Christ after the resurrection

[menageriekeeper]

While skimming through one of my daughter's school books I came across this comment:

"Christ appearred only to believers after His ressurection."

Really? Can we say this with any assurance?

 

[Salty]

While skimming through one of my daughter's school books I came across this comment:

"Christ appearred only to believers after His ressurection." ...

I assume it is a Chrisitan school - what subject book was it in?

 

[menageriekeeper]

History of the Middle Ages. It was part of the intro meant for parents/teachers. But that is not really part of the question just where I found the comment. I wasn't something I had ever really considered, but immediately thought was incorrect. And then I wasn't really sure and still haven't found anything that leads me in one direction or the other.

We are told that Christ appeared to several believers, but I can't find anything to make me think that He never appeared to an unbeliever.

Oh and we are homeschooling, I get to choose what she learns.

 

[canadyjd]

I Cor. 15:5+ speaks of those Jesus appeared to. In v.7 it says, "then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles".

The "James" spoken of here is the half-brother of Jesus who was not a believer. (John chp.7:5 "For not even His brothers were believing in Him.")

James would later become the leading elder at Jerusalem and wrote the book of James we have as scripture.

I believe Jesus appeared to His unbelieving family members... at a minimum scripture says He appeared to James.

peace to youraying:

 

[Allan]

I Cor. 15:5+ speaks of those Jesus appeared to. In v.7 it says, "then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles".

The "James" spoken of here is the half-brother of Jesus who was not a believer. (John chp.7:5 "For not even His brothers were believing in Him.")

James would later become the leading elder at Jerusalem and wrote the book of James we have as scripture.

I believe Jesus appeared to His unbelieving family members... at a minimum scripture says He appeared to James.

peace to youraying:

Interesting note, now I'll have to research this - thanks :laugh:

 

[menageriekeeper]

Hmmm, I didn't realize that Canadyjd. But that does help to answer the question.

 

[Me4Him]

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

off hand, I don't know about "unbelievers".

 

[webdog]

We know He appeared to Thomas, who at His appearing was not a believer yet.

 

[Allan]

We know He appeared to Thomas, who at His appearing was not a believer yet.

Ha Ha.. True and if you read above that, or prior to it, you will find that the all the other disciples (10) did not believe either till Jesus showed himself to them. Not one. Thomas was the epitome of the disciples and their unbelief, illistrating that they did not yet truly know nor understand just who Jesus really was exactly and what He was to do.

Jhn 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Jhn 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
Jhn 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Jhn 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

We see a little more detail as to their belief in Mark:
Mar 16:10 [And] she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not

Mar 16:14 ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen

And seen also in Luke:

Luk 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary [the mother] of James, and other [women that were] with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
Luk 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not


Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luk 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet.
Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And then back to John:

Jhn 20:19 ¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
Jhn 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

It is interesting that Jesus showed his hands and feet to them before they would be believe, just as with Thomas, and yet it is Thomas who is accussed as the one amounst them with unbelief. The truth is he was the picture (epitome) of all the others unbelief and needed for Jesus to prove Himself by validating Himself by showing His wounds.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I'm so glad that you are going through your child's material. It speaks well of your parenting skills.

I taught in the public school system for over twenty years. This will be my third year to teach at a Christian school and I ignorantly thought that the curriculum would be infallible because it was written by Christians.

I have found a good deal of inaccuracies and presumptions and I point them out to the children, the administration, and the parents.

For instance: My Bible curriculum states that Eve was not afraid of the serpent because he was probably her favorite pet. And my history curriculum states that the African slaves during the 19th century who were field hands were in very good health because they got a lot of exercise and sunshine.

I could go, but I won't.

I'm all for Christian curriculums .... but not at the price of ignorance.

 

[menageriekeeper]

I'm so glad that you are going through your child's material. It speaks well of your parenting skills.



I'm all for Christian curriculums .... but not at the price of ignorance.

Thank ya! I accept all compliments on my parenting skills!

You last comment is pretty close to my mantra when choosing the books my child will be learning from. Well that and the fact that I have control issue about how the scriptures are presented to my children). And not just scripture, but I was the ONE parent who didn't appreciate the fact that the public school used "Time for Kids" as part of their Social Studies program. The material was often times presented from a liberal point of view. It is hard to find good educational materials that are presented from a NEUTRAL point of view which is what I would prefer. It is easier in my opinion to add my beliefs to a cirriculum than to overcome the problems presented by "interpretation".