The Resurrection of Jesus: Fact or Fiction?

Jesus of Nazareth is clearly one of the most influential and controversial figures in history. For two thousand years mankind has debated over the implications of His life and teachings. At the heart of the debate is the claim that Jesus, having been executed by crucifixion, was resurrected from death three days later. The central aim of this paper is to convince the reader that, despite what many critics say, evidence for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is neither sparse nor uniquely subjective. While primarily circumstantial, the objective evidence is sufficient to make a strong case that the resurrection is in fact an undeniable historical event. Having established our case for the historicity of the resurrection, we will then go on to examine the implications of such an event upon humanity.

Outline

Thesis: The aim of this paper is to show that the historical evidence for the resurrection is neither sparse nor uniquely subjective. Rather, the established historical facts lead one to the logical conclusion that Jesus of Nazareth did indeed rise bodily from death.

- What is the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?

--Before we look at the evidence it will be helpful to define what is meant by the term resurrection.

-- There are non-biblical sources of testimony from historical writings such as Josephus and others.

--There are biblical sources of testimony.

---The New Testament is established by scholars as an authentic historical document.

---The New Testament gives us a narrative of the events surrounding the resurrection as well as the testimony of key figures such as the Apostle Paul and others.

-- There is circumstantial evidence from both the New Testament and extra-biblical sources.

-- A conclusion can be drawn from the historical facts and circumstantial evidence.

--- In summary, there are five established historical facts:

---- Jesus lived.

---- Jesus died by crucifixion.

---- Jesus was buried in a well-known tomb.

---- The tomb was later discovered to be empty.

---- There were many reports that Jesus appeared to people subsequent to the discovery of the empty tomb.

--- Conclusion: The most logical explanation of the historical facts and the circumstantial evidence is that Jesus of Nazareth rose from death.

- What are the implications of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?

-- The resurrection validates Christianity and verifies the truth of the claims of Jesus.

-- The resurrection of Jesus gives hope to all of mankind.

- What are our final conclusions?

Jesus of Nazareth is clearly one of the most influential and controversial figures in history. For two thousand years mankind has debated over the implications of His life and teachings. At the heart of the debate is the claim that Jesus, having been executed by crucifixion, was resurrected from death three days later. The central aim of this paper is to convince the reader that, despite what many critics say, evidence for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is neither sparse nor uniquely subjective. While primarily circumstantial, the objective evidence is sufficient to make a strong case that the resurrection is in fact an undeniable, historical event. Having established our case for the historicity of the resurrection, we will then go on to examine the implications of such an event upon humanity.

Prior to an examination of the various types of evidence however, it will be beneficial to define precisely what is meant by the term “resurrection.” The biblical view of resurrection is not merely resuscitation from a state of death as was the case with Jesus’ friend Lazarus (ESV, Jn 11.38-44). Neither does resurrection refer merely to a spiritual state of existence immediately after death. Rather, the biblical idea of resurrection is the receiving of a new, glorified, physical, and eternal body by the initiative of God normally after death and after an intermediate, spiritual state in which one is alive but separated from his physical body. Noted New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright, has coined the phrase “life after ‘life after death’” in order to help us grasp what is meant by the biblical concept. Wright explains:

"Here there is no difference between pagans, Jews and Christians. They all understood the Greek word anastasis [resurrection] and its cognates, and the other related terms we shall meet, to mean . . . new life after a period of being dead. Pagans denied this possibility; some Jews affirmed it as a long-term future hope; virtually all Christians claimed that it had happened to Jesus and would happen to them in the future." (RSG 31)

Therefore, while some were skeptical and others disagreed about certain aspects, there was agreement in the ancient world as to the meaning of resurrection. Furthermore, Christians universally applied this meaning to the event that happened to Jesus three days following His crucifixion. Thus, having defined “resurrection,” we will now proceed to ascertain what evidence there is for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

The source of our evidence is not limited to the writings of the New Testament. There are several early, independent sources that allude to the raising of Jesus of which we list two in this short paper. Probably the most famous example would be a passage, commonly known as the “Testimonium Flavianum,” written about 93 A.D. by non-Christian, Jewish historian Flavius Josephus that reads as follows:

"Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; … and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day." (“Antiquities,” 18.3.3)

Again, we have here Josephus, who was not a believer, reporting as a historian in the first century about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Another early example is Pliny the Younger, a Roman administrator who wrote to the emperor Trajan around 112 A.D. Concerning his dealings with Christians he states:

