Was Jesus' Resurrection A Historical Event?

Was Jesus' Resurrection A Historical Event?

Edward Lee. November 11, 2016

Introduction

The resurrection of Jesus – did it really happen? What historical evidence are there to support the assertion that Jesus has risen from the dead?

There is disagreement among New Testament scholars over the following aspects of the Gospels:

1. Authorship – who wrote the gospels? Were they eye-witnesses to the events they recorded? Why does that matter?

2. Time of writing – how close to Jesus’ lifetime were the events recorded in writing? Seven years or 35-65 years?

3. Oral transmission – the gospel accounts were passed on orally, allowing for the introduction of a number of inconsistencies across the four gospels.


4. Inconsistencies in the accounts of the passion of Jesus – do the inconsistencies render the accounts unreliable?

I.  Argument for Jesus’ resurrection as historical, William Lane Craig 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW5_nJYSKyk;

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsXzu4tcOTI )

A. The evidence - four historical facts that are attested to by multiple independent, contemporary sources:

        1. Jesus' burial

        2. The discovery of his empty tomb

        3. His post-modem appearances

        4. The origin of the disciples' belief in his resurrection

       Any explanation must adequately account for these four historical facts.

B. Jesus' resurrection - provides the best explanation of these facts. 

How do you explain the empty tomb?

II.  Naturalistic Explanations for Jesus’ resurrection

A. The Stolen Body Theory – stolen by?

        1. The Romans

        2. The Jewish leaders

        3. The disciples

B. The Swoon Theory

        1. Jesus was badly beaten, nailed to the cross and pierced at his side

        2. Jesus was found dead by soldiers who came to break his legs (Jn 19:33)

        3. A Roman officer had confirmed Jesus was dead before Pilate released his body (Mk 15:44-45)

        4. The stone that blocked the tomb entrance would have weighed 1-2 tons

        5. Jesus was not seen again after his brief appearance

C. The Hallucination Theory – group hallucination? (1Co 15:6, NIV)

 

III.  An Attack on The Reliability of The Gospel Accounts of The Resurrection

A. Who is Professor Bart Ehrman?

B. Prior points: 

        1. his academic journey 

    2. criteria for judging the reliability of historical evidence (accounts that are contemporary, numerous + independent, and corroborative by parties who are disinterested, non-biased)

C. Video (4.38-10.56)

D. Points made:

       1. Accounts were written 35-65 years after Jesus’ crucifixion

       2. Authors were not eye witnesses to the event

       3. Inconsistencies – stories transmitted orally by interested parties.

IV.  A Defence

A. Who is Professor William Lane Craig?

B. Video

C. Points made:

      1. The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, while not perfect, is good enough

      2. Inconsistencies in the accounts are peripheral, and are not at the heart of story.

V.  Why Does The Resurrection Matter? 

        (https://www.cru.org/how-to-know-god/did-jesus-christ-really-rise-from-the-dead.html)

A. Jesus is divine – “he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Ro 1.4)

B. Christ has the power to forgive sin - "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1Co 15.17).

C. Christ has overcome death, given us eternal life and defeated the enemy

• "Christ rose from the dead and will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him" (Ro 6.9)
• "lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms" (Eph 2.6).

D. We have access to a new life in Christ

• “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” (Ro 6.4)
•  “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Phi 3.10-11)

VI.  The New Life in The Power of Jesus’ Resurrection 

    

(http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/experience-the-power-of-the-resurrection-every-day-11569838.html)

(See attached).