What do we call a baby born before the due time?
A baby born before the due time is called a preemie; the birth came prematurely. Scripture uses that picture in 1 Corinthians 15:8, where Paul describes himself as one born out of due time, pointing to his untimely encounter with the resurrected, ascended Lord.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 15:8 Paul claims he saw the resurrected, ascended Lord face to face, even though he never saw Christ while He walked on the earth and did not see Jesus during the 40 days after His resurrection. Paul’s encounter came later, after his conversion on the road to Damascus, about eight years after Pentecost. Paul calls himself one born out of due time. Les points out that this refers to a physical birth from a physical mother: when a mother gives birth before the due time, we call it a preemie, because it came prematurely. That picture illustrates Paul’s untimely encounter as the last one to see the resurrected Lord.
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.