"They [the Christians] were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind." (qtd. in Warnock 52-53)

In this correspondence we see two interesting things. First, that these Christians worshiped Jesus “as to a God” and second that they did so on a “certain fixed day before it was light.” Jesus crucifixion was common knowledge and crucifixion was considered a shameful and cursed way to die especially for one claiming to be the Jewish Messiah. The only way these Jews could have worshiped Jesus was if they believed him to be God incarnate resurrected from death. The reference to the specific day of worship has significance as well. Jews kept the Saturday Sabbath devoutly and only an event of extreme consequence like the resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus, could have caused them to change the day from Saturday to Sunday. While these examples do not prove the authenticity of the resurrection, they do show that it was based on a historical belief held by early Christians and not myth added at a later date. As the paper progresses we will seek to show that the most plausible explanation for this belief is simply that it was true. Presently, we will consider the biblical evidence for the resurrection from the New Testament.

Prior to discussing the biblical narrative, it is important to point out that we are approaching the New Testament in this case as strictly a historical document. Though we hold to the evangelical position, verbal plenary inspiration, and believe the Bible to be God’s infallible word, our purpose here is to examine with objectivity what was reported by these early Christians in the first century. On the historicity of the New Testament, renowned scholar F.F. Bruce assures us:

"The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt." (Kindle Locations 183-185).

Those who suppose that the writings of the New Testament fall into the genre of myth are mistaken. Dr. William Lane Craig unequivocally states, “the gospels are not of the genre of myth. The gospels are closest in their genre to ancient biography” (“Reply to Evan Fales”). As an authentic historical document, the New Testament ranks among the highest quality sources available. In his paper, The “Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ”, Dr. Gary Gromacki of Baptist Bible Seminary lists the three main criteria of authenticity used by historians when dealing with ancient texts: multiple attestation, dissimilarity, and coherence. Gromacki concludes:

"The resurrection of Jesus meets the criteria of multiple attestation as the multiple sources (the four gospels) each contain multiple witnesses of the empty tomb of Jesus. The story of the resurrection of Jesus was not invented by just one person. The resurrection of Jesus also meets the criteria of dissimilarity. The Jews and the early Christians were surprised by the empty tomb of Jesus. No one anticipated it, even though Jesus predicted that he would rise from the dead. Finally, the biblical account of the resurrection of Jesus meets the criteria of coherence as there are no facts given in the gospels’ narratives of the resurrection of Jesus which contradict one another. The resurrection narratives found in the biblical gospels do not contradict each other, but complement one another." (“The Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ”)

Therefore, there need not be any doubt, concerning the New Testament, that genuine historical people were writing about genuine historical events. One may debate the conclusions drawn from those events but not whether or not they were believed to have taken place by the authors of the New Testament. We are only left with the task of deciding what is the best explanation for the reports and beliefs of these early Christians. What then does the New Testament tell us about the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?

The New Testament consists of four biographies from different authors about the life of Jesus, a historical account of the development of the early church, various letters of instruction written to the churches by the early Christian leaders, and a book of prophecy focused on the revelation of the risen King Jesus. We will gather our information from these New Testament books. According to the New Testament, Jesus was God, the second member of the trinity [though the term “trinity” is not used, the concept is clear], in human form. He was miraculously conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a young girl named Mary. He was a Jew born in Israel in a town called Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth. He served as a carpenter most likely doing manual labor until he was about thirty years old at which time He began a miraculous ministry (ESV, Lk 1-4).

He preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand and that repentance and faith were required to enter it. Jesus confirmed his word with signs and wonders, healing the sick, casting out demons, controlling the forces of nature, and even resuscitating people from death (ESV Mt, Mk, Lk, Jn). During His ministry he predicted His own death and resurrection (ESV, Mt 12.38). He taught that He would willingly lay down His own life as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the world. His prediction came true as the Jewish leadership, stirred with envy, had Jesus arrested and with the help of the Romans sentenced to death by crucifixion (ESV, Mt 26-27). Jesus was crucified in a public place just outside Jerusalem.

