How Christianity Forgot its Only First Person Witness to Jesus' Resurrection

Three of the New Testament gospels (Matt, Luke, John) provide varied, and at times contradictory, reports of sighting and encounters with Jesus after his death--usually as a physical encounter with a flesh and blood person. But NONE of these reports are first person. All are secondary and reported by others--one of which (Luke) explicitly says he is NOT an eyewitness. Neither are the ones that Paul ticks off in 1 Corinthians 15--Peter, James, the Twelve, etc.
In this interview with Derek Lambert, host of ‪@MythVisionPodcast‬ , I explore these issues and their implications.
The ONLY undisputed first person account of anyone "seeing Jesus" after his death is that of Paul--who claims in several texts makes this claim. By far most critical scholars would agree that what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9 and 15 is indisputably from his hand. In contrast to lots of writings that use the name of a well known figure, but are unlikely to have been written by that figure (e.g. the Enoch literature). However, what he reports has been completely ignored by the Church--since he says he can't tell you even what kind of a body Jesus had--other than it was glorious, immortal, and overwhelmingly powerful. He makes clear in 1 Cor 15 that he has no idea what such a "resurrection body" will look like! So his experience was nothing like those reported in these gospels--and remember, Mark has NO appearances in our oldest copies.
But Paul's testimony, though first person, was much too abstract and visionary for trying to PROVE to skeptics that Jesus was raised from the dead. So it was conveniently forgotten.
It sounds suspiciously like ALL the appearances, which Paul equates with his own, were visionary "sightings," or what we call apparitions. That does not make them invalid--but it undercuts the standard evangelical Christian claim that one can PROVE the resurrection by eyewitness testimony--with people touching Jesus' body, feeling his wounds, eating with him. Since we have NONE other than Paul who tells us anything first person, and who was clearly was "blinded by the light" as he describes his experience. He even says of such revelations he is not sure if they were "in the body" or "out of the body," further indicating they were not physical face-to-face encounters.
Just to be clear here...as I have already had folks writing in the comments things like, wait, "Wasn't Mary Magdalene" the first witness? Again...notice carefully my claim here? Whether she was or not we have nothing from her in the first person. I am quite sure Paul stands alone in this regard...in terms of writings in the New Testament that even critical scholars would agree come from his own hand.

[@grandlotus1]

"Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.” The truth will surpass all our human imagining!

[@torobeltran1]

It is also widely accepted that during these times it was common for people to make up stories of respected leaders and how they rose from the dead or ascended to heaven. Think about it, we’re speaking of Rome and Greek mythology. This stuff was normal and accepted

[@susanohnhaus611]

I always want to reach into the video and nudge that rimon back onto the shelf top before it falls

[@johnnewton8017]

Oh wow, lol. Can’t unsee 😅

[@ElliottWong2024]

What is a rimon?

[@susanohnhaus611]

@@ElliottWong2024 It's the finial on a torah scroll. Any picture of the torah scrolls being carried will show them. They are part of the dressing for the torah scrolls. They are taken off for reading the torah He has a very ornate silver one on the shelf behind him just hanging over the edge. . Two per torah scroll and I think he has two if I remember seeing them in another video. Two are called rimonim (plural).

[@inregionecaecorum]

Ah I misunderstood that to refer to the first person to witness the resurrection and literally see the stone roll back and Jesus walk out of the tomb. In Mark the young man dressed in a white robe sitting in tomb. I would like to see you discuss this passage, and how he changes into an Angel, then two Angels in Matthew, Luke and John.

[@letsomethingshine]

Were they sitting relaxed? Or standing nervously? Was there an earthquake, or did "the witness ladies" forget?

[@HistoryandReviews]

Only one angel in Matthew. 2 men in luke

[@TorianTammas]

@inregionecaecorum We have a classical trope of greek literature the empty tomb. It was the trope for he became a god and we find it in dozens of stories as resurection and becoming a good was common. Ceasar became a god after his death. We have Heracles becoming a god. We have Osiris resurecting after his death.

[@gema1028]

My mind is blown! Thank you so much Dr Tabor🙏

[@frankie8648]

Bottom line; it is all unknowable. All will be known but not here and now. 🙏🏼

[@brianroyster7510]

Gotta ask for clarification, is it unknowable that dude was actually dead OR that an absolutely dead guy got up and went to breakfast 3 days later? I can entertain the former but the later is not only knowable it's a known fact that zombies are fantasy.

[@TCgirl]

I can't really tell what YOU believe. I'm so confused the more I look into Christianity. I used to think I knew what I believed.

[@theethanatorem]

hi. James Tabor is a scholar of religion, he’s primarily interested in early Christianity and its development in the 1st century. these lectures present scholarly and academic findings related to the text, and what James believes is not relevant to the discussion.

[@room2growrose623]

1 Corinthians 13: 2 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 3: 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” When a biblical historian studies the Bible and they are unbelievers they do not have the revelating power of the Holy Spirit. Bottom line do you believe in God? God the creator of the universe? When you look at all creation and you marvel at it and see the finger prints of a designer will you listen to these “scholars” and their atheist interpretations as wise? Hear them out, but do not forget the awesome power of the creator to make Himself known.…could He create a way for us to know His word that is more complete than any other historical document in the world? I encourage you to look at Gary Habermas, he has just written a book about the gospel’s earliest evidence of transmission and it is dated to have begun within 3 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection; even atheist scholars agree on this timeline. James has an obsession with the idea that Paul created the myth of Jesus Christ. He has an agenda. There is STRONG evidence for Christ, his death and resurrection, but they are trying to make sense of this with their myopic human vision.

[@jamesryan1258]

Christianity is confusing! :) It’s full of miracles and paradoxes and joy’s and hardships. But so is Disneyland! There’s no way I can figure out how the rides work or historically which came first. And I get lost inside it everytime I go inside it…just enjoy it! Enjoy the ride :) it is un-figure-out-able. It’s been 2,000 years and we still don’t have it all the way figured out. Just enjoy it :) and let it change your heart toward yourself and others :)

[@heartjeen9994]

It‘s not bad that you might not have found the truth yet, I recommend you studying other religions and reading other holy books. Despite all of the Anti-Islam and extreme Christian Missionaries who nonstop talk bad about it, I have found the truth in Islam. The Quran (1400 years old) answers every little question I had or have. It‘s crystal clear, give it a shot. And remember: God is not the author of confusion.

