Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 15].
be seen that Paul mentions only five of the ten, one, that to
James, not given elsewhere. What he gives is conclusive evidence
of the fact, particularly when re-enforced by his own experience
(the sixth appearance mentioned by Paul). The way to prove this
great fact is to start with Paul's own witness given in this
undoubted Epistle. The natural way to understand Paul's adverbs
of time here is chronological: {then} (\eita\), {then}
(\epeita\), {then} (\epeita\), {then} (\eita\), {last of all}
(\eschaton pant•n\). {To the twelve} (\tois d•deka\). The
technical name. Only ten were present, for Judas was dead and
Thomas was absent (Joh 20:24).
15:6 {To above five hundred brethren at once} (\epan•
pentakosiois adelphois ephapax\). \Epan•\ here is just an adverb
with no effect on the case. As a preposition with the ablative
see Mt 5:14. This incident is the one described in Mt 28:16
the prearranged meeting on the mountain in Galilee. The strength
of this witness lies in the fact that the majority (\hoi
pleious\) of them were still living when Paul wrote this Epistle,
say spring of A.D. 54 or 55, not over 25 years after Christ's
resurrection.
15:7 {To James} (\Iak•b•i\). The brother of the Lord. This fact
explains the presence of the brothers of Jesus in the upper room
(Ac 1:14). {To all the apostles} (\tois apostolois pasin\). The
Ascension of Christ from Olivet.
15:8 {As unto one born out of due time} (\h•sperei t•i
ektr•mati\). Literally, as to the miscarriage (or untimely
birth). Word first occurs in Aristotle for abortion or
miscarriage and occurs in LXX (Nu 12:12; Job 3:16) and papyri
(for miscarriage by accident). The verb \titr•sk•\ means to wound
and \ek\ is out. Paul means that the appearance to him came after
Jesus had ascended to heaven.
15:9 {The least} (\ho elachistos\). True superlative, not
elative. Explanation of the strong word \ektr•ma\ just used. See
Eph 3:8 where he calls himself "less than the least of all
saints" and 1Ti 1:15 the "chief" (\pr•tos\) of sinners. Yet
under attack from the Judaizers Paul stood up for his rank as
equal to any apostle (2Co 11:5f.,23). {Because I persecuted the
church of God} (\edi•xa t•n ekkl•sian tou theou\). There were
times when this terrible fact confronted Paul like a nightmare.
Who does not understand this mood of contrition?
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