Resurrection of Jesus

====Leadership of Peter====
{{Main|Saint Peter|Apostolic succession}}

[[Saint Peter|Peter]] claimed forcefully that Jesus appeared to him,{{sfn|Pagels|2005|p=45}}{{sfn|Ehrman|2014|pp=101–102}} and legitimised by Jesus's appearance he assumed leadership of the group of early followers, forming the Jerusalem ''ekklēsia'' mentioned by Paul.{{sfn|Pagels|2005|p=45}}{{sfn|Lüdemann|Özen|1996|p=116}} He was soon eclipsed in this leadership by James the Just, "the Brother of the Lord,"{{sfn|Pagels|2005|pp=45–46}}{{sfn|Lüdemann|Özen|1996|pp=116–117}} which may explain why the early texts contain scarce information about Peter.{{sfn|Lüdemann|Özen|1996|pp=116–117}}{{refn|group=note|According to Lüdemann, in the discussions about the [[Paul and Judaism|strictness of adherence]] to the Jewish Law, the more conservative faction of James the Just took the overhand over the more liberal position of Peter, who soon lost influence.{{sfn|Lüdemann|Özen|1996|pp=116–117}} According to Dunn, this was not an "usurpation of power," but a consequence of Peter's involvement in missionary activities.{{sfn|Bockmuehl|2010|p=52}}}} According to [[Gerd Lüdemann]], Peter was the first who saw Jesus,{{sfn|Lüdemann|Özen|1996|pp=180–181}} noting that Peter and Mary both had appearance-experiences, but arguing that the tradition of Mary's appearance is a later development, and her appearance probably was not the first.{{sfn|Lüdemann|Özen|1996|pp=112–113}}{{refn|group=note|name=Sanders.first"|According to Sanders, "there seems to have been a competition: 'I saw him,' 'so did I,' 'the women saw him first,' 'no, I did; they didn't see him at all,' and so on."<ref name="Sanders.2007">"Jesus Christ." Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 10 January 2007</ref>}}

According to [[Christian proto-orthodoxy]], Peter was the first to who Jesus appeared, and therefore the rightful leader of the Church.{{sfn|Pagels|2005|p=45}} The resurrection forms the basis of the [[Apostolic succession]] and the institutional power of orthodoxy, as the heirs of Peter,{{sfn|Pagels|2005|p=43}} to whom Jesus appeared, and is described as "the rock" on which the church will be built.{{sfn|Pagels|2005|p=45}} Though the Gospels, and Paul's letters, describe appearances to a greater number of people, only the appearances to the [[Twelve Apostles]] count as lending authority and Apostolic succession.{{sfn|Pagels|2005|pp=47–48}}