Why does only Paul mention the five hundred witnesses?
Paul is the only biblical writer who names the five hundred who saw the risen Jesus, and his list is also the earliest account of the resurrection we have. But the Gospels are not silent about the appearances: they report the women, Peter, the eleven, Thomas, and the disciples on the road, and Paul's roster overlaps theirs at Cephas and the twelve. Two entries in his list appear in no Gospel: the five hundred, and James. John also says plainly that he did not record everything. So the omission is not a contradiction; it is what four selective accounts look like beside one apostolic list. Paul named a crowd that could be questioned, and most of them were still alive when he wrote.
This question arose from studying Did Jesus really rise from the dead? and Why did Jesus appear only to certain people after His resurrection?.
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What the Scripture says
The premise is true, and narrower than it sounds
Only one verse in the Bible names the five hundred: Paul writes that the risen Christ 'appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.' No Gospel says it, and there is no reason to pretend otherwise. But the same verse belongs to the account Paul says he received rather than invented; he tells the Corinthians he passed on what had been handed to him. So the question is not whether the Gospels left this detail out, because they did. The question is whether leaving a detail out makes it false.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.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: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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.
The Gospels do report appearances, and Paul's list overlaps theirs
The four Gospels are not silent about the risen Jesus. Luke records the eleven saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' and Paul's first witness is Cephas, which is Simon Peter. Paul goes on to name the twelve and James, and John tells of the upper-room appearances, including the one a week later when Thomas was there. So the two accounts are not rivals. They run alongside each other and touch at more than one point, and what the Gospels lack is Paul's crowd of five hundred, not the appearances themselves.
They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
The Gospel writers said they were not exhaustive
An omission only counts against a writer who claimed to tell everything, and John says the opposite twice. He closes his account of the signs by saying, 'Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book,' and he gives his reason: what he did write was written 'that you may believe.' His last line is even plainer, that there were 'also many other things which Jesus did,' and that if all of them were written down the world itself could not hold the books. Luke, for his part, says he traced the course of all things accurately and wrote in order, which is a claim to care, not a claim to completeness.
Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Luke told of forty days of appearances without counting them
Luke wrote both a Gospel and the book of Acts, and he begins Acts by summarizing the whole season: Jesus 'showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days.' That is a summary with room in it. He tells us there were many proofs and does not list them, and later he speaks of the apostles as witnesses of the resurrection rather than as a fixed register of everyone who saw it. A writer who compresses forty days of appearances into one sentence has not contradicted a list of five hundred. He has simply declined to repeat it.
The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Paul named witnesses who could have denied him
If Paul wanted an uncheckable miracle, he had a cheaper way to get one: name no one. Instead he named a crowd and added that most of them were still alive and could be asked. Then he put himself last in the list, 'as to the child born at the wrong time,' and called himself the least of the apostles because he had once persecuted the church. He wrote this to Corinth, a church that was itself saying there is no resurrection of the dead, and the same letter answers them by insisting that the whole message stands or falls on the fact. This is not how a legend is written. It is how a man writes who expects to be checked.
Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.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. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Paul staked everything on a public event
Paul does not treat the resurrection as a private insight he can soften. He says that if Christ has not been raised, the preaching is empty and the faith is empty too, that believers are still in their sins, and that they are of all people most to be pitied. He puts his whole message on the table, tied to a public event with named witnesses in living memory. So the question the five hundred should raise is not why the Gospels did not repeat the number. It is why Paul would say such a thing at all if it were not true, and why so many who could have contradicted him did not.
If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.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.
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Can I trust the Bible?→The Word of God trail“Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”How can I understand hard passages in the Bible?→The Word of God trail“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.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: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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.
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
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