03b empty tomb

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WHO IS JESUS?
2 of 4
THE EMPTY TOMB?

The Essentials of Apologetics – Why Jesus: The Resurrected Jesus
How to Destroy / Falsify Christianity in One Step.
Produce the body of Jesus of Nazareth.

“For if the dead are not
raised, not even Christ
has been raised; and
if Christ has not been
raised, your faith
is worthless …
If we have hoped in
Christ in this life only,
we are of all men
most to be pitied.”
1 Corinthians 15:16-17-19;

The Criticality of the Resurrection.
Christianity stands or falls
on the resurrection of Jesus.
The one way to end
Christianity once and for all
is to produce the body
Of the Nazarene Carpenter.
If Jesus was not raised from
the dead then Jesus is a liar.
Further, either all His disciples
and the Apostle Paul are liars
or else they were deceived.

How to Approach the Question of the Resurrection?
From historical study, deliver
factually based claims that the
vast majority of historical
scholars agree upon.
WE NEED TO USE!
Relevant sources;
Responsible methods;
Restrained results
to help VALIDATE claims.
Support claims with good
historical evidence
and reason.

Key Facts of Jesus’ Resurrection.
1. Jesus was murdered and buried.
2. Three days afterward, His body went missing.
3. There were appearances of Jesus over the course of
many days to various people, including his disciples
and unbelievers.
4. Christ’s appearances transformed His followers and
some previous skeptics, with His resurrection
becoming the central focus of their teaching.

Key Facts of Jesus’ Resurrection.
These four facts about Jesus’ resurrection are
agreed to by the vast majority of historians,
Christian and non-Christian.
What EVIDENCE exists to support them?

Did Jesus Die and Was He Buried?
“One of the most certain
facts of history
is that Jesus was
crucified on orders
of the Roman prefect
of Judea, Pontius Pilate.”
– Bart Ehrman

Jesus’ death and burial
Is recorded in all
the gospel accounts.
Jesus’ death under Pilate
is referred to in several
Extra Biblical writings.
The burial by Joseph of Arimathea
in his own tomb is nearly
universally held;
Joseph was a Sanhedrin member:
unlikely that this account would
be made up by the gospel writers.

The tomb would be known
to all living in Jerusalem.
Jesus’ burial was
witnessed
by close friends.
His tomb was guarded
by soldiers.
The Jews never denied
that Jesus was
dead and buried.

“That he [Jesus]
was crucified
is as sure
as anything historical
can ever can be.”
– John Dominic Crossan

Did Jesus’ Body Go Missing After His Death?
Jesus’ body has never been
found up to this day.
Empty tomb first viewed /
reported by a group of
Jesus’ women followers:-
Mary Magdalene, Mary
mother of James, etc.

Peter and John later
reported the tomb
was empty.
Jewish leaders devised a lie
to cover up the resurrection.
They never refuted the claim
that the body was gone.
Non-Christian historians
record Christian’s claims
of Jesus being alive
and the body being gone.

“All the strictly historical
evidence we have is in
favour of [the empty tomb],
and those scholars who
reject it ought to recognize
that they do so on some
other ground that
that of scientific history."
– William Wand Oxford Church Historian.

Jesus was publicly executed in Jerusalem,
His appearances took place there, and
His resurrection was proclaimed there.
If the body had still been in the tomb, it would have
been very easy to stop Christianity’s message
in its tracks by simply going to the well-known tomb
and producing the body.

Did the Disciples and Paul Experience Appearances of Jesus?
Appeared to Where When References
1 Mary Magdalene Jerusalem Sunday Mark 6:9-11; John 20:11-18
2 Other Women Jerusalem Sunday Matt 28:9-10
3 Peter Jerusalem Sunday Luke 24:32; 1 Cor. 15:5
4 Emmaus
disciples
Emmaus Sunday Luke 24:13-35; Mark 16:12
5 10 disciples Jerusalem Sunday Mark 16:14; Luke 24:26-42; John 20:19-25
6 11 disciples Jerusalem A week later John 20:26-31; 1 Cor. 15:5
7 7 disciples Galilee ? John 21:1-25
8 500 brethren Galilee ? 1 Cor. 15:6
9 James ? ? 1 Cor. 15:7
10 11 disciples Galilee ? Matt 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18
11 11 disciples Jerusalem 40 days later Acts 1:3-12
12 Paul Road
Emmaus
? Acts 9

"It may be taken as
historically certain that
Peter and the disciples
had experiences after
Jesus' death in which
Jesus appeared to them
as the risen Christ."
– Gerd Lüdemann Atheist Historian

“Why, then, did some of the
disciples claim
to see Jesus alive
after his crucifixion?
I don’t doubt at all that some
of the disciples claimed this. . .
Paul, writing about twenty-five
years later, indicates that
this is what they claimed, and
I don’t think he is making it up.
And he knew at least a couple
of them, whom he met just three
years after the event.”
– Bart Ehrman

What Happened to Jesus’ Followers After His Death?
The New Testament records the
embarrassing details of how
Jesus’ disciples abandoned Him
and fled during His arrest.
The writer of Acts records how these
same disciples stood before the exact
same leaders who murdered Jesus
(Annas and Caiaphas)
after His death and proclaimed Jesus’
resurrection from the dead.
Various accounts record that
the Disciples and Paul were
martyred for their proclamation
that Jesus was alive.