[@zcs7676]

جزاكم الله خيرا Jazakumullahu khaira I totally agree with you

[@educatingwithwisdom7770]

Thank you. I think this is best translational interview I have seen yet with Dr. Tabor. He gave the "unlawful to describe Heaven" a more nuanced, more humbling/Paul, rather than strangely evasive meaning.

[@termination9353]

THAT YOU LISTEN TO PAUL IS WHERE YOUR CONFUSION ENTERS. If you would ignore altogether what Paul says like you've never heard him, and have only Jesus' sermons telling you what the Way, Truth, and Life is, and strictly go by what the Gospel narrative relates, you'd all already know the answers to these questions, and there'd be no confusion.

[@winifredthompson465]

This is a vision I was given on the 13th August 2019, at 9,30am, I came out of my bathroom after washing, into my bedroom to get dressed. When I got the vision it was like a T.V. screen appeared before me. I Was out on a large boat, it was a beautiful day, sun shinning , the sea calm and shimmering with the sun shining on it. I was standing on the deck of the boat, looking across the sea and enjoying the tranquility, when I looked up onto the sky, I saw an airplane, flying in the skies, then all of a sudden it took a nose dive and fell out of the sky down into sea, I said (I can hear myself think when I get these visions) HOpe the Captain of this ship sees that plane come down, and sails this boat over, there might be survivors, then I turned my head in the opposite direction, and I saw these people rise up out of the sea, they were all dressed in white linen gowns, they had their arms up above their heads , so the sleeves of he gowns fell to their elbows, they had a boat shape neck line, and were roughly mid calf in length, I said, O the rapture is happening and I am being left behind, the whole event only took seconds, and it was over, then I felt arms snatching me from the boat deck, and I remember saying, I am going too, and I am going to see JESUS,. This was when my vision ended and it was like someone had switched off the T. .V. I have not added to this vision, just told you exactly as I was given it. Winifred Thompson. Northern Ireland. ❤❤❤

[@raydavison4288]

​@termination9353 , Does that entail keeping the Sabbath, the annual feasts(Passover, Booths, etc.), the new moons, animal sacrifice, and the like? After all, Jesus said, "Not a jot, Nor a tittle" of the law would change.

[@jehnyr]

​@@raydavison4288until all was fulfilled.... then in ‭‭Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. It was fulfilled. If you are standing in the position that the law still stands, that includes the sacrificial laws, as they are a rather large jot and tittle. If that is the case, what exactly did Christ do on the cross?

[@markdettra1794]

Seems to me , "unlawful to describe heaven" means it's futile to come anywhere near the joys of heaven in language.

[@andrewclemons8619]

Paul's vision came years after Jesus resurrected. He clearly isnt talking about seeing Jesus during the period between the ressurection and the ascension of Christ. Hes speaking of a time years later. Of course Jesus told us he ain't coming back till we all will see him. Not just Paul, or Joseph Smith, or David Koresh or any body else.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

And here I figured the Christians "forgot" the only eyewitness because he said, "Yeah, I saw him and he was just a normal mortal man, just like anyone else."

[@ptk8451]

To my undersyanding it seems that Paul should not have had the vision because.it was not at the right time ie before the ascension.

[@scambammer6102]

@@ptk8451 there was no ascension. magic isn't real. grow up.

[@Ordinal_Yoda]

Regardless of virgin birth. This would not change Jesus as the Son. Regardless if Joseph the Father this would not change Jesus as the Son. Regardless if the man was named Bob instead of Jesus this would not change the fact that Jesus is God.

[@scambammer6102]

@@Ordinal_Yoda wouldn’t Bob be god in that scenario?

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

@@Ordinal_Yoda You should read "The Emperor's New Clothes" some time. It is a really good story about how people deny reality to fit in with the rest of society. People often will go along with the most ludicrous ideologies and conceptions just because that is the social norm.

[@charliegarnett9757]

I know I am slow. Explain the answer to the question on the thumbnail. How did we forget?

[@johnpro2847]

In a toDAY'S society..why take your lead from folk 2000 years ago who were very ignorant by modern day standards.

[@miovicdina7706]

Exactly! Jewish, Christian, and Islamic texts, i.e. prescriptions for the best possible spiritual and physical life, were all written BY Middle Eastern MEN from 1500-2000-3000 years ago, FOR Middle Eastern MEN from 1500-2000-3000 ago. They were certainly not written having in mind women, nor people more than 100-200 years in the future, nor knowing today's scientific, technological and medical information. Why would I, a 21st century European (and a woman), with a University degree in sciences, take THEIR advice on how I and my family and my community are to lead our life? I love myself too much, and I care too much about their well-being, to do that.

[@miovicdina7706]

6:31-6:41 Oh, REALLY??? You NEED a physical body for that? How very interesting. And, when Jesus was being born, that didn't need a physical body? Well, which one is it? You must have a physical body in order to emanate spiritual life-giving energy? Then there could not have been a virgin birth without a physical body of the embryo's father. And indeed, there was no non-physical insemination.

[@phantimmanor5156]

We have no first person accounts of the Creation either. So what? Either Scripture is "God breathed" or it isn't.

[@marshalldarcy7423]

In Hinduism they have what is called the "Subtle Body" which is part of Reincarnation, so some part of the body form goes from death to birth in Hinduism.

[@dalelerette206]

Interesting.

[@Alephkilo]

Yes that’s true..as per Hinduism.

[@dalelerette206]

From a Christian perspective, I suppose Christ is 'reincarnated' in His believers when they are 'born again' from above in the Holy Spirit as per Christ's conversation with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of Sanhedrin. According to one scholar, Nicodemus probably was impressed by the miracles of Jesus but was not fully convinced that he was the Messiah. So in coming to Jesus at night might have been a way for him to take the next step in believing Jesus was the Messiah.

