What did Paul mean when he claims to have seen the risen Christ?

[IndigoChild5559]

In St Paul’s first Epistle to the Greek Church of Corinth, he claims to have seen the risen Christ with his own eyes:

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
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.
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Did St Paul really see the risen Christ as some of the other apostles had? If not, how else could we explain his words recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:4-9?

Paul never saw Jesus in real life. He only saw Jesus in a vision.

 

[lukethethird]

He very likely did. Given the gravity of what he was called to, it would only make sense that Jesus would appear to him.

You have to remember that after Paul's conversion he went away to Arabia where he was taught directly by revelation about the things he was to preach (Whether by the Holy Spirit, personal visitations by Jesus, or both). He did not get any of his information from the other followers of Jesus, and only was able to confirm the truth of what he had been preaching after 3 years when he finally did go to Jerusalem.
(and Mount Sinai is in Arabia, so he likely went there to meet with God in seclusion, just as Elijah had done in the past).

Mount Sinai is part of Africa. According to Paul, he didn't think much of the Jerusalem group.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Mount Sinai is part of Africa. According to Paul, he didn't think much of the Jerusalem group.

We don't know the exact location of Mt Sinai, but we do know that it is not in africa, since it is on the other side of the Red Sea.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

I like how the risen Christ is experienced in a number of ways, not just literally. Paul’s experiences on the road to Damascus would have happened several years after the post resurrection appearances and ascension so is unlikely to have been similar to the resurrection experience of the apostles...that is of course unless the apostles post resurrection experiences were of a mystical nature too.

Dear Dawnofhope,

The entire Bible can be said to be a mystical experience. Read as such, in a spiritual concept, its meaning deepens and - I’d say - becomes more meaningful to Man, even in our time. The underlying spiritual message and purpose of Scripture, becomes timeless when read in this manner.


Humbly
Hermit