“On any showing the
crucifixion should
have put an end
to the Jesus movement
once and for all
In an honour and
shame culture
like early Judaism.”
– Ben Witherington III

“At Rome, Nero was the first
who stained with blood
the rising faith.
Then is Peter girt by
another, when
he is made fast to the cross.”
– Tertullian- A. D. 200.

What Happened to Some Skeptics After Jesus’ Death?
"For not even His brothers were
believing in Him.” (John 7:5).
In the first century, it was embarrassing
for a Rabbi to have his family not be
followers.
"then He appeared to James“ (1 Cor 15:7).
“Festus was now dead, and Albius was out
upon the raid; so he assembled the
Sanhedrin of the judges, and brought before
them the brother of Jesus, who was called
Christ, whose name was James, and some
others, and when he had formed an
accusation against them as breakers of the
law, he delivered him to be stoned” -
Josephus Antiquities 20.9.1.

“What do we need to say
concerning Paul, who preached
the Gospel of Christ from
Jerusalem to Illyricum, and
afterwards suffered martyrdom
in Rome under Nero?
These facts are related by Origen in
the third volume of his
Commentary on Genesis. . . .
You have thus by such an admonition
bound together the planting
of Peter and of Paul
at Rome and Corinth.

For both of them planted
and likewise taught us in
our Corinth. And they taught
together in like manner
in Italy, and suffered
martyrdom at the same time.
I have quoted these things in
order that the truth of the history
might be still more confirmed.”
Eusebius Church History, Book 2, 25.8; Book 3, 1. AD 324.

Review - Key Facts of Jesus’ Resurrection.
1. Jesus was murdered and buried.
2. Three days afterward, His Tomb is EMPTY.
3. There were appearances of Jesus over the course of many
days to various people, including his disciples & unbelievers.
1. Christ’s appearances transformed his followers and some
previous skeptics, with His resurrection becoming the
central focus of their teaching.

Foundation for the Undisputed Facts.
1. Multiple independent, early sources support the facts.
2. Attestation by enemies of Christianity support the facts.
3. Embarrassing admissions support the facts.
4. Eyewitness testimony support the facts.
5. Early testimony support the facts.

What Best Explains the Facts of Jesus’ Resurrection?
Examine resurrection hypotheses with the philosophical
“appeal to the best explanation” approach.
Also called the “cumulative case” or
“abductive argumentation” method.

Universally Accepted Historiographical Criteria.
Ask what explanation is best at:-
• Explanatory power.
• Explanatory scope.
• Not being ad-hoc.
• Plausibility.
• Not contradicting accepted beliefs.
• Far exceeding its rival theories in meeting those conditions.

Most Common Resurrection Hypotheses.
• Legend.
• Hallucination.
• Stolen body.
• Wrong tomb.
• Swoon theory.
• Spiritual only.
• Mistaken
identity.
• Act of God.

Legend Hypothesis
The early dating of the gospels
ensures they were written during
lifetime of the eyewitnesses who
could refute legend.
Historians demonstrate that it
takes at least one generation
to pass from an event before
legend can enter and
corrupt an account.
Nearly all scholars agree that the
gospels we have today are
what were written in the first
century.

Legend Hypothesis.
Events can be historically traced
back to the disciples.
Legend hypothesis cannot explain
the historically validated
transformation
of James or Paul.
The empty tomb is validated by
non-Christian sources.
The disciples went to their deaths
for a truth, not a myth.

Hallucination Hypothesis.
Currently the number one
explanation given
by skeptics.
The gospel accounts all confirm
the disciples did not expect
Jesus to be resurrected.
Does not explain
the empty tomb;
The body is still missing.
Hallucinations are generally
experienced by people
wanting to see something.

Hallucination Hypothesis
Jewish belief only looked forward to the
end of time for a resurrection and not
to the Messiah being resurrected.
Skeptics would in no way be
psychologically expecting to see
Jesus return from the grave.
Argument of cognitive dissonance.
(Cognitive dissonance is a theory that asserts that
it is psychologically uncomfortable to hold
contradictory ideas.)
This fails to explain the empty tomb
and appearances to skeptics.

Hallucination Hypothesis – Jesus Appeared…
• Not just once, but multiple times.
• Not just to one person,
but to different persons.
• Not just to individuals,
but to groups of individuals.
• Not just at one location,
but at multiple locations.
• Not just in one circumstance,
but in multiple circumstances.
• Not just to believers,
but also to unbelievers,
skeptics, and even enemies.

Stolen Body Hypothesis.
• Cannot explain the transformed lives of the
disciples.
• Cannot explain the transformation of the
skeptics James and Paul; their conversion
was based on appearance.
• No one dies for what they know to be false.
• Empty tomb, on its own, would
not convince many (if any).
• New Testament records
precautions enemies took to
prevent this possibility.
• First eyewitnesses thought body
was taken; appearances later
convinced them otherwise.

