Evidence for the Resurrection
http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html
by Josh McDowell
For centuries many of the world's distinguished philosophers have
assaulted Christianity as being irrational, superstitious and absurd.
Many have chosen simply to ignore the central issue of the
resurrection. Others have tried to explain it away through various
theories. But the historical evidence just can't be discounted.
A student at the University of Uruguay said to me. "Professor
McDowell, why can't you refute Christianity?"
"For a very simple reason," I answered. "I am not able to explain away
an event in history--the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
How can we explain the empty tomb? Can it possibly be accounted for by
any natural cause?
A QUESTION OF HISTORY
After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, I have come to the
conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the
most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of
human beings--or it is the most remarkable fact of history.
Here are some of the facts relevant to the resurrection: Jesus of
Nazareth, a Jewish prophet who claimed to be the Christ prophesied in
the Jewish Scriptures, was arrested, was judged a political criminal,
and was crucified. Three days after His death and burial, some women
who went to His tomb found the body gone. In subsequent weeks, His
disciples claimed that God had raised Him from the dead and that He
appeared to them various times before ascending into heaven.
>From that foundation, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire
and has continued to exert great influence down through the centuries.
LIVING WITNESSES
The New Testament accounts of the resurrection were being circulated
within the lifetimes of men and women alive at the time of the
resurrection. Those people could certainly have confirmed or denied
the accuracy of such accounts.
The writers of the four Gospels either had themselves been witnesses
or else were relating the accounts of eyewitnesses of the actual
events. In advocating their case for the gospel, a word that means
"good news," the apostles appealed (even when confronting their most
severe opponents) to common knowledge concerning the facts of the
resurrection.
F. F. Bruce, Rylands professor of biblical criticism and exegesis at
the University of Manchester, says concerning the value of the New
Testament records as primary sources: "Had there been any tendency to
depart from the facts in any material respect, the possible presence
of hostile witnesses in the audience would have served as a further
corrective."
IS THE NEW TESTAMENT RELIABLE?
Because the New Testament provides the primary historical source for
information on the resurrection, many critics during the 19th century
attacked the reliability of these biblical do***ents.
By the end of the 1 9th century, however, archaeological discoveries
had confirmed the accuracy of the New Testament manuscripts.
Discoveries of early papyri bridged the gap between the time of Christ
and existing manuscripts from a later date.
Those findings increased scholarly confidence in the reliability of
the Bible. William F. Albright, who in his day was the world's
foremost biblical archaeologist, said: "We can already say
emphatically that there is no longer any solid basis for dating any
book of the New Testament after about A.D. 80, two full generations
before the date between 130 and 150 given by the more radical New
Testament critics of today."
Coinciding with the papyri discoveries, an abundance of other
manuscripts came to light (over 24,000 copies of early New Testament
manuscripts are known to be in existence today). The historian Luke
wrote of "authentic evidence" concerning the resurrection. Sir William
Ramsay, who spent 15 years attempting to undermine Luke credentials as
a historian, and to refute the reliability of the New Testament,
finally concluded: "Luke is a historian of the first rank . . . This
author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians. "
I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And
I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the
resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts
of ancient history . . .
E. M. Blaiklock
Professor of Classics
Auckland University
BACKGROUND
The New Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background against
which the resurrection took place. The body of Jesus, in accordance
with Jewish burial custom, was wrapped in a linen cloth. About 100
pounds of aromatic spices, mixed together to form a gummy substance,
were applied to the wrappings of cloth about the body. After the body
was placed in a solid rock tomb, an extremely large stone was rolled
against the entrance of the tomb. Large stones weighing approximately
two tons were normally rolled (by means of levers) against a tomb
entrance.
A Roman guard of strictly disciplined fighting men was stationed to
guard the tomb. This guard affixed on the tomb the Roman seal, which
was meant to "prevent any attempt at vandalizing the sepulcher. Anyone
trying to move the stone from the tomb's entrance would have broken
the seal and thus incurred the wrath of Roman law.
But three days later the tomb was empty. The followers of Jesus said
He had risen from the dead. They re****ted that He appeared to them
during a period of 40 days, showing Himself to them by many
"infallible proofs." Paul the apostle recounted that Jesus appeared to
more than 500 of His followers at one time, the majority of whom were
still alive and who could confirm what Paul wrote. So many security
precautions were taken with the trial, crucifixion, burial,
entombment, sealing, and guarding of Christ's tomb that it becomes
very difficult for critics to defend their position that Christ did
not rise from the dead. Consider these facts:
FACT #1: BROKEN ROMAN SEAL
As we have said, the first obvious fact was the breaking of the seal
that stood for the power and authority of the Roman Empire. The
consequences of breaking the seal were extremely severe. The FBI and
CIA of the Roman Empire were called into action to find the man or men
who were responsible. If they were apprehended, it meant automatic
execution by crucifixion upside down. People feared the breaking of
the seal. Jesus' disciples displayed signs of cowardice when they hid
themselves. Peter, one of these disciples, went out and denied Christ
three times.