[@marshalldarcy7423]

@@dalelerette206 Reincarnation in Hinduism is not good for one who is enlighten has freed one's self from reincarnation. Jesus then would not "come again" if he attained enlightenment. However I believe that the Budda reincarnated and in Buddhism that is strictly a big no no.

[@dalelerette206]

@@marshalldarcy7423 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

[@beyond.gardening]

Wish we had more of Paul's epistles ❤❤❤

[@jf5177]

Love the Torah Keter in the background!

[@josephang9927]

I think Jesus appeared to multiple places to multiple people so it makes sense it was hard to know who the first witness was.

[@Sportliveonline]

Do you believe in life after death ?

[@josephang9927]

@@Sportliveonline yes, I do

[@tedgrant2]

Jesus is sitting or standing at the right hand of God and we also will be at the right hand of God ! Does that mean God is right-handed ?

[@solonkazos1379]

There's a learning curve going on with people. We can't make the ability of the people to learn the doctrine. The doctrine pre exists the people. We can't split hairs on what the people thought. The Bible just keeps moving forward, it doesn't wait around for people to catch up. The next generations will do the work of catching up. Once we do catch up we all see that Paul is correct. It has to be a complete new body for the after life. The process of getting to Heaven has things we can not put into words in Paul's day. Today we know about DNA, we can understand information has no weight or mass and therefor can be brought back to life with a perfect body.

[@johnpro2847]

Did Paul ever do jail time for his previous crimes again humanity ?

[@alanx4121]

He was a prisoner of the Lord doing his bidding.

[@johnsinclair2672]

@@alanx4121 are you suggesting he was persecuting members of Jesus cult, on Gods instruction?

[@alanx4121]

@@johnsinclair2672 No, God arrested Paul and 'forced' him to become his servant for the gospel, he just cooperated. He was ignorant of what he did and had to see to believe. Thomas too.

[@johnsinclair2672]

@@alanx4121 “a prisoner of the Lord!” That quite a statement! Regards, the Thomas you mention, is this the same Thomas who of the lost Gospel of Thomas?

[@alanx4121]

@@johnsinclair2672 I believe that's Paul's wording. I meant 'unbelieving' Thomas, he had to see and even feel the wounds, to believe. this gospel is from thomas judas, it's a gnostic forgery.

[@designsbymariaemilia1015]

Thank you for your insight. I would love to hear your thoughts on the following... 1 Corinthians 15:8 ASV - and last of all, as to the [child] untimely born, he appeared to me also.

[@eottoe2001]

That must have been quite the event.

[@jpkatz1435]

"He appeared to Me also." would then enclude "I appeared to him." And in the presence of the Christ only God's infinite Love is present.

[@djparsons7363]

Jesus appeared to Saul “as if to one born prematurely.” It was as if Saul had already been resurrected to spirit life and was able to see the glorified Lord centuries before that resurrection was due to occur. This experience abruptly halted Saul in his course of murderous opposition to the Christian congregation and caused a remarkable change. (Acts 9:3-9, 17-19) Saul became the apostle Paul, one of the foremost defenders of the Christian faith.-1 Corinthians 15:9, 10.

[@eottoe2001]

I was thinking of the star child in 2001: A Space Odyssey. I wonder if that is where Clark and Kubrick came up with that.

[@falseprophetsthorn8723]

@@djparsons7363 Saul became the foremost corrupter of the gospel. 🔥Paul claimed to have seen Jesus on the Damascus Road but where are the eye witnesses to support his claim? There are none. _“If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.”_ (John 5:31 ) 🔥He even admitted he was a liar. _"But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself; nevertheless, devious person that I am, I took you in by deceit.”_ (2 Corinthians 12:16)

[@kingsleynkrumah4762]

This is my expectation and I believe God is able to do this through Christ. All shall be made new but each in His time. Glory@head

[@reneejones6330]

Paul claims to have witnessed Jesus AFTER his resurrection. Where is the evidence to the title's claim that he was an eyewitness to the actual act of resurrection? It is not the same thing.

[@doncamp1150]

What about Cephas? If you read 1st Corinthians 15, Paul begins with the Apostles - particularly Peter - who saw Jesus raised before him. And Paul says that he RECEIVED the gospel report, including Jesus' death and resurrection ... from whom ? We are not told either by Paul or in Acts, but it was probably in Damascus where he was baptized since it was the practice to baptize a new believer soon after his decision to follow Jesus. So, Paul was not the first to see the risen Christ. Nor did the gospel message originate with Paul. he received it from others. Nor was Paul the "only first person witness to Jesus' resurrection." There was Peter and the other Apostles. They were speaking of it years before Paul wrote. And Paul acknowledges that. The only difference is that we do not have their personally written reports. But we do have the reports of their preaching from those who heard it - Acts - and the resurrection was central to Peter's message in Acts.

[@scambammer6102]

"That does not make them invalid" lol yes it does. Tell me when someone had a "real" vision of something. If it's real, you don't need to have a "vision" you can just SEE it.

[@MelissaThompson432]

I'm real. Can you see me?

[@ptk8451]

If it is physical..you just see it..and even then you might need a telescope.or microscope..but God ...how are you going to just see him..there was atime for thatwhenJesus lived on earth as a man but this is after the resurrection and evenafter the Ascension

[@MelissaThompson432]

@@ptk8451 there are material things we can't see and don't know about, understand, or have the means to conceptualize. And there are things that are not material that we know are real. Quantum physics will just about convince you that spirit is fact, if you have the ability to think big enough. My aim is not to argue for the validity of visions, but to warn of the foolishness of certainty. If you're absolutely sure of something, you're almost guaranteed to be wrong.

