Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig.

Today, the Doctrine of Christ, Part 40.

For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to reasonablefaith.org.

We've been talking about the resurrection appearances of Jesus

and have been going through the list supplied by Paul in 1 Corinthians

15. And we finished discussing the appearance to Jesus' younger brother James and how this brought

about the remarkable transformation in his life. The next appearance in the list

is the appearance to all the apostles. Now, given that Paul's intention is to enumerate the different

witnesses to the resurrection appearances, it's unlikely that this is just the same group referred to as the 12.

Rather, the word apostle was used in the early church in a somewhat broader sense to indicate

any sort of Christian missionary. And this appearance was probably to such a limited circle

of Christian missionaries, which was somewhat broader

than the group of the 12. For the existence of such a group, see Acts chapter 1 versus

21 to 22. Acts chapter 1 verses 21 to 22. Luke writes, so one of the men who have

accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning

from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up

from us, one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.

So having, since Judas had apostatized and needed to be replaced, they chose to replace Judas from this group of people who had been with Jesus from the time of his baptism by John until the time of the ascension.

And so it was probably to such a limited group of missionaries that Christ then appeared.

And again, the facticity of this appearance would be guaranteed by Paul's personal contact with these apostles themselves.

Finally, lastly, is the appearance to Saul of Tarsus.

This appearance is just as amazing as the appearance to James.

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