Gide. I'm Gary Stevens. And welcome to the second series of the History in the Bible podcast.

More of the history in more of the books in all the Bibles.

Episode 2.48.

Do you think you're what they say you are?

In the last episode of the history in the Bible,

I recounted the story of the empty tomb,

the resurrection, and the appearances to the disciples. I discussed how the gospel

writers have different accounts of the appearances. They disagree on the who, when and where.

They want to impress on the reader that the risen Jesus is their back-slapping old chum in the flesh.

But they also drop unsubtle hints that there is something unearthly about Jesus.

Not really a man risen from the dead, perhaps an angel or a ghost inhabiting a physical shell.

There is another account of Jesus' appearances.

This was written much earlier than the Gospels.

Paul has the first account in his first letter to the Corinthians.

Remember that Paul is writing at least a generation before the evangelists.

Quote, 1 Corinthians 15.3.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received.

That Christ died for our sins, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the

third day, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the 12. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers and

sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive. Then he appeared to James, then to all the

apostles. End quote. Paul explicitly says he is passing down a tradition. He's not just making

it up. Then why is Paul's account so different to the gospel accounts?

...