To ensure his death a Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear. Having done so blood and water flowed out of the wound (ESV, Jn 19.34). Jesus was later taken down from the cross and put into a tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea (ESV, Mt 27.57-60). Joseph was a leader among the Jews, and both he and his tomb were well known and easily accessible by the public. Fearing that the disciples might steal the body, the Jews requested that Roman guards be place at the sight of the tomb. The Romans complied, the guards were sent, and the tomb was sealed with a large stone (ESV, Mt 27.62-66). Jesus was crucified on Friday and on the following Sunday, after the Sabbath, some women, devoted followers of Jesus, came to the tomb for the purpose of tending to the body. While they were at the tomb, there was an earthquake and an angel appeared and rolled away the boulder that sealed the tomb. The angel then explained that Jesus had risen from death and they were to go and tell the disciples (ESV, Mt 28.1-10).

Jesus then made many appearances to his disciples and more than five hundred others over the course of forty days (ESV, Ac 1.3). His appearances were physical and not just spiritual. We can attest to this by the fact that Jesus ate, drank, and made contact with people (ESV, Mt 28.9; Jn 20.17-28, 21.15). After giving final instructions to His disciples Jesus rose bodily into the air until he was out of sight at which time an angel appeared and said that he would come again some day in the same manner that he had left (ESV, Ac 1.9-10). Jesus later appeared also to Saul of Tarsus who was transformed by the appearance of Jesus from a persecutor of Christians to a great preacher of Jesus’ resurrection (ESV, Ac 9).

From our New Testament reading we can establish five essential, historical facts: Jesus lived; Jesus died by crucifixion; Jesus was buried in a well-known tomb; the tomb was later discovered to be empty; there were hundreds of witnesses that testified to seeing Jesus alive again after the discovery of the empty tomb (Habermas, The case for 149). The vast majority of scholars, including those who are skeptical about the resurrection, would agree to the authenticity of these facts. When we look at the further evidence it becomes apparent that the best explanation for them is that Jesus rose from death.

There is much circumstantial evidence concerning the resurrection of Jesus. We will have the space to look at a few examples. First, the transformation of Jesus’ disciples following his crucifixion is evidence supporting the authenticity of the resurrection. Jesus was not the first, who claimed to be the Messiah, nor was he the first to die for such a claim, but at no time previously did such a death serve to embolden the movement. There may have been a momentary surge of zeal and retaliation but not a sustained boldness that would fuel a worldwide movement. However, this is precisely what happened with the followers of Jesus. They remained faithful to Jesus as the Messiah despite his death on the cross. Crucifixion was a cursed and shameful way to die and, to the Jewish mind, it was unthinkable that the Messiah could have died in such a way. Only the resurrection could have resolved this dilemma. Rather than turning their backs on their Messiah, the disciples became extremely bold in their testimony of the resurrection of Jesus, many even dying as a result. Simon Greenleaf, professor of law at Harvard University, concludes that it was “impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact” (32).

Popular Christian teacher Adrian Warnock states the matter concisely:

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of the bodily resurrection of Jesus to the apostles and the early church. The church was birthed through the resurrection of Jesus. Before the resurrection they were ashamed, terrified, and disorganized and had deserted Jesus. The resurrection and subsequent empowering with the Spirit transformed them forever." (104)

Second, the resurrection narratives and subsequent teaching of the church are not consistent with what we would expect to see if someone were making up a lie to advance an agenda. For example, in that time the testimony of women was not respected in a court of law (Josephus, “Antiquities,” 4.219) and yet the Gospels transparently reveal that it was women who first discovered the empty tomb. Concerning this fact Warnock concludes, “This astonishing aspect of the resurrection story is very strong evidence for the genuineness of the account. No one would have invented an account so dependent on women as witnesses” (34-35). Furthermore, it is hard to believe that such honest and remarkable men as the apostles would have been the propagators of the world’s biggest farce. These men fed the poor, lived sacrificial lives, devoted their efforts tirelessly to the spread of the gospel, and most died for the cause. Are we really to believe that such great men as these, died protecting a lie, a lie that in no way would have enriched their lives or made them any easier.

Third, many who were formerly skeptics become devoted worshipers of the risen Jesus. For example Jesus’ brother James had previously doubted his brothers claims (ESV, Jn 7.5) but went on to become one of the primary church leaders and to write one of the letters in the New Testament. Saul of Tarsus, who was later known as the Apostle Paul, was equivalent to a modern day terrorist. He persecuted the Christians with zeal, even killing some and consenting to the death of many (ESV, Ac 22.4-5). After the resurrected Jesus revealed himself to Saul, he was dramatically converted and went on to become the greatest missionary the world has ever known. It is hard to believe someone so fiercely opposed to Christians would have been turned by anything other than an authentic encounter with Jesus.

