest HEAR the voice of His mouth. For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of
what thou hast SEEN and HEARD" (Acts 22: 14, 15). The Greek word translated
"witness" is martur, which in English is the word martyr. In Rev. 1: 5 Christ is called
"The faithful WITNESS", while in Rev. 2: 13 the same words are translated "My
faithful MARTYR". In Rev. 11: 3 we have "two witnesses", in 17: 6 "martyrs".
While a man may be a faithful witness without suffering actual martyrdom, the word
implies that he would thus suffer, rather than betray the trust given to him. Paul paid the
price; Peter and James paid the price, and such witnesses cannot be lightly set aside.
Before enumerating the many witnesses who were available, the Apostle, following the
example of his Lord, turns to the Scripture of the O.T.:
"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 buried, and that He rose again
the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Cor. 15: 3, 4).
The O.T. comes into the record later in his reference to Adam, and the quotation from
the prophet Isaiah and Hosea. In Luke 24:, we find the Risen Lord rebuking the
unbelief of the disciples, saying:
"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken . . . . . and
beginning at Moses" (Luke 24: 25-27).
Yet again He spoke to the eleven:
"These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the
Psalms, concerning me" (Luke 24: 44).
Returning to the matter of witness, the Apostle cites Cephas, the twelve, above 500 at
once, James, all the apostles, and last of all "me also". It is probable that Paul had in
mind the faction at Corinth who said "I am of Cephas" (I Cor. 1: 12) and drew their
attention to his testimony. We do not know the 500 brethren who saw the Lord at once,
but it is evident from the Apostle's challenging words "of whom the greater part remain
unto this present, but some are fallen asleep", that this reference is no fiction. And then
after another reference to James, and to all the apostles, he says:
"And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."