[@RustyWalker]

@@MelissaThompson432 _"If you're absolutely sure of something, you're almost guaranteed to be wrong."_ You might want to add some context to that, because there are some obvious reductios, like the shape of the Earth and maths sums. We're absolutely certain the Earth is a spheroid as we experience it. The uncertainty for that is the precision of the measurement, which has been improving over time, although the Earth itself is also dynamic. You can also say we're not certain that our experience *itself* is particularly "real" if you're a skeptic, like a brain in a vat, or sim theory demonstrate, but what we experience if we grant either of those is that the experience we have of the shape of the Earth is that it's spheroidal. We can also be absolutely certain that 2+2=4 in base 10 maths because that's a matter of how we define operators and numbers.

[@scambammer6102]

@@MelissaThompson432 The subject here is whether Paul's reported vision could be something real. MY point is that if it was real he wouldn't have called it a vision. BTW all material things can be "seen" in one way or another. Even electrons can be observed and measured. A "vision" can't be, because it isn't real.

[@thatswhatisaid8908]

What about John? He was there, and he wrote the gospel, he makes it clear he was there the whole time at the end of the book.

[@dalelerette206]

My thoughts too. Not to say the Apostle Paul is irrelevant. His missionary journeys starting on the Road to Damascus are well documented. But I would be reticent to say the Apostle Paul was the only first person witness to Jesus' Resurrection.

[@tongakhan230]

1 Corinthians 15:4 and that he was buried, yes, that he was raised up on the third day according to the Scriptures; 5 and that he appeared to Ceʹphas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still with us, though some have fallen asleep in death. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

[@sararae5994]

Not really, because the 10 disciples fled John wasn't even there I don't know who told you that one lol

[@tongakhan230]

@@sararae5994 : Actually John was there. John 18:15 Now Simon Peter, as well as ANOTHER DISCIPLE, was following Jesus. THAT DISCIPLE was known to the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing outside at the door. So the OTHER DISCIPLE, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. John wouldn't mention his own name. But he doesn't hold back from mentioning Peter.

[@sararae5994]

@@tongakhan230 no no no the 10 disciples were not there go back and read the book properly. They were nowhere to be found. They fleed

[@careerlifecoachskillsfacil4535]

We must be reminded of the limited Human Rights and lack of free soeach that people had centuries ago, hence why Paul said it's unlawful to explain what he saw.. No wonder Jesus was accused of blaspheme. Thank God we have freedom of soeach these days, but as with anything that's free, comes many challenges and societal ill behaviors.

[@Larrymh07]

Paul was a witness to the resurrection? I thought he didn't come schlepping around until about 40 years after the event.

[@mikev4621]

Jesus made a special visit for Paul

[@Larrymh07]

@@mikev4621 😁

[@hippopotamus6765]

If Marcion found or created the story it had to have been as late as late 2nd century and written retrospectively?

[@lesleypatoncox1569]

Was Mary not the First to see Him. She who was the Apostle to the Apostles?

[@RustyWalker]

How do we know that the person Paul believed he saw corresponded with Jesus, as opposed to Paul psychologically attaching a mental experience resulting from some sort of trauma like a fit or stroke to the leader of the group he was persecuting?

[@scambammer6102]

well he checked Jesus' photo on-line and it was totally the same guy

[@GravityBoy72]

How do we know Paul wasn't lying like Joseph Smith and a whole host of similar people were lying? It's a common theme for religion starters... "God spoke to me... no you can't hear him but he wants you to do all these things". The only thing Paul had going for him is that "God" didn't command him to take more wives. That puts him a notch up, but it's not saying much.

[@hippopotamus6765]

With Faith you can believe anything. There is no truth to the story. It's a fairytale that everyone has a go at. None of it makes sense, it's full BS.

[@smerr5073]

Isn't "soul" the same idea as Paul's spiritual body? Or is there some distinction? Just wondering because I haven't heard Dr. Tabor use the word soul in his discussions on Paul.

[@djparsons7363]

Lev. 24:17, 18: “In case a man strikes any SOUL [Hebrew, neʹphesh] OF MANKIND fatally, he should be put to death without fail. And the fatal striker of the SOUL [Hebrew, neʹphesh] OF A DOMESTIC ANIMAL should make compensation for it, soul for soul.” (Notice that the same Hebrew word for soul is applied to both mankind and animals.)

[@smerr5073]

@@djparsons7363 Thanks for that quote, I was just reading about ne'phesh in Bart Ehrman's book about Heaven and Hell. In ancient Hebrew thought, there was no “soul” in the Greek sense. This can be seen by the different terms used. The closest equivalent to the Greek psychē is the Hebrew nephesh. The nephesh, though, is not a soul, set in contrast to the body. Hebrew anthropology was not dualistic (body and soul) but unitary. Nephesh means something like “life force” or “life” or even “breath.” It is not a substance that can leave a person and exist independently of the body. It is the thing that makes bodies live. So interesting the different nuances of soul, afterlife, etc

[@djparsons7363]

@@smerr5073 That is the true meaning of soul, it is not something separate from the body that continues alive when a person dies, it is the very "life force" of man or animal. The Greek version is from pagan philosophers, we do not "have" a soul, we ARE a soul. That exposes the concept of hell and life after death to be lies, false teachings. No such thing as an immortal soul.

[@TorianTammas]

@@djparsons7363 This was enlightening and it shows how worthless translations are when you do not know the original language and cultural context.

[@pamgessler5923]

Does Paul being the only first person eye witness to write about encountering Jesus alive after He died invalidate the witnesses of the others? Mark was Peter's scribe. It's likely that, as a fisherman, Peter was illiterate. Luke was Paul's scribe for the book of Acts, though Paul also wrote his own letters to the churches. The women were likely illiterate. Miriam, Jesus's own mother, was among His disciples and shared stories with the writers but didn't write directly about His birth or upbringing either.

[@tombeach1262]

Good points- the best one was don’t project the epistles into the gospels. Look at it as a sequence.

[@ralphriffle1126]

Paul is clear about the three glories of heaven. Three separate heavens. He continues with introducing the knowledge of different bodies that people will be given. God will reward each man according to his works

[@johnpro2847]

not sure what eye witness you are tlking about ..Paul arrived on the scene well after JC was murdered.

