When we have Biblical questions, we must always be careful where we turn for answers. Just like everything we read in the newspapers or see in the news isn’t necessarily true, we must also apply this concept to what we read on the Internet. While I use the Internet daily as a Bible Study aid, not every site on the Internet should be trusted. There are such things as fake news that are spread deliberately and ignorantly because people don’t fact-check. 

When I use the Internet as a Bible Study tool, I look up printed resources in digital format. Such as Bibles, surveys, and commentaries. Even when I’m curious about how people perceive a verse, I will read more commentaries before I jump into the murky waters which make up the rest of the web. Because someone has a printed commentary, it doesn’t make them a definitive source on what is or is not correct in Biblical interpretation. This is why we must use discernment. 

Every so often, when I’m studying a verse, I might dive into those murky waters and see what’s out there. One of my favorite sites for discussing the Bible is Stack Exchange’s Biblical Hermeneutics. I like Stack Exchange’s site because it’s based on the text of the Bible, and, for the most part, the users don’t let anyone slide with poor interpretation. While many other sites do a decent job of answering Bible Questions, Stack Exchange’s site is still one of my favorites. 

On the other hand, Quora is not a site I’d recommend for Biblical study. While Quora might be a great place to share knowledge, I find most of the “shared” knowledge about the Bible to be quite off, to say the least. While I applaud Quora’s efforts to expand knowledge, I don’t find it the place to go for truth as it relates to the Bible. 

This brings me to my topic today, which deals with this verse from 1 Corinthians. 

And that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve (emphasis added).

1 Corinthians 15:5 (NIV)

Here, Paul gives an account of all of the people Jesus appeared to after he was raised from the dead. However, something I encountered today dealt with Paul’s use of the term “The Twelve” and Judas Iscariot. When we read Paul’s statement about the Twelve in 1 Corinthians 15:5, we might wonder who were the Twelve? If Judas killed himself, then wouldn’t it be the Eleven?

A good guess would be that the twelfth member was Matthias (Acts 1:23,26). However, Matthias still needed to be made an apostle when Jesus appeared to the Twelve.

Instead of considering the individual members of the twelve in 1 Corinthians 15:5, we must think of the Twelve as a unit itself. As we see here in Matthew.

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests.

Matthew 26:14 (NIV)

Judas was one of the Twelve, and when we consider the Twelve, we are talking about the original twelve disciples: Peter; James; John; Andrew; Philip; Judas Iscariot; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alpheus; Bartholomew; Judas Thaddeus; and Simon the Zealot. Therefore, whenever the Twelve are mentioned, it doesn’t mean all of them are there. 

Indeed, like football teams, rock bands, etc., that go by a corporate name, we can consider the Twelve as the corporate name for the original twelve disciples, so the notion that Paul was referring to the Twelve as a group and not as individuals isn’t far fetched or out of place. 

What we should not do is believe that Paul was in error and start making up stories about Judas not betraying Jesus and killing himself as a result. Such teaching is false. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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