Before we ask whether Jesus rose from the dead, we have to ask a more basic question: What did the earliest Christians actually believe happened?

In Part 1 of our three-part series, we begin where the New Testament itself begins—not with the Gospels, but with Paul. Writing decades before Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Paul's letters provide our earliest window into the Christian movement and the resurrection claims at its center.

What did Paul mean when he said Jesus was "raised"? How did he describe resurrection, visions, and appearances of the risen Christ? Did Paul envision a physical body walking out of a tomb, or something more complex? Why does Paul rarely mention details that later become central in the Gospel accounts?

We examine the chronology of the New Testament, explore Paul's own testimony about encountering the risen Jesus, and compare his understanding of resurrection with both Jewish expectations and the stories that developed later in Christian tradition.

Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or simply curious, this episode lays the historical foundation for one of history's most consequential claims: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Part 1 of our resurrection series begins with Paul, the earliest Christian writer. Decades before the Gospels were written, Paul described encounters with the risen Jesus and laid the foundation for Christian belief. What did Paul actually believe about resurrection, and how does his testimony compare to the accounts that came later?