In saying Jesus group-appeared to “the 500” witnesses, Paul was at least trying to relay witness testimony.
• In general, 1 Cor 15:6 creed’s “to 500” was a testimony-relaying.
• Paul was not inventing it.
• Paul knew Jesus-bio.
But so what? Plausibly…
• Paul is just reciting hearsay.1
The 1st church: “Jesus visited the 500!”.
• In general, 1 Cor 15 creed was circulated by 1st church.
• 1 Cor 15:6 “to 500” is primitive-creedal.
• The 500 were saying, “Jesus visited us!”.
But so what? Plausibly...
• The 1st church usually didn't match what relevant witnesses were saying.
The reported appearance to the “the 500” brethren (in 1 Cor 15:6) was not a mere Christian fabrication.
• In general, ECs didn’t invent the 1 Cor 15 appearances.
• ECs usually don’t invent Jesus-bio.
• A liar would dislike spinning a “500” lie.
• By “most remain” Paul means you can ask them.
The 1 Corinthians 15 creed (verses 3-5, or 3-7) is something Paul is reciting, and was ultimately built faithfully from eyewitness testmony .
• 1st church formed/circulated 1 Cor 15 creed.
• In AD 30 Jerusalem, true Jesus-bio dominated.
• In general, ECs rarely invented Jesus-bio.
• In general, EC Jesus-bio relayed witness testimony.
But no. Plausibly...
• Paul invented the whole of 1 Cor 15
But so what? Plausibly...
• v6 is not part of the creed, nor creedal at all.
This report about “the five-hundred” in fact started off as the report about the mass-conversion at Pentecost (i.e. 40 days after Jesus's crucifixion, where Peter purportedly preached Jesus to Jews and many of them simply converted without actually ever seeing Jesus appear).
• Evidence forthcoming.
Paul, the author of 1 Corithians, actually just invented whole-cloth this alleged appearance to the 500 witnesses.
• v6 was not part of the creed
• Paul had motive to invent it.