15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the {c} twelve:
(c) Of those twelve picked and chosen apostles, who were commonly called twelve, though Judas was put out of the number.
15:5 That he was seen by Cephas. He now gives the proof of these facts. The women saw Christ before Peter (Cephas), but Paul names the witnesses who would carry most weight to the Corinthians. For the appearance to Peter, see Lu 24:34.
Then by the twelve. See Mt 28:17 Joh 20:19,25.
15:5 By the twelve - This was their standing appellation; but their full number was not then present.
15:1-11 The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.
