The Twelve

The Twelve

There are some web sites that seem to be dedicated to exposing errors and/or contradictions in the Bible. They are usually very simplistic arguments and simple explanations. I do not typically peruse them as it is a waste of time. But I do read the Bible very carefully and critically. I do not want to have some guy point something out to me that I do not already know and have an answer to.

The good news is, that there are no objections that cannot be answered. But some have taken a lot of time on somebody’s part to get the answer for me. I have a few of my own. Here is one.

1 Corinthians 15 is the classic statement of the Gospel.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Christ died–according to the Scriptures. He was buried and was raised on the third day–according to the Scriptures. Notice the source. The Scriptures both predicted and announced these things. The veracity and reliability of the Scriptures is a key component in the Gospel.

Then he appeared to Peter (Cephas) and then to the twelve. This would have been Sunday sometime. Whoops! Did you just make a slip, Paul? The twelve? Wasn’t Judas dead at his own hand? Was this just a simple oversight or did Paul have a senior moment? There were only eleven. And Thomas was missing that night. John points that out. (See below)  It was only ten of the apostles. This is getting more “seniory and seniory.”

Paul could have been using the term “the twelve” for the body of disciples, regardless of how many were actually present. Mark calls them the eleven. And Luke does too, in Chapter 24 which we will examine later. And later on, Peter appointed Matthias, so there were twelve.

But that ignores the fact that Paul was probably the one who was slated to take the place. (Some scholars believe this. You can decide. (Itdoughmatter. My little brother popularized that at home when discussing things important to me but not necessarily to anyone else. We did not hear of Matthias after that.)

But, technically there were only ten there. Is the generic explanation enough? Let’s go back and check the context. (Who ever thought of that?) Recall the story in Luke 24 of two guys going to Emmaus on Sunday evening. A stranger joined them and later they recognized Him as Jesus. They hustled back to Jerusalem, a distance of 19 or 20 miles, to tell the disciples.

33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven (See, I told you.) and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 

Luke even says that there were more than just the twelve, or the eleven, or what ever. So what is the deal? Is it a big thing? No, but is it right?

Let’s think. Ten were gathered and the two, only one of whom was named, entered and astounded them with more reports of “alive sightings.” At first the ten disbelieved, then Jesus stood in their midst. How many were there? Ten originals and Cleopas and Mr. No Name. That makes 12. Paul wasn’t wrong, any way you look at it.

Either it was the generic name for the guys, or the actual number of Christ “seers.” Even the smallest details come out right. Is that important? It is when the Infallible God is dictating or inspiring the message. He makes no mistakes.

We can count on it. Even down to the smallest point. Jesus said, “Jot and tittle.” He is watching the sparrows. And He is watching me, counting the tittles.


Mark 16:14
14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

John 20
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.