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Writer's pictureDr. William Newton

Examining The Evidence Of The Resurrection

Christianity stands out as a unique faith for various reasons, one being its foundation is based on historical events rather than mere beliefs. Christianity is not an unverifiable religion. At the core of these historical truths is the pivotal event of Jesus Christ's resurrection. We have evidence of the resurrection:


Transformation of Skeptics


The conversions of figures like Paul and James, who initially harbored doubts about Jesus, attest to the reality of His resurrection. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Paul, a Pharisee, and James, Jesus' brother, abandoned their skepticism and disbelief after encountering the risen Jesus.


Women as Primary Witnesses


There are far too many embarrassing details of the resurrection account to be fraudulent. Women found the empty tomb when the men were hiding in fear for their lives would not have been an adequate story of the time. The accounts of women discovering the empty tomb challenge traditional societal norms of the time, adding credibility to the narrative. In a culture where women's testimony held little value, their prominent role in the resurrection account suggests authenticity rather than fabrication.


Early Attestation to the Resurrection


Both secular and religious historical records affirm the early Christian community's unwavering belief in the resurrection. Early church writings, including the New Testament and the works of Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Irenaeus, as well as secular sources like Tacitus and Josephus, corroborate this belief.

Based on this evidence, any thought that the resurrection account is a myth or added centuries later is not viable. First-century Christians believing in the resurrection does not prove it happened, but it does show that this is a core component of the gospel and was not added later on.


Attempts to Conceal the Truth


Historical records, including Matthew's Gospel and writings by early Christian apologists like Justin Martyr and Tertullian, document efforts by religious authorities to suppress the news of Jesus' resurrection by giving money to the Roman soldiers to claim the disciples stole the body and leaving the grave cloths behind all while the soldiers slept. The fact that enemies of Christianity felt compelled to concoct cover-up stories further underscores the reality of the empty tomb. The body disappeared!


The Empty Tomb Itself


Perhaps the most compelling evidence is the absence of Jesus' body from the tomb. It is empty. Despite opposition from the political and the religious, there are no records claiming the empty tomb still contained His body. Early creeds, such as the one recorded in 1 Corinthians 15, emphasize the resurrection as a foundational proof of the Christian faith.


"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-7


The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a cornerstone of Christianity, supported by historical evidence and testimonies. For believers like Paul, it was not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that gave meaning to their faith. The resurrection is the crowning proof of Christianity. Today, this message of hope continues to inspire believers to share the good news of Christ's resurrection.

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