RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST PROOFS

 How to read the Gospels Mic Licona ( https://www.isca-apologetics.org/sites/default/files/papers/dpotter/Reivew%20of%20Licona_Why_Differences.pdf

)[compositional devices] (Plutarch, a writer of about 227 items and more than 60 biographies):

Transferal: “When an author knowingly attributes words or deeds to a person that actually belonged to another person. . . (20) 

Displacement: “When an author knowingly uproots an event from its original context and transplants it in another” (20)

Conflation: “when an author combines elements from two or more events or people and narrates them as one . . .” (20) 

Compression: “When an author knowingly portrays events over a shorter period of time than the actual time it took . . .” (20) 

Simplification: “When an author adapts material by omitting or altering details that may complicate the overall narrative . . .” (20) 

Expansion of Narrative Details: “If minor details were unknown, they could be invented to improve the narrative while maintaining historical verisimilitude.” (20)

Paraphrasing which can involve “altering the syntax” (13), adding “to original words” (13), “subtracting words or thoughts from the original” (14) and “substitute words in the original” (14) Law of biographical relevance: “A story is told in a manner that is most relevant to the main character.” (21)

Anonymity: 

Josephus Antiquities never lists Josephus as the writer. Plutarch (Greek biographer 1st-2nd century), Sallust (1st century BC’s Roman historian), and Livy (1st century BC’s Roman historian) never list themselves as the authors of their literature 

-Papias in Eusebius’ History dated to around AD130 by the majority of scholars claims that Mark heard from Peter to write down an achronological account. Since Plutarch’s authorship is sometimes falsely attributed to his son and its earlier attribution to Plutarch is more than a century or two after Plutarch’s death, Papias should be reliable also.

Jesus’ existence (as opposed to mythicists): 

-Flavius Josephus-Jewish historian-Antiquities of the Jews Book 20-AD 93-writes, “the brother of Jesus who was called Christ, whose name was James.” This text is found in every manuscript copy of the Antiquities. 

-Josephus in chapter 18 in Antiquities of the Jews commonly called Testimonium Flavianum mentions Jesus again but might be forged.

-Roman historian Tacitus-Annals book 15-early 2nd-indicates that Nero blamed Christians for the fire in Rome and that Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius by the procurator, Pontius Pilatus. He is an unsympathetic source because he mentions Christianity as a mischievous superstition and evil. Bart Ehrman in his book, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to Early Christian Writings writes, “Tacitus’s report confirms what we know from other sources, that Jesus was executed…” 

-(Roman historian) Suetonius (Life of Claudius) (AD 120) says that Jews were expelled from Rome because of the instigation of Chrestus. This is reported in Acts 18:2 

-Paul’s letters are only about 20-30 years after Jesus’ death, and he mentions Jesus a lot also.

-didache

-four gospels

-acts of apostles

-Roman author Pliny the Younger’s Letter to Trajan (early second) mentions that there are those who denied they were Christians and cursed Christ. Also Christians would also sing a hymn to Christ as to a god.

-Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho (AD 150) mentions Jesus being crucified under Pontius Pilate.

-Irenaeus’ Against Heresies book 2 (late second century) mentions Jesus being of flesh and blood.

Embarrassment: 

-John 7:5 says that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him

-Mark 3:21 says that those belonging to Jesus thought he was out of his mind

-Mark 13:32 Jesus says that he doesn’t know when his coming is

-Women witnesses resurrection

-Judas’ betrayal of Jesus

-Peter’s denial of Jesus thrice

Willingness to die

-Peter and John were arrested by the Sanhedrin and commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus but they defied it (Acts 4)

-The apostles were beaten for preaching Jesus (Acts 5)

-Stephen was stoned for his faith (Acts 7:54-60)

-James the brother of John was murdered by Herod (Acts 12)

-Clement of Rome AD97 Letter to the Corinthians says that Peter was martyred. 

-Tertullian of Carthage in Scorpiace (early 3rd cent) says that James is slain as a victim at the altar and that Peter was fastened to the cross.

Were not expecting to see Jesus

-John 20 says that the disciples had their doors locked because they were afraid of the Jews. 

-John 20 is where Thomas showed skepticism to seeing Jesus.

-Matthew 28 says that some worshipped Jesus but some doubted

Proclamation in Judea

-Acts 2 shows Peter addressing men of Judea while preaching Jesus’ resurrection on Pentecost which is 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection

-Acts 12 shows Herod persecuting church members but we know he was ruling in Judea.

Crucifixion, death, and burial: 

-John Dominic Crossan (non-Christian) says, “Jesus’ death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as sure as anything historical can ever be” (Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography)

-Mara-Bar Sarapion’s letter to his son (after AD 73) mentions Jews executing their wise king

-Justin Martyr’s Dialogue with Trypho (AD 150) mentions Jesus being crucified under Pontius Pilate.

-Tacitus Annals book 15 (early 2nd) say Christus suffered the extreme penalty

-Greek satirist Lucian in Death of Peregrine (late 2nd century) writes that Christians worship a man who introduced novel rites and was crucified on that account (unsympathetic source)

-(Mt. 27) (Mk. 15) (Lk. 23) (Jn. 19) says Joseph of Arimathe’a buried Jesus and Jn. 19 also says that Nicode’mus buried Jesus

Empty Tomb and resurrection: 

-The chief priests and the elders believed that the disciples stole away Jesus (mt 28) suggesting the tomb was already empty.