Finally, the spread of Christianity itself is great evidence to the authenticity of the resurrection. The Romans crucified thousands of people and yet none of them are reverenced today. What was it about Jesus of Nazareth that was different if it was not his resurrection? Today, there are more than a billion people on earth who claim to be a Christian of one sort or another. They may disagree on many theological points but there is one point that virtually all of them would agree on, namely, Jesus Christ of Nazareth rose from death on the third day after his crucifixion.

We have looked at some of the historical facts and circumstantial evidence surrounding the resurrection event and it is our firm conviction that the most logical explanation is that God did in fact raise Jesus of Nazareth from death. Regarding the evidence Gary Habermas declares, “Jesus’ resurrection is more than the most plausible explanation to account for the data. It is the only explanation that accounts adequately for all the facts” (The case for 149).

The implications of the resurrection are astonishing. We will take time to look at a few.

First, if the resurrection is not true then Jesus is a liar and Christianity is worthless. Apologist, Josh McDowell describes the resurrection as either, “the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men or it is the most amazing fact of history.” He goes on to say that, “the resurrection of Jesus Christ and Christianity stand or fall together” (244). Christianity is more than a set of principles to live by. It is more than a religious system. It is based around the events in the life of Jesus: His incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection. If Jesus did not rise then Christianity is a false religion. The Apostle Paul said it this way, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins (ESV, 1 Cor 15.17). In contrast however, if Jesus did rise from death then it validates his life and teaching. Jesus claimed that He was God, and that He would die for the sins of the world. Furthermore, He claimed that after he rose from death He would ascend to the Father, send the Holy Spirit to help us, and some day come again to judge the world in righteousness and to restore all things.

Second, if the resurrection and the teachings of Jesus are true, then we are able to realize the true meaning of life and experience a living hope for eternal life. N.T. Wright describes the present value and future hope that the resurrection brings:

“The point of the resurrection…is that the present bodily life is not valueless just because it will die…What you do with your body in the present matters because God has a great future in store for it…What you do in the present—by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself—will last into God’s future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly, a little more bearable, until the day when we leave it behind altogether (as the hymn so mistakenly puts it…). They are part of what we may call building for God’s kingdom.” (SBH 205)

Again, the research proves five essential facts: Jesus lived; Jesus died by crucifixion; Jesus was buried in a well-known tomb; the tomb was later discovered to be empty; and there were hundreds of witnesses that testified to seeing Jesus alive again after the discovery of the empty tomb. Based on these facts and circumstantial evidence, such as Jesus’ own family turning from skeptics to worshipers, Jesus’ disciples willing to die instead of denying the resurrection, Jesus’ arch enemy Saul being converted by a post-crucifixion appearance, and the remarkable spread of Christianity in the face of great persecution, the only logical conclusion is that God in fact raised Jesus of Nazareth from the dead. This miraculous historical event significantly impacts humanity at every level giving us a hope beyond the grave. It proves that Jesus is who he said he is, he can do what he promises, and that we have the opportunity to live forever in His presence as glorified, physical beings in a restored universe. Jesus and His resurrection is ultimately the answer to the longing of every human being that ever lived and His message is the greatest hope for mankind imaginable. Having examined the evidence, one must simply embrace this good news by faith, that is, by trusting in the logical conclusion presented by the evidence.

Works Cited

Bruce, F. F. The New Testament Documents: Are they Reliable? Wilder Publications. Kindle Edition.

Craig, Dr. William Lane. "Reply to Evan Fales: On the Empty Tomb of Jesus." Reasonable Faith. Web. 2 Sept. 2012

Greenleaf, Simon. The Testimony of the Evangelists: The Gospels Examined by the Rules of Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1995. Print.

Gromacki, Dr. Gary R. “The Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The Journal of Ministry & Theology 6.1 (Spring 2002): 63-87. Print.

Habermas, Gary R., and Mike Licona. The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2004. Print.

Josephus, Flavius and William Whiston. The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987. Logos Edition

McDowell, Josh. Evidence for Christianity. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Logos Edition

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001. Logos Edition

Warnock, Adrian. Raised With Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010. Logos Edition

Wright, N.T. Surprised by Hope. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2007. Logos Edition

Wright, N. T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003. Print.

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