Jesus’ Resurrection Appearances
Posted by Andreas Köstenberger on Mar 20, 2008 in Blog | 4 comments
As the angels told the women at the empty tomb, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee?” (Luke 24:5–6). The four New Testament Gospels record at least eleven resurrection appearances to Jesus to hundreds of individuals over a period of several weeks. None of the Gospels have all the appearances, which requires that we reconstruct the probable sequence of these appearances. The following chart appeared in The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament (B & H). Click here if you want to see the chart.
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Very generous of you to post the chart right before Easter. I hope it proves useful to many pastors.
Dr Kostenberger,
Thank you for this very helpful chart. I will refer church members to it.
For the sake of precision, may I be so bold to make the following suggestion regarding the first on your list of appearances:
1. Empty tomb Early morning – Matt 28:1–10 Mark 16:1–8 Luke 24:1–12 John 20:1–9.
Technically the women’s experience at the empty tomb is not an appearance, but confirmation that the tomb is empty (along with an angelic announcement that Jesus is risen).
Of the above references, I think it is true to say that only Matt 28:8-10 records an actual appearance of Jesus (as opposed to the emptiness of the tomb and the angelic announcement that Jesus was risen).
This appearance was to “the women” who were hurrying away from the tomb. Matt 28:1 identifies these women as Mary Magdalene and other Mary (the mother of James and Joses – Matt 27:56).
So I think your numbering is correct, but the title and some of references for your first ‘appearance’ may be slightly misleading, as the actual appearance was on the way back from the empty tomb (unless this is a doublet with John 20:10-18, with John not mentioning that another woman was present).
If I am correct, then this would also change the stats for the number of appearances in each source. (E.g. Mark would actually have no appearances per se.)
We might add the exceptional nature of Christ’s resurrection appearance to Paul as a twelfth example also.
Maybe I am just being overly technical. It is very helpful to have it listed out as you do. Thank you for your work.
Thank you very much, Sandy, for your thoughtful comments. You are right that under 1. only Matthew records an actual resurrection appearance. As you say, the numbering of appearances is correct, but the (partial) parallels should more correctly be marked “cf.” and the tally be reduced by one in those cases. You are also correct that one might add Jesus’ appearance to Paul in such a chart. This will be very helpful as I ready the NT Intro for publication. Thanks again!
thanks for the chart. i have printed to share with my church members on sabbath.
thanks
lucia