What Scripture says
In 1 Corinthians, written around AD 53–55, Paul reminds the church of what he had taught them:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–7, ESV)
Paul adds that Jesus appeared “last of all… to me” (15:8), and that, whether it was he or the other apostles, “so we preach and so you believed” (15:11).
What the evidence says
Textual Criticism
Why it’s a creed
Scholars widely agree that 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 is an early creed, a summary passed on in fixed form, which Paul quotes rather than composes:
- Technical language: “delivered” and “received” (Greek paradidōmi and paralambanō) were the standard terms for passing on a tradition, matching the Hebrew terms used by rabbis.
- Structure: it has a balanced, repeated pattern (“that… that… that… and that”), suitable for memorizing.
- Non-Pauline wording: phrases such as “for our sins”, “in accordance with the Scriptures”, “the twelve” and “he was raised” aren’t typical of Paul’s own writing.
- Semitic features: the Aramaic name “Cephas” for Peter suggests an origin in the Aramaic-speaking church in Jerusalem or Damascus.
How early?
| Event | Approximate date |
|---|---|
| Crucifixion | AD 30 or 33 |
| Paul’s conversion | AD 31–35 |
| Paul visits Peter and James in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18–19) | AD 34–37 |
| Paul passes the creed to the Corinthians | AD 50–51 |
| Paul writes 1 Corinthians | AD 53–55 |
Paul says he “received” the creed. He most likely received it at his conversion or when he visited Peter and James in Jerusalem three years later (Galatians 1:18–19), where he stayed fifteen days. The Greek word for “visit” (historēsai) suggests he went to inquire and learn.
So the creed likely goes back to within a few years of the crucifixion. Many scholars, skeptical and believing, date it very early:
- Gerd Lüdemann, an atheist New Testament scholar, dated it to within three years of the crucifixion.
- James Dunn: “This tradition, we can be entirely confident, was formulated as tradition within months of Jesus’ death.”
- Bart Ehrman has said it probably dates to within a few years of Jesus’ death.
History
What it shows
The creed shows that the core claims of Christianity were in place from the very beginning:
- Jesus died for sins, according to Scripture.
- He was buried, which implies the tomb would have been empty if he rose (see 7.5).
- He rose on the third day.
- He appeared to named individuals and groups, including Peter, the Twelve, James and over 500 people at once, “most of whom are still alive”, which effectively invites readers to check with them.
No time for legend
Legends usually take generations to develop. A. N. Sherwin-White, a historian of ancient Rome, argued that even two generations were too short a time for legend to wipe out the core of historical fact. The resurrection claim was present within a few years, in the city where Jesus was executed, among people who knew him.
Where they meet
The resurrection belief goes back to the earliest days of the church, within a few years of the crucifixion, and isn’t a later legend.
What’s still open
Exactly when and where the creed took shape, and how much of the list of appearances belongs to the original creed.
Bottom line
Very early. The creed Paul passes on in 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 is dated by most scholars to within a few years of the crucifixion. This is rated Settled.