Brothers and sisters, I want to call your attention to the good news that I preached to you, which you also received and in which you stand. You are being saved through it if you hold on to the message I preached to you, unless somehow you believed it for nothing. I passed on to you as most important what I also received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, he was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures. He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, and then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once—most of them are still alive to this day, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me, as if I were born at the wrong time. I’m the least important of the apostles. I don’t deserve to be called an apostle, because I harassed God’s church. I am what I am by God’s grace, and God’s grace hasn’t been for nothing. In fact, I have worked harder than all the others—that is, it wasn’t me but the grace of God that is with me. So then, whether you heard the message from me or them, this is what we preach and this is what you have believed. (1 Corinthians 15:1-11, CEB)
Paul here writing to the Corinthians about Jesus and his death and resurrection and who saw him after the resurrection.
Paul says Jesus appeared to Cephas, which is Peter, and then to the twelve. The twelve meaning the disciples. But isn’t Cephas a disciple? I know there is the whole thing at the end of the gospel of John where Peter denies Jesus and Jesus restores Peter. But the disciples include Cephas. so shouldn’t Paul have written, Jesus appeared to Cephas and then the eleven? But wait the eleven includes Judas, and didn’t Judas kill himself? So would he be part of the disciples anymore? And Matthias replaced Judas but not until after Jesus ascended which is 50 days after Easter, so that hasn’t happened. Who are the twelve? Now, this is a minor detail, but it is one that shows that maybe the scriptures are not a cohesive unit. It is a gathering of books, letters, and writings that help us understand our faith, but may not always have all the details right.
This doesn’t mean it isn’t useful or inspired. It simply means to me that it isn’t inerrant. That doesn’t mean it’s not holy, or from God, but it might not be completely accurate because man wrote and translated it. Errors can and I am sure did happen.
But the underlying message of the book is love. God so loved us, that God came and showed us how to live, love, and be merciful and gracious to others.
So love.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 