1 Corinthians 15:7

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 15:7

After 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, ( John 20:19 ) ( John 21:1 John 21:2 ) who was now dead when the apostle wrote this, having been killed by Herod many years ago, ( Acts 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 appearance was made unto him when alone; and though the Scripture elsewhere makes no mention of it, there is no room to doubt it, since the apostle here affirms it. As for the account of the appearance of Christ to this James, immediately, after his resurrection, recorded by Jerom as he found it in the Gospel according to the Hebrews, it seems to be fabulous. His account is this ^F8;

``the Gospel written according to the Hebrews, which was lately translated by me into the Greek and Latin tongues, and which Origen often uses, relates, after the resurrection of the Saviour, that when the Lord had given the linen cloth to the priest's servant, he went to James, and appeared to him: for James had swore that he would not taste any bread from the time he had drank the cup of the Lord, until he saw him rising from the dead. Again, a little after, bring me, says the Lord, the table and the bread; and it is immediately added, he took the bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave it to James the just, and said unto him, my brother, eat thy bread, for the son of man is risen from the dead.''

Then of all the apostles;
at the Mount of Olives, when he led them out of Jerusalem, as far as Bethany, blessed them, and was parted from them, and ascended to heaven out of their sight, ( Luke 24:50 Luke 24:51 ) so that this was the last appearance of him on earth after his resurrection.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Catalog. Script. Eccles. sect. 3. fol. 90. 1.

1 Corinthians 15:7 In-Context

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 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 .

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.