Featured Paul mentions that “more than 500” saw the risen Jesus in a single early letter, but included this in no other letters. Why ? ?

[Multicolored Lemur]

But please be honest in doing so.

Really, man?

You’re going to say I’m not being honest enough because . . .

I disagree with you?

Or that I have the temerity to say that the Bible is written by human beings?

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Moderator Comment

There are some comments in the discussions here that border on questioning someone's honesty. Please remember that negative comments about a person are not allowed.

 

[Scooter]

But please be honest in doing so.

Really, man?

You’re going to say I’m not being honest enough because . . .

I disagree with you?

Or that I have the temerity to say that the Bible is written by human beings?

All I was saying is that when you post your opinions, you should reveal you have nothing to base your views on other than your biases. For instance, when claiming 500 people suffered from grief hallucinations you should include the fact that you pulled that idea out of thin air and there is no evidence whatsoever to support your argument. Again, feel free to believe whatever you choose but let folks know you base your position on your own imagination.

If I offended you, then I beg your forgiveness.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

when claiming 500 people suffered from grief hallucinations

We’re cool, man.

And just for the record, I never said that.

I brought up the topic of grief hallucinations, first, and you brought up the claim in 1st Corinthians that more than 500 persons saw the risen Jesus all at once.

That was the order. Look it up in the other thread if you’re interested.

 

[Scooter]

when claiming 500 people suffered from grief hallucinations

We’re cool, man.

And just for the record, I never said that.

I brought up the topic of grief hallucinations, first, and you brought up the claim in 1st Corinthians that more than 500 persons saw the risen Jesus all at once.

That was the order. Look it up in the other thread if you’re interested.

Then I stand corrected.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

What are the Pauline Epistles? | GotQuestions.org

What are the Pauline Epistles? Which books of the Bible were written by the Apostle Paul?

www.gotquestions.org

“The Pauline Epistles are the 13 letters written by the apostle Paul that are included in the canon of Scripture.”

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And I think this is a common viewpoint among Evangelical Christians. Not always, for Evangelists can be a very varied group of human beings.

But if Paul wrote all 13 of the letters traditional credited to him, why did he include this spectacular claim only in one letter, and an early letter to boot?

One answer —

Since the different accounts didn’t converge on one place, and/or the details didn’t firm up from a fellow Christian he knew very well as a friend or someone who came highly recommended,

Paul was in that middle ground, he didn’t quite doubt it, but he wasn’t all that positive sure either.

Or he did have doubts, but not to the greater extent he could go public and say in a later letter, My fellow believers, it looks like this one is a rumor, but abundant other evidence . . .

So, Paul just didn’t say anything.

 

[Scooter]

We need to remember the reason for Paul’s letters were to correct errors in the church and/or to encourage believers. Paul was not trying to convince any of his readers of Jesus’ resurrection. He assumed they already believed in the resurrection because they were “believers”. So there’s no need to persuade someone of what they already believed.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

We need to remember the reason for Paul’s letters were to correct errors in the church and/or to encourage believers

As a former Christian, I concur.

In fact, I’ve heard Paul called the Great Encourager. But like all labels, he’s so much more. And much too good a writer to be pigeon-holed, at least completely.

All the same,

One would would think this is the kind of thing he could mention, if a Christian is in the midst of a long night of doubt.

Or as something in your quiver of arrows you can share with non-Christians, right?

It’s not a complete slam dunk. But it does get a person wondering, and it looks like a missed opportunity. Unless Paul just didn’t think this was based on the surest testimony.

 

[Scooter]

One would would think this is the kind of thing he could mention, if a Christian is in the midst of a long night of doubt.

Paul mentions the risen savior in all of his epistles. Over and over he talks about the living Jesus. He talks of Jesus in the present tense. He talks of his personal experience in meeting the risen Jesus.

If a Christian is struggling with doubt, all he/she has to do is read of Jesus’ resurrection and the Holy Spirit dwelling within them will confirm the fact that Jesus is alive and well.

 

[Scooter]

It’s not a complete slam dunk. But it does get a person wondering, and it looks like a missed opportunity. Unless Paul just didn’t think this was based on the surest testimony.

Paul did not mention Jesus turning water into wine. He did not mention Jesus calling Lazarus back from the dead. In fact, Paul does not refer to hardly any of the miracles Jesus did. Does this mean Jesus did not do anything recorded in the Gospels because Paul does not write about it? Again, each writer had a specific audience and a specific message they were delivering. The Bible has to be taken as a whole in order to benefit from it’s intended purpose.