Resurrection of Jesus Resurrection of Jesus Christ:Christ:

Real HopeReal Hope

oror

Hopeless Illusion?Hopeless Illusion?

Something happened…Something happened…

• Definite change in disciples’ Definite change in disciples’ behaviorbehavior

• Disciples’ claims of appearances Disciples’ claims of appearances of Jesusof Jesus

• The absolute fact of the Empty The absolute fact of the Empty TombTomb

What happened? 5 What happened? 5 Theories:Theories:

1.1. ChristianityChristianity (Jesus died & truly (Jesus died & truly rose)rose)

2.2. HallucinationHallucination (Jesus didn’t rise; (Jesus didn’t rise; apostles were deceived)apostles were deceived)

3.3. MythMyth (Apostles were sincere (Apostles were sincere myth-makers)myth-makers)

4.4. ConspiracyConspiracy (Apostles were (Apostles were deceivers)deceivers)

5.5. ComaComa (Jesus didn’t die) (Jesus didn’t die)

Responses: “Coma” Responses: “Coma” TheoryTheory

1.1. Jesus could not have survived Jesus could not have survived Roman crucifixionRoman crucifixion

2.2. No breaking of legs> = already No breaking of legs> = already deaddead

3.3. Apostles’ respond to a Apostles’ respond to a risenrisen and and not a barely alive Jesusnot a barely alive Jesus

4.4. Roman guards overpowered by a Roman guards overpowered by a faint, half-dead man?faint, half-dead man?

5.5. Stone moved by same?Stone moved by same?

Responses: “Coma” Responses: “Coma” TheoryTheory

6.6. If simply If simply stillstill alive, where did alive, where did he go?... How did he remain he go?... How did he remain unnoticed?unnoticed?

7.7. Coma theory turns into Coma theory turns into conspiracy or hallucination conspiracy or hallucination theory, since disciples claim he theory, since disciples claim he was truly risen.was truly risen.

Responses: Conspiracy Responses: Conspiracy TheoryTheory

1.1. Apostles died for this belief that Apostles died for this belief that they had seen, touched & they had seen, touched & experienced the Risen Jesusexperienced the Risen Jesus

2.2. Apostles not that clever, creative Apostles not that clever, creative or intelligentor intelligent

3.3. Apostles’ character—shown in Apostles’ character—shown in words & deeds– makes it highly words & deeds– makes it highly improbableimprobable

4.4. No motive to lie; no selfish gainNo motive to lie; no selfish gain

Responses: Conspiracy Responses: Conspiracy TheoryTheory

5.5. If a lie, where was the body? If a lie, where was the body? Stolen? How, with guards & Stolen? How, with guards & stone? (highly improbable!)stone? (highly improbable!)

6.6. Body still in tomb? Preaching of Body still in tomb? Preaching of Resurrection in Jerusalem Resurrection in Jerusalem impossibleimpossible

7.7. Apostles could never have Apostles could never have outwitted all the Jewish & Roman outwitted all the Jewish & Roman authoritiesauthorities

Responses: Hallucination Responses: Hallucination TheoryTheory

1.1. Too many witnesses!Too many witnesses!

2.2. Witnesses are sane, moral, honest & Witnesses are sane, moral, honest & simplesimple

3.3. 500 saw Risen Christ 500 saw Risen Christ at onceat once!!

4.4. Hallucinations last minutes/hours… not 40 Hallucinations last minutes/hours… not 40 daysdays

5.5. Hallucinations happen only once except to Hallucinations happen only once except to the insanethe insane

6.6. Appearances not only unexpected, but not Appearances not only unexpected, but not believed at first by apostles themselvesbelieved at first by apostles themselves

Responses: Hallucination Responses: Hallucination TheoryTheory

7.7. Hallucinations do not eat… Jesus Hallucinations do not eat… Jesus did, on more than one occasiondid, on more than one occasion

8.8. Disciples touched HimDisciples touched Him

9.9. Disciples (sane) had extended Disciples (sane) had extended conversations with Risen Jesus, conversations with Risen Jesus, several timesseveral times

10.10.Disciples could never even have Disciples could never even have believed an hallucination w/out believed an hallucination w/out empty tombempty tomb

Responses: Hallucination Responses: Hallucination TheoryTheory

11.11.If disciples spread this story, If disciples spread this story, J’s body would have been J’s body would have been presented; if they stole it, presented; if they stole it, we’re back to conspiracy theorywe’re back to conspiracy theory

12.12. H theory only explains H theory only explains appearances… not empty tomb, appearances… not empty tomb, rolled away stone and no rolled away stone and no corpse of Jesuscorpse of Jesus

Responses: “Myth” Responses: “Myth” TheoryTheory

1.1. Literary style of Gospels is Literary style of Gospels is not not mythmyth

2.2. Not enough time for myth to Not enough time for myth to develop; eyewitnesses can dispute itdevelop; eyewitnesses can dispute it

3.3. Myth theory has 2 layers: Historical Myth theory has 2 layers: Historical Jesus, then mythical Jesus of Jesus, then mythical Jesus of Gospels; problem: no evidence for Gospels; problem: no evidence for firstfirst

4.4. ““Inconvenient truth” of women as 1Inconvenient truth” of women as 1stst witnesseswitnesses

Responses: “Myth” Responses: “Myth” TheoryTheory

5.5. New Testament stress that it is New Testament stress that it is notnot myth! myth!

6.6. By internal & external evidence, By internal & external evidence, we know the gospels to be we know the gospels to be written by the Apostles & written by the Apostles & companions & companions & notnot by later by later “myth-makers”“myth-makers”