[@RichWoods23]

Or, if you're a believer, not as much murdered as temporarily executed.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

@@RichWoods23 wouldn’t it just be easier to think that he died… And whoever thought they saw him alive who’s having an hysterical experience? Because otherwise you’re saying that he kind of passed out, or was in a coma, and then he rose from not really, quite being dead. And that’s not a way of explaining anything as much as it is it is a strategy to dismiss the divinity of Jesus. No problem with that fine.

[@HairyMunci]

The key is metamorphosis. The Transfiguration on Mount Tabor in Greek is referred to as the Μεταμόρφωση - the reason why Jesus is not identified at first glance by Mary Magdalene was his transfigured body (from corrupt to incorrupt) . When you look at icons in the Eastern Orthodox Church they are the first clue. It all ties in

[@TorianTammas]

It is a standard trope copied from greek literature as is the empty tomb. We have here greek-roman literature filled with tropes and story elements from Homer, Euripides, Vergil and greek philosophy. The story about Iesous (Jesus) is so empty that it is nothing without greek literature.

[@jillphilips3788]

Please share We do Not Need another different interpretation. Just The Records of Those Times and Men !

[@ounkwon6442]

Christianity, Resurrection, and Paul are well covered here. But 'first person WITNESS' cannot be the title. This youtube is about first person EXPERIENCE of the Jesus' resurrection. None has witnessed the resurrection itself. Gospels tell about the empty tomb and His appearance to the disciples.

[@blueturkey]

Eh? If Jesus was dead, then he was resurrected. If he was alive, then he transcended. So what is it?

[@jackforeman2742]

All we can do regarding what may or may not be beyond our death on earth is by faith.

[@davidseverance5077]

Google about the information on about "Baphomet," and the "Knight's of Templar," and Daniel 8:5 to Daniel 8:8.

[@ulyssesm.daniels6927]

I feel like I have misjudged Paul.

[@morneterblanche2228]

Tell me , why did the Patriarchs burry them in one garden / cave / speculture. Why did they preserve the bones in a stone coffin ?, Resurection of the Dead is Jewish , Hebrews , Egyptian and many more

[@stevecatlin5609]

Did he see the Resurrected Jesus before he Ascended, or after the Ascension? Since after the Ascension, he had gone to the Father.

[@OldMotherLogo]

And here I thought this was going to be about Mary Magdalene.

[@frederickdelon6407]

Good to hear some comments based on the word of God rather than on some man made interpretation of it

[@imafeltersnatch7634]

Who exactly heard any mythical gods speak?

[@johnmulvey7890]

All the gospels are man's interpretations.

[@frederickdelon6407]

@@johnmulvey7890 That’s why there are so many Christian religions. If they would only stick to God’s interpretation!

[@imafeltersnatch7634]

@@frederickdelon6407 Firstly, what God and what version?

[@imafeltersnatch7634]

@@frederickdelon6407 What person not suffering a serious mental disorder heard any mythical gods speak?

[@stevegross9477]

what happened to accuracy? it's got to be over 2000 years by now.

[@futureisyours3016]

So did the cameraman.

[@dissidentfairy4264]

I enjoy discussions such as this and also your two-hour discussion on Paul. I found it to be very interesting! I don't feel that the Bible supports a literal hellfire doctrine either. Sheol, hades, hell, pit, and grave all mean the same exact thing, non-existence not eternal torment.

[@qwerty-so6ml]

Jesus speaks: Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Note: No mention of unrepentant man. Only one Gospel: The Gospel of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ came into THEIR kingdom to reconcile fallen angels unto Himself. We are the fallen angels kept in DNA chains of darkness. If you do not confess being a fallen angel in Lucifer's kingdom, then you are an unbeliever. Unbeliever = those that claim to be made in the image of God.

[@francisvantuyle]

John Chapter 20 verses 11-13

[@kellykwongali]

What Paul said is most l true, especially when looked at through the space and time continuum.

[@Mairiain]

Doesn't it follow that human beings were made as a unity of body and soul that this is also the intention of resurrection--to restore to fullness of body and soul unity as in Eden, where Heaven comes to Earth?

[@mirgrande7683]

Oh - the Power of LOVE. 🙂

[@archadeinteriors]

Earth to James Tabor ! i mean Zion to James Tabor, you've got eveything but the lord! you need to let the love of Jesus into your life, he who threw everything out the window, threw his life right down on the dirt and said this love, stat here, all your intellectual truth is amzing, but when you see the overwhewlming love Jesu, then the power washes over everything . .those who love the lord might have a lot of problems, but in truth the lord has taught them, i will lay my right down on the dirt right now, to help my briother or sister, i might nor know how it's all going be possible, but at this moment i am a willing! until the lord opens your eyes you are still intellectualizing, but when the lord ipens your eyes you have found the pearl of great price!

[@johncipolletti5611]

Hey, what Christians forgot wasn't as bad as what they censored in 325 AD. 72 books of the New Testament disappeared at that religious council of Nicaea!

[@asamoahedward5545]

Christianity is about transformation from the state of Adamic nature of the ordinary man into the state of God.

[@jpblache2332]

Who Can Witness that Paul is a true apostle?

[@CurrentResident-dh1qt]

St Paul saw Christ YEARS after Pentecost.

[@ChristopherCudworth]

And isn’t all this description just another form of controlling legalism, much like the reinvention/creation of purgatory by the Catholic Church?

[@Robert_L_Peters]

Thank you

[@Brucec-x6r]

All happens within

[@juiceytee]

What’s your views on Bill Donahue’s perspectives on the NT/Bible re: pineal gland, melatonin etc? Love your work ❤

[@vivianlidberg9031]

Paul pushed Mary out he was jealous

[@kellykwongali]

Christianity forgot a lot more than that, only the tenets remain pure.

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

youre nuts.. all the disciples saw and wrote about Jesus's resurrection

[@joygibbons5482]

Where? None of the disciples wrote down their experiences, you have been misled

[@Charles-tv6oi]

Is this about hear not THE voice of HIM WHO SPOKE vs hear A voice? See dictionary. Hear means perceive ( a tone in fist case) and understand ( the words spoke) in second case. If were yelling overtop of noise we hear the tone but say I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

[@davidseverance5077]

Why? Because of the connection's of the similarities.

[@garyhundsrucker7771]

What about those wise men who had money to burn giving gifts to a baby! Why didn't they write 3 separate accounts of their encounter with our Lord and Savior!?? Ohyeah,it's bs.

[@reginaltedbrown]

paul changed JESUS .HE also changed his name from saul,in order that few people would not know him .

[@davidseverance5077]

1988? Jesse Duplantis?

[@willempasterkamp862]

Pauls Witness is an horrible first-century approach. Thank god there will be no afterlife. For modern believers 'going to heaven' is more of a 'fading away of the soul in the big nothing', soul being the ego or inner-self and not a ghost or spiritual body. Death is death with no afterwards consciousness or awareness.

[@willempasterkamp862]

@@austinjackson4690 exact, and has Paul ?

[@willempasterkamp862]

@@austinjackson4690 Yeshua = Nerones Lazarus = Brittannicus, Luke = Lucius Anneus Seneca = Ananias (the rich man), the lord/god = Claudius divius, the brother of the lord James the just = Germanicus (Paul)

[@willempasterkamp862]

@@austinjackson4690 same geneaology Nero the nazorean, Nerones chrestos

[@platzhirsch4275]

The wisdom of the Bible cannot be understood without the holy spirit. Whoever doesn't have that spirit will never understand the word of God as he is not given understanding. Knowing this it makes no sense to ask someone without the spirit about the scriptures. He is talking from his human understanding but without the true wisdom. Its a waste of time to listen to the answer..... I very much doubt that he will have peace within himself....

[@MrLibranda]

There is no doubt that writers of the books of the bible had to exaggerate a lot. The there is just too much hype! Some use the literary tool called 'hyperbole'! These books are written to amaze people and amaze they did! Paul description of the resurrection is just the same. He promised a resurrected incorruptible body and the life giving spirit! For one, spirits have not been observed to be life giving. Not yet. Perhaps in the future, some nanobots in their very fine structure could structure themselves in form of a DNA helix....perhaps.

[@Kitiwake]

Ah yeah, but are you going to rely on you own interpretation like you're the first person in 2,000 years to examine this?

[@HHasan-of2vi]

My humble request to all especially to Dr.James Tabor please watch on Utica Masjid KZbin Channel. Discussion between Imam Tom Facchine and The Bobbys Perspective(orthodox Christian) titled. 'The Big Question on Faith Expedition Towards Truth'.

[@georgemay8170]

In Jesus, we have the full deity in bodily form.

[@kalords5967]

Imaginary

[@franklakeman170]

Perhaps you can explain how to pour the infinite into a finite form....

[@StressFreeDentistry]

Sounds a lot like Mormonism as well to me….. so why was that so laughable….. if he was the first account then to me it’s just another witness that this guy Joseph smith who was not a Bible professor was either really inspired to pick his interpretation or just really an amazing out of the box creative genius to decide to describe the resurrection as he did vs the conventional we just go to heaven narrative which would have been so much easier and made more sense if someone was just making up a story and a church vs restoring a doctrine that matches up with the first witness as you mentioned ….

[@glennshrom5801]

I never considered Jesus' original resurrected body to be merely a resuscitated flesh and blood body. I always considered the physical body that the Apostles could see and touch to be the spiritual body of I Cor. 15. But this video has me wondering if the NT claim is that Jesus was resurrected twice - once into a type of spiritual body that had flesh and bones, and then later after the ascension into some type of spiritual body without flesh and blood. I can't quite wrap my head around that. It would make Christ's "firstfruits" of our future resurrection something that the Apostles did not witness when they first witnessed the resurrected Lord, but then maybe Paul was the first to witness that. Many modern-day people have seen Jesus in the way that Paul saw him, especially Muslim background believers and Hindu background believers and Jewish believers living in the middle east and near east, but also some Buddhists, etc. The "More than Dreams" series enacts some of these, but one can also read about them in books and testimonies of missions agencies, a book by Tom Doyle called Dreams and Visions, testimonies on One For Israel channel, etc. So if Paul had a first person witness to the resurrected Jesus, then so did all of these modern people. That means that Paul's may have been the first witness of the doubly resurrected Jesus, but not the only one, since many more have experienced the same encounter who may be interviewed today and can tell their story in the first person.

[@tongakhan230]

This may help. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died once for all time for sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. Peter contrasts Jesus death with his resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living person.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. Jesus was back to his spirit form after being resurrected by God. He, as angels before him had done, took on various human forms to be seen. Mark 16:12 King James Version 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

[@davidseverance5077]

"Connection's," and compare the "similarities."

[@salv1able]

Great video,! God made creation subject to vanity ! Hard to believe sometimes...and I agree with paul as in Adam all die in christ all will be made alive also Roman's 5:18 . There is no hell ..heaven is coming to earth.!

[@qwerty-so6ml]

Only one Gospel: The Gospel of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ came into THEIR kingdom to reconcile fallen angels (ELOHIM) unto Himself. We are the fallen angels (ELOHIM) kept in DNA chains of darkness. If you do not confess being a fallen angel in Lucifer's kingdom, then you are an unbeliever. Unbeliever = those that claim to be made in the image of God.

[@bobmoore5242]

Babble on about things you neglect to even identify and glorify Saul Paul the preacher killer. You are hereby dismissed along with the other Paulianity preachers. Paul is hardly worthy of the curiosity awarded to him. Jesus is my rock of salvation. John 11:25-26 New King James Version 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

[@Chuck-vv3wu]

Claps and applause at the start?

[@nageyebelieday7158]

The concept of God in Christianity is truly bizarre, even more bizarre than the Hinduism, which teaches God losing his wife to a rival God. In the Hinduism ideology, there are millions of Gods who are competing to dominate one another, hence, God almighty losing his wife to a rival God isn't that surprising. In Christianity however, God almighty saving his cosmos into original order, as this scholar said, can not be explained and isn't befitting his majesty. But Obviously, this reveals how the Christianity is as pagan and polytheistic as Hinduism, where competing multiple deities can influence or completely alter the order of universe. In Islam, God is one indivisible entity, glorious and almighty, unlike anything one can think of, everything is under his command, and nothing can happen without his permission.

[@markoaks8694]

Paul was definitely not a universalist.

[@seamuscharles9028]

When we Consider our present world and see all the Pillars of Society that have crumbled or become AntiHumanity We can Discerne what God is saying when He says " I will Conquer All Rule Authority and Power'

[@johncipolletti5611]

Let me get this straight. This man is being questioned about fairytales not being accurate!

[@johncipolletti5611]

@@austinjackson4690 Yes, that is why you respond to my comment. When in doubt shout it out (defend the questionable). Once again Jesus did exist but he was just one prophet out of 100s during that time. He was not light skinned, he was pretty dark. When he walked on water he walked on a sand dune. When he brought Lazerith back, the man was in a coma and he was revived. Yes, he was the son of God but all men are! Oh, and his story comes down from other ancient cultures including Egypt and Osiris.

[@jeremymettler2785]

Says in plain words how to test this moment yet deaf

[@julianemperor2554]

So according to the clever professor Our Lord Jesus Christ was not raised in his earthly body !!!! That is blasphemy and Heresy from the depths of hell be gone Satin !!! Deceiver

[@judycarlsen7707]

While I understand and enjoy your guests, it is nothing short of a miracle that any one of the guests can understand your rambling., multifaceted, multi subject questions. I know the questions often loose me, leaving me bewildered about the topic. Please revisit your method of posing questions. There is nothing wrong with a simple interrogative question that can be fully and easily understood. Thank you.

[@Leokat334]

And the bible was meant to be read that way. It does not take a scholar to read the bible. when they do this is what you get. Anyone can read and understand scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit who teaches you, guides you into all understanding. I found him to be confusing especially to a new believer and he frustrating. We cant get philosophical about reading scripture. I was going to take a class in college on the Bible as literature. I am so glad I didnt. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me they will turn you away from the bible. I have read and studied my bible and understand it perfectly. I get what you are saying with his babbling.

[@FatherVampire]

Paul wasn't an eyewitness to anything; he was simply an opportunist... who lied. And we know this because despite telling the story of this supposed vision of Jesus to him three times, yet he can't tell the same story twice. In Acts 9, 22 and 26, he tells differing stories... and contradictory ones, at that. In Acts 9:7, only HE sees the light and is thrown to the ground while the men with him remain standing having seen nothing/no one. However in Acts 26:14, he and everyone with him see the light and are ALL thrown to the ground. So... which is it, Paul... were you alone thrown to the ground or was also everyone else with you? Can't be both! And WHY is it we never hear a word about or from these other supposed men accompanying him? If truly witnesses to that light brighter than the Sun... why weren't they blinded and/or converted to Paul's movement? Why don't they also appear to verify Paul's account? Why do we have nothing from these alleged witnesses? Instead, these alleged men are all glaringly... absent. Paul is also careful not to claim to have actually seen Jesus... knowing he couldn't describe Jesus for having never met him and, thus, not wishing to run the risk any such physical description that would reveal the fraud to those who actually had seen and known Jesus. This man was an admitted assaulter, torturer and -- yes -- murderer of Christians, fully authorized to do so by the Chief Priests, as he so openly admits (Acts 22:4-5, Acts 26:10-11). And upon seeing even death was not enough to dissuade believers... perhaps further seeing the direction Rome was increasingly taking against Judea and the growing Messianic movements heading toward the very fiery destruction that resulted soon thereafter... Paul ultimately decided to succeed in his mission to destroy Christianity and enrich himself... by JOINING it to run it right off its rails and destroy it from within, turning it into the next great Greco-Roman religion with him at its head... and its headquarters in Rome, which is precisely where we find him freely preaching and converting at the end of Acts.

[@smerr5073]

While there are plenty of contractory NT stories, Acts wasn't written by Paul, so you can't blame him for the details there.

[@FatherVampire]

@@smerr5073 - Acts was written by one of Paul's own disciples, named Lucas (Luke), a Roman birth name. Lucas is also traditionally claimed to be Paul's own physician. Additionally "Luke" was a Christian convert of Paul's, one of Paul's own disciples and, thus, even further subordinate to Paul... most especially in matters related to the composition of Acts, Paul's chief proselytizing vehicle while in Rome. And all of this confirms that "Luke" worked for Paul. Thus, "Luke" wrote as Paul required. And as Acts primarily recounts the events of Paul's life, ending with his establishment in Rome, this makes "Luke" Paul's official biographer too, writing down Paul's own recollections of his own life as dictated by Paul to him... and as Paul wanted it told. And upon its completion, Paul would have also had final editing rights to this commissioned composition of his own biography prior to its release and public dissemination to the world. All this makes Paul -- NOT "Luke" -- the primary contributor to and final editor of its content.

[@davidmathews9633]

Book of Luke was probably written after Paul had died

[@FatherVampire]

@@davidmathews9633 ... Could be. While most scholars date Acts to 80-90 CE given it reflects back on the destruction of Jerusalem while also referencing the Gospel of Mark, yet it does not include any mention of Paul's death. As Acts is primarily a biography of Paul's life and ministry... at least up until Rome... why would it not include any mention of something so critically important to that biography and to the Church if Paul had already passed?

[@wungabunga]

You can’t have it both ways, chief. Either naysay that Paul’s letters weren’t all written by Paul, or that they contain contradictions. We’ve heard every sceptical argument and nobody cares. Believe, or don’t, it’s your soul at the end of the day.

