1 Corinthians 15:5-9

15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters ¹  at one time, most of whom are still alive, ²  though some have fallen asleep. ³  15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 15:8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, ⁴  he appeared to me also. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

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¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.

² tn Grk “most of whom remain until now.”

³ tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaw) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for death when speaking of believers. This metaphorical usage by its very nature emphasizes the hope of resurrection: Believers will one day “wake up” out of death. Here the term refers to death, but “sleep” was used in the translation to emphasize the metaphorical, rhetorical usage of the term.

⁴ sn One born at the wrong time. The Greek word used here (ἔκτρωμα, ektrwma) refers to a premature birth, a miscarriage, or an aborted child. Paul uses it as a powerful figure of the unexpected, abnormal nature of his apostolic call.