Why is it important that Paul saw the risen Christ?
- Had Paul, intent on persecuting believers, not seen the risen Christ, he would not have been converted. (Acts 9:5; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:15; 1 Corinthians 15:8)
- It makes Paul’s witness independent of the other apostles who had been with Jesus during his ministry. (Galatians 1:1; Galatians 1:11,12).
- Paul – a Pharisee - was ordained by Jesus as ‘the apostle to the gentiles’ (Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21)
- Much of what Paul wrote are commandments given directly to him by Jesus. (1 Corinthians 14:37;
1 Thessalonians 4:2)
- The Gospel preached by Paul agrees with the the other New Testament writers to make a unified whole
(1 Corinthians 15:9-11;) And adds force to his words in Galatians 1:8.
I hope this helps,
God bless,
Glenn