Yes—Paul offers a chain of eyewitness appearances as evidence that Christ rose from the dead.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul records that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He then lists resurrection appearances: Cephas, the twelve, more than 500 brethren, James, all the apostles, and last of all to Paul himself.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 — This is Paul's foundational evidence: a list of post-resurrection appearances to Cephas, the twelve, hundreds, James, all apostles, and Paul.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Paul grounds the resurrection in the Scriptures, showing Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.
Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he delivered to them: "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" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He then gives the evidence of eyewitnesses: "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. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time" (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
Les emphasizes that Paul's gospel was not invented or received from the twelve in Jerusalem; Paul received it directly from the ascended Lord in glory. He also stresses that Paul actually saw the resurrected, ascended Lord on the road to Damascus, about eight years after Pentecost, and that Paul defended his apostleship on the basis of that sighting. Les explains "one born out of due time" in 1 Corinthians 15:8 as a premature birth—Paul was like a "preemie" in God's timetable. He also points out that the resurrection was "according to the Scriptures," as David wrote of it in veiled language, and that Paul's aim in writing to Corinth was to prove Christ literally, physically rose from the grave.
Paul's evidence is a list of appearances. Christ was seen of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve. He was then seen of above five hundred brethren at once, most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote. He was seen of James, then of all the apostles. Finally, Christ was seen of Paul last of all, as of one born out of due time.
Les compares Paul's phrase to a baby born before its due time—a "preemie." Paul was not one of the original witnesses who saw Jesus during His earthly ministry or the 40 days after the resurrection. His seeing of the risen Lord came later, after his Damascus road conversion, so Paul spoke of himself as one born out of due time.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul says Christ died for our sins and rose again the third day "according to the Scriptures." Les notes that David wrote in the Psalms about the resurrection, but in veiled language—until this apostle brought it clearly into the open.
Les describes Paul as proving to the Corinthians, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Christ literally and physically arose from the grave. Paul also points to Peter's radical change from denial and fear to boldness after the resurrection as visible proof of the resurrection's power.
What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse
I love to read those letters to the editor, because you get it from the whole spectrum of intellectual society at least, and I almost get a kick out of some of them where they are complaining that some of these people preach only an exclusivist, that's the word, an exclusivist gospel. And I say, amen. That's me.
Paul's Late Encounter with the Risen Lord
Les explains that Paul never saw Jesus on earth; he saw the risen, ascended Lord on the Damascus road, about eight years after Pentecost, and calls himself "one born out of due time"—like a preemie.
Who Goes Into the Kingdom? What the Bible Really Says
Acts chapter 1, and now of course the crucifixion has passed, Christ has been raised from the dead in resurrection power, He has spent 40 days with the 11, they haven't chosen the 12 one yet, so He's been spending these 40 days in His resurrection body with the 11. Verse 3, "...to whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them 40 days...
The Delivered Gospel Includes the Eyewitness List
Les shows that Paul delivered the gospel he received: Christ died, was buried, rose again the third day, and was seen of Peter and the twelve.
Paul's Apostleship and the Resurrected Lord
Les notes that Paul countered accusations about not having the Twelve's experience by insisting he saw the resurrected Lord.
Peter's Boldness as Proof
Les points to Peter's transformation from fearful denial to unshakable boldness after the resurrection as a powerful proof of the resurrection.
Resurrection According to the Scriptures
Les ties Paul's phrase "according to the Scriptures" to David's veiled Old Testament references to the resurrection, which Paul brought into the open.
Proving a Literal, Physical Resurrection
Les says Paul's purpose in 1 Corinthians 15 was to prove Christ literally, physically arose from the grave—the very hope of every believer.
1 Corinthians 15:3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Paul states the foundational gospel truth that Christ's death was according to the Old Testament Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul includes the burial and resurrection as essential parts of the gospel he delivered.
1 Corinthians 15:5: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
The first resurrection witness Paul lists is Cephas, another name for Peter.
1 Corinthians 15:6: 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.
Paul highlights a large group of witnesses, most still alive, making the claim confirmable.
1 Corinthians 15:7: After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
Paul adds James and then all the apostles to the eyewitness chain.
1 Corinthians 15:8: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul includes his own encounter with the risen Lord, comparing himself to one born out of due time.
Paul points to a chain of appearances: Cephas, the twelve, over 500 brethren, James, all the apostles, and finally to Paul himself. He also says the resurrection happened "according to the Scriptures" and underscores that most of the 500 witnesses were still alive.
Cephas is the Aramaic name for the apostle Peter. In 1 Corinthians 15:5 Paul says the risen Christ was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve.
Les Feldick explains it like a baby born prematurely—a "preemie." Paul uses it of himself because his encounter with the risen Lord came after the other witnesses, not during the 40 days after resurrection.
Paul is giving an eyewitness testimony that could be checked. Most of those hundreds were still alive when he wrote, so anyone who doubted could ask them personally.
Watch the Teaching: What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse