APPENDIX 9 - Some Postresurrection Teachings
APPENDIX 9
Some Postresurrection Teachings
Historical Jesus books often stop short of discussing the resurrection, and are if anything even less likely to discuss the content of any teaching attributed to the resurrection appearances. Nevertheless, both Paul (1 Cor 15:5-8) and the Gospels (Matt 28:9-10, 16-20; Lk 24:15-51; Jn 20-21) discuss Jesus’ resurrection appearances, and the Gospels multiply attest some of the content of his teachings at that time. (Scholars often describe these appearances in terms of the disciples’ experiences rather than the nature of the resurrection. Since the point at issue in this particular appendix is the antiquity of the tradition rather than the nature of the resurrection, I leave the question of that approach to the reader’s discretion, though I make my own suggestions elsewhere in this work.)
The Gospels differ substantially in detail regarding the precise content of resurrection appearances, differences that could be explained either by freer creation or by multiple sources (or a combination of the two options). In favor of the former option, Matthew and Luke, like many ancient writers, pull together some of their most important themes at the conclusion of their work, suggesting at the least some significant editorial work. In favor of the latter, 1 Cor 15:5-8 does claim a large number of witnesses (on one occasion over five hundred, 15:6). Whatever one’s explanation or combination of explanations for the differences, however, some features remain common to both. Here I wish to survey two of these.