-Lk. 24 says how Peter saw the linen clothes by themselves and went home wondering at what had happened but doesn’t say that he saw Jesus, which suggests the empty tomb. It isn’t until later on that it is said that Simon saw the Lord.

-Jn. 20 says that Peter saw the linen cloths and napkin but doesn’t mention that he saw Jesus which suggests Jesus was not found in the tomb.

-Paul implicitly claimed the empty tomb: 1 cor 15 and Gal. 1:18 (Atheist Gerd Ludemann says, “not later than three years…the formation of the appearance traditions mentioned in I Cor.15.3-8 falls into the time between 30 and 33 CE” (The Resurrection of Jesus)

(Lk. 24) Resurrected Jesus appeared to Simon, to the eleven and those with them, and to 2 people. (mk. 16) to 2 people and to the eleven as they sat at table and to Mary Magdalene. (Jn. 20; Mt. 28) Mary Magdalene and (Mt. 28) the other Mary. (Mt. 28; jn 20) To disciples. (jn 20) To Thomas eight days after. (acts 9; 1 cor 15) To Paul.

Paul: We know that Saul was a Pharisee who felt righteous under Jewish law (Phil. 3) and dragged Christian men and women to prison (Acts 8), persecuted the followers of the Way to their death (Acts 22), voted against Christians, and tried to make them blaspheme (acts 26). 

Paul took up a life of labor and imprisonment. He was beaten countless times—often near death, five times received at the hands of the Jews to be lashed 40 less 1, beaten with rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, on frequent journeys, endangered in certain moments, in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, cold, and anxious (2 Corinthians 11).

-Women: The fact that some of them didn’t believe the women that the tomb was empty is an embarrassing fact in proof of this (Lk 24). Josephus in Antiquities book 4 writes, “But let not the testimony of women be admitted, on account of the levity and boldness of their sex.” 

-Mishnah Shevuot chapter 4 says, “The oath of testimony is practiced with regard to men but not with regard to women.” ( https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Shevuot.4.1?lang=bi)

-Mt. 28 describes that the risen Jesus appeared to the women and told them to tell his brethren to go to Galilee to meet him. Later on, the eleven disciples went to Galilee and saw Jesus.

-Lk. 24 says that some gave Jesus fish and he ate it.

-Jn. 21 says that Jesus appeared to the disciples for the third time after he was raised from the dead.

-Jn. 21 is where the author reveals himself as bearing witness and writing these things knowing that the testimony is true.

-Jn. 21 says that there were many other things which Jesus did, which if written then the world could not contain the books that would be written.

-Proofs from fathers

-Clement of Rome mentions the resurrection of Jesus.

-Ignatius in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans AD110 mentions the resurrection of Jesus also

-Polycarp, who probably knew John [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0134.htm], proclaims Jesus being raised from the dead around mid second century [https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12219b.htm] in his Letter to the Philipians

Proofs from books of bible:

-Matthew written before ad70 or even 90s.

-Mark written before ad70 probably bc no mention of destruction of temple; most scholars think it’s before AD70.

-Luke probably written before ad70 bc no mention of jerusalem temple being destroyed and nothing about peter and paul’s deaths, which were around the mid 60s. But most scholars think it’s in AD85 (jimmyak).

-John written probably around 60s to 100s. Most put it at 90s. 

-Acts 2; 10; 13 mentions the resurrection of Jesus and it is written in 60s to 90s but probably around 60s bc paul and peter martyred in mid 60s but isn’t mentioned in acts. He doesn’t mention the fire by Nero in AD64. He doesn’t mention Rome’s military conquest of Jerusalem in AD70. Acts has the central theme concerning the early church with Rome in Jerusalem so it doesn’t make sense to not mention it unless it was dated earlier.

-1 Peter 1 and 3 mentions Jesus’ resurrection and is dated as often as early 60s to early 2nd cent. (early 60 prob if peter wrote or Sylvanus/Silas [as suggested by 1p5:12] bc peter died mid 60s)

-Hebrews 10:1-3 uses the present tense when talking about the temple priests offering sacrifices. Since the temple was destroyed in A D 70, it seems likely that Hebrews was written before that event—making it an early source. Hebrews 13:20 says that Jesus was raised up from the dead

Biographies average around 10-20k words and the gospels average around there.

Achronological:

-(Roman Historian)-Suetonius-AD120-biography of Caesar Augustus says that he writes not in chronological order but by classes [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/suetonius/12caesars/augustus*.html]

Giving the “gist” rather than word for word:

-(Greek biographer) Plutarch in his biography on Alexander the Great in AD90-100 says that he might leave out some famous actions or not even speak exhaustively on certain things. [ https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/plutarch/lives/alexander*/3.html]

-2 Maccabees 2:30–32 (1st or 2nd century BC): “It is the duty of the original historian to occupy the ground and to discuss matters from every side and to take trouble with details, but the one who recasts the narrative should be allowed to strive for brevity of expression and to forego exhaustive treatment. At this point therefore let us begin our narrative, adding only so much to what has already been said; for it is foolish to lengthen the preface while cutting short the history itself.” The original history of the resurrection is done through oral tradition, whereas writing can be considered recasting of the history.

-(Greek satirist) Lucian-biography of Demonax-2nd century, says that he made only a small selection of available material but gave some ideas of who Demonax was. [ https://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/luc/wl3/wl302.htm]

-(Greek historian)-Thucydides-B.C. 400s-History of the Peloponnesian War Book I says that he records the “general sense” of what people say rather than “word for word”[http://people.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/thucydi1.html]

-Journal of the American medical association, “Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/403315