1 Corinthians 15:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Christ appeared to more than five hundred believers at once, most of whom were still living.
What Does 1 Corinthians 15:6 Mean?
Paul adds the most striking witness of all: more than five hundred saw the risen Christ together at one time. He notes that the greater part were still alive as he wrote, an open invitation to ask them. The few who had died he describes gently as 'fallen asleep,' a tender word for the believer's death.
The sheer number of witnesses makes the resurrection a public, testable event. This was no private vision but a shared encounter. To speak of death as sleep already hints at the chapter's theme: those who die in Christ will wake. The verse quietly comforts even as it argues, for sleep implies a morning still to come.
1 Corinthians 15:6 in the Original Language
koimao (κοιμάω), 'fallen asleep' -- to sleep, a gentle word for the death of believers who will wake.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 15:6
What does 1 Corinthians 15:6 mean?
Christ appeared to more than five hundred believers at once, most of whom were still living.