[@maizen5267]

i had a memory of like an ancient egyptian woman in a forest, like she was new to what she sees and looks amazed.. then she saw this caterpillar turning to cocoon and turn to a butterfly.. that is why they got the idea of making mummies(like cocoon)..for thought being a cocoon and die then turn into a beautiful butterfly(reincarnation).. because it is what they experiencing like they came from a past life..its also like spiritual awakening..

[@jakeaurod]

But was the manner of apparition witnessed by Paul the norm or the exception. Maybe J had to up the glory to 11 to convince Saul of Tarsus to change, while he could dial it down for his old friends and acquaintances.

[@interqward1]

Good point.

[@GravityBoy72]

There is a long long history of apparition fraud. You could start with more recent Joseph Smith, Medjugorje in Bosnia, go back to Muhammed and even the gospel resurrection accounts. Just because Paul says he saw something doesn't make it true. It's almost certainly not.

[@luciferlucero]

⚡⚡

[@bugsocsollie1694]

Jesus gave Paul a different Gospel for the Gentiles than what He gave the 12 (and later the 70) to preach. That "difference" is what right division is all about.

[@DrMARDOC]

Esoteric Tao Teachings of the YIN SHEN and the YANG SHEN explain all of this in depth and detail! Now go do your research and homework!

[@johnsinclair2672]

Spot on my friend.

[@joecaner]

The Egyptians believed in physical resurrection many centuries before Christianity, and we have written and physical evidence of this through their funerary practices.

[@evropej]

Judaism and Christianity is all based on Ogdoad from egyption religion!

[@joecaner]

@@evropej I have heard the case made that Isis and Horus were prototypical for the Madonna (Mary) and the Christ Child.

[@phillipbruce6280]

Egypt was founded on the ruins of a pre diluvian civilization by Egyptus, wife of Ham, son of Noah. This is where the similarities in religious beliefs arise. These had knowledge of the resurrection from the beginning as well as knowledge of the Son of God.

[@joecaner]

@@phillipbruce6280 _"It all began 75 million years ago. Back then there was a galactic federation of planets which was ruled over by the evil Lord Xenu. Xenu thought his galaxy was overpopulated, and so he rounded up countless aliens from all different planets, and then had those aliens frozen. The frozen alien bodies were loaded onto Xenu's galactic cruisers, which looked like DC-8s, except with rocket engines. The cruisers then took the frozen alien bodies to our planet, to Earth, and dumped them into the volcanoes of Hawaii."_

[@RichWoods23]

@@phillipbruce6280 The Egyptians had knowledge of the resurrection before Jesus was ever born? Riiiight. Folks, this is what religion does to your brain. Stick to what you can show is true, else you'll end up in the padded room next to Philip.

[@spherence]

All Gods are fictional. Christianity quadrapidially so. It’s a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy. 😊

[@jflaugher]

The resurrection of the dead at the end of time is neither Jewish nor Greek - it's Zoroastrian. The whole idea of an eschaton came from Zoroastrianism.

[@Emanuel-yf5sb]

Cyrus the Persian the Achaemenid emperor who freed Jewish slaves from Babylon was a Persian Zoroastrian and if you read the old testament, the Bible mentioned him as a Messiah. Why? Because Jews and Zoroastrians probably worshipped the same God!

[@marktwain5232]

BINGO.

[@evropej]

Did you know the Magi were from Zoroastroism?

[@jflaugher]

@@evropej yup - good point.

[@marktwain5232]

​@@evropej Yes. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all completely unoriginal religions. They are all Mithraic/Zoroastrian/Gnostic reformulations of the Jungian concept of "World Age Passage Archetypal Eternal Return" in the reset of the Hindu concept of the "Archetypal Leela Board" for a New Zodiacal World Age Cycle. This is all completely over the heads of the people in these "religions" today who will all now most likely not survive in the gene pool. I suggest reading the 1969 classic book "Hamlet's Mill" and the 2019 book "Iranian Leviathan: A Monumental History of Mithra's Abode." Maybe even the 2006 book "Cosmos and Psyche". People have to figure this all out by July of 2042 and prepare for the use of Nuclear Weapons to have any chance of surviving what is coming. Best of luck you you and yours!

[@cvet0246]

Stay Blessed 💯🙏

[@francisebbecke2727]

I am hoping for a spirit body because a physical one has too many constraints. Jesus was able to ascend into heaven with His new body. If we all are resurrected into perfect bodies we could all play in the NBA. But then there would be nothing special about playing in the NBA and the score would always be the same because nobody would play any better than anybody else. We could go on and on like this. Just accept Jesus as your savior and live in faith. He will see you through this life and into the next.

[@tongakhan230]

Dead humans will be brought back through a resurrection in human bodies. Similar to what they had so that their loved ones and others could recognize them. (Acts 24:15) And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. A few who are chosen to rule with Jesus get spirit form resurrections to be able to live in heaven. (Revelation 20:6) Happy and holy is anyone having part in the FIRST RESURRECTION; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.

[@SydneyCarton2085]

Being healthy should be a reward in itself and not subject to comparison. Will you avoid salvation if everyone turns to Christ? Your desire to be above others is hindering you.

[@kalords5967]

Jesus had the same old body. He showed them where the holes from the crucifixion were.

[@meeksde]

Makes one wonder about poor Lazarus. Back in the flesh. Corrupted and healed and corruptible again.

[@josephang9927]

I'm sure most people would take a second chance rather than die once.

[@meeksde]

@@josephang9927 I’m sure you don’t know what MOST people think.

[@Sportliveonline]

do you believe in life after death

[@thomasshoff6512]

Lazarus illustrates Christ’s Miracle experience. Yes it was a miracle, he was dead for three days(sound familiar). People in those days believed The Messiah would take over and rule-eliminating Roman Rule. Some speculate Judas betrayed Him partially because Jesus told disciples that his kingdom was in the future. People only know what their experience allows them! Seeing a miracle today would not cause such a sensation. The Bible tells us in the church age, signs and miracles are not evident.

[@francismarcoux8944]

Tabor seems bored now