Wrong Tomb Hypothesis.
Too easy for the religious
opponents of Christ to refute.
Just go to the right tomb
and produce the body.
Does not account for the
appearances to the disciples.
Does not account for the
conversion of James and Paul.
Joseph’s burial site likely
known to all those involved
In Christ’s death.

Swoon/Apparent Death Hypothesis.
Jesus was scourged to the point
where He was completely
disfigured (Is. 52:14).
Death recorded
in all four gospels.
Death viewed by close
eyewitnesses.
Roman soldiers did not allow
their victims to live.
Spear wound described in John 19:34-35;
tells of the rupturing of the pericardium.

Swoon/Apparent Death Hypothesis.
Jesus would have to revive in
the tomb, push back the stone,
overpower the Roman guards,
then appear to his followers
and skeptics.
Worship described by disciples
would have been unlikely,
if Jesus was hobbling about
and in a greatly wounded state.
He Was seen in
glorious

Spiritual Only Hypothesis.
The Gospel accounts record that
the disciples disbelieved
even on Resurrection morning.
It was the physical
appearances of Christ
that transformed them.
Thomas doubted the
resurrection and only believed
once he touched Christ.
Christ took food and ate it in
their presence. (Luke 24:42-43).
James was converted through
a physical encounter with Jesus.

Mistaken Identity/Twin Hypothesis.
No mention in any historical
document of Jesus’ twin;
only very thin assertion is
in one of the Gnostic gospels
(Gospel of Thomas).
Bottom line: absolutely
no evidence for this theory
whatsoever.
Would have had to mutilate himself
to carry the crucifixion scars.
Would be suicide; the ‘twin’ would
have to know what Rome did to
his brother and that the same
fate would await him.

Act of God/Resurrection Hypothesis.
Jesus predicted His death and
resurrection multiple times
in the presence of
believers and skeptics.
The overall evidence Offers the best
explanation for the empty tomb, the
appearance stories, the
transformation of the disciples and
skeptics, and the growth of
Core facts of resurrection
present in all gospel accounts,
written during the lifetime
of the eyewitnesses.

Act of God/Resurrection Hypothesis
“The proposal that Jesus
was bodily raised from
the dead possesses
unrivalled power to
explain the historical
data
at the heart of early
Christianity.”
– N. T. Wright

Resurrection Hypothesis – Why Rejected?
The primary reason this option is rejected by critics
is because, following their anti-supernatural bias,
they rule God out in an a priori manner.
?
It is not a review of the evidence, but rather
a commitment to naturalism that causes
skeptics of the resurrection to exclude
the resurrection hypothesis.

The Resurrection – A Miracle in One of Three Ways.
1.Psychological:- The disciples and others
imagined a risen Christ, changed from unbelieving
cowards into courageous evangelists, and went
to their deaths for being deceived
or for something they knew to be untrue.
2. Biological:- Jesus survived the beatings,
scourging, the cross, and spear thrust into the
heart, fooled his executioners, recuperated in the
tomb, rolled away the stone, and had his
‘resurrection’ falsely proclaimed.
3. Theological:- Christ’s resurrection was a true,
historically valid, and divine miracle where Jesus
died and came back to life three days later, which is
in keeping with the theme of miracles in the gospels.

“I have been used for many years
to study the histories of other
times, and to examine and weigh
the evidence of those who have
written about them, and
I know of no one fact in the history
of mankind which is proved by
better and fuller evidence
of every sort, to the understanding
of a fair inquirer, than the great
sign which God hath given us
that Christ died and rose again
from the dead.”
– Thomas Arnold. Professor of History Oxford
Author of the three-volume History of Rome.

Results of Accepting the Resurrection Hypothesis.
1. The atheistic/anti-supernatural worldview
is declared false.
1. God and miracles are affirmed.
2. The historical Jesus of Nazareth
is pronounced the divine Son of God.

“But if we admit God,
must we admit
Miracles?
Indeed, indeed,
you have no security
against it.
That is the bargain."
– C. S. Lewis

Bridging the Gap Between History and Faith.
Philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and
Soren Kierkegaard believed a ‘leap of faith’
was needed to move from the
historical Jesus to the Messiah Jesus.
Born in Bethlehem Born of a virgin
Jewish Rabbi Prophet sent from God
Performed great feats Performed true miracles
Arrested for his teachings Delivered up by God’s plan
Crucified under Pilate Lamb of God for humanity’s sin
Body went missing Resurrected by God
Great moral teacher Son of God
The Resurrection
The resurrection provides the evidence and means
to bridge the gap between history and faith.

"But now Christ
has been raised
from the dead,
the first fruits
of those who
are asleep."
- 1 Corinthians 15:20;

51
Prepared by
Graeme Morrison
graemestudy@gmail.com
www.graemebibleresources.com
Next in the series:- Jesus the Evidence.
WHO IS JESUS?
2 of 4
THE EMPTY TOMB?

03b empty tomb

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