FACT #2: EMPTY TOMB
As we have already discussed, another obvious fact after the
resurrection was the empty tomb. The disciples of Christ did not go
off to Athens or Rome to preach that Christ was raised from the dead.
Rather, they went right back to the city of Jerusalem, where, if what
they were teaching was false, the falsity would be evident. The empty
tomb was "too notorious to be denied." Paul Althaus states that the
resurrection "could have not been maintained in Jerusalem for a single
day, for a single hour, if the emptiness of the tomb had not been
established as a fact for all concerned."
Both Jewish and Roman sources and traditions admit an empty tomb.
Those resources range from Josephus to a compilation of fifth-century
Jewish writings called the "Toledoth Jeshu." Dr. Paul Maier calls this
"positive evidence from a hostile source, which is the strongest kind
of historical evidence. In essence, this means that if a source admits
a fact decidedly not in its favor, then that fact is genuine."
Gamaliel, who was a member of the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin,
put forth the suggestion that the rise of the Christian movement was
God's doing; he could not have done that if the tomb were still
occupied, or if the Sanhedrin knew the whereabouts of Christ's body.
Paul Maier observes that " . . . if all the evidence is weighed
carefully and fairly, it is indeed justifiable, according to the
canons of historical research, to conclude that the sepulcher of
Joseph of Arimathea, in which Jesus was buried, was actually empty on
the morning of the first Easter. And no shred of evidence has yet been
discovered in literary sources, epigraphy, or archaeology that would
disprove this statement."
FACT #3: LARGE STONE MOVED
On that Sunday morning the first thing that impressed the people who
approached the tomb was the unusual position of the one and a half to
two ton stone that had been lodged in front of the doorway. All the
Gospel writers mention it.
There exists no do***ent from the ancient world, witnessed by so
excellent a set of textual and historical testimonies . . . Skepticism
regarding the historical credentials of Christianity is based upon an
irrational bias.
Clark Pinnock
Mcmaster University
Those who observed the stone after the resurrection describe its
position as having been rolled up a slope away not just from the
entrance of the tomb, but from the entire massive sepulcher. It was in
such a position that it looked as if it had been picked up and carried
away. Now, I ask you, if the disciples had wanted to come in, tiptoe
around the sleeping guards, and then roll the stone over and steal
Jesus' body, how could they have done that without the guards'
awareness?
FACT #4: ROMAN GUARD GOES AWOL
The Roman guards fled. They left their place of responsibility. How
can their attrition he explained, when Roman military discipline was
so exceptional? Justin, in Digest #49, mentions all the offenses that
required the death penalty. The fear of their superiors' wrath and the
possibility of death meant that they paid close attention to the
minutest details of their jobs. One way a guard was put to death was
by being stripped of his clothes and then burned alive in a fire
started with his garments. If it was not apparent which soldier had
failed in his duty, then lots were drawn to see which one wand be
punished with death for the guard unit's failure. Certainly the entire
unit would not have fallen asleep with that kind of threat over their
heads. Dr. George Currie, a student of Roman military discipline,
wrote that fear of punishment "produced flawless attention to duty,
especially in the night watches."
FACT #5: GRAVECLOTHES TELL A TALE
In a literal sense, against all statements to the contrary, the tomb
was not totally empty--because of an amazing phenomenon. John, a
disciple of Jesus, looked over to the place where the body of Jesus
had lain, and there were the grave clothes, in the form of the body,
slightly caved in and empty--like the empty chrysalis of a
caterpillar's cocoon. That's enough to make a believer out of anybody.
John never did get over it. The first thing that stuck in the minds of
the disciples was not the empty tomb, but rather the empty grave
clothes--undisturbed in form and position.
FACT #6: JESUS' APPEARANCES CONFIRMED
Christ appeared alive on several occasions after the cataclysmic
events of that first Easter . When studying an event in history, it is
im****tant to know whether enough people who were participants or
eyewitnesses to the event were alive when the facts about the event
were published. To know this is obviously helpful in ascertaining the
accuracy of the published re****t. If the number of eyewitnesses is
substantial, the event can he regarded as fairly well established. For
instance, if we all witness a murder, and a later police re****t turns
out to he a fabrication of lies, we as eyewitnesses can refute it.
OVER 500 WITNESSES
Several very im****tant factors arc often overlooked when considering
Christ's post-resurrection appearances to individuals. The first is
the large number of witnesses of Christ after that resurrection
morning. One of the earliest records of Christ's appearing after the
resurrection is by Paul. The apostle appealed to his audience's
knowledge of the fact that Christ had been seen by more than 500
people at one time. Paul reminded them that the majority of those
people were still alive and could be questioned. Dr. Edwin M.
Yamauchi, associate professor of history at Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio, emphasizes: "What gives a special authority to the list
(of witnesses) as historical evidence is the reference to most of the
five hundred brethren being still alive. St. Paul says in effect, 'If
you do not believe me, you can ask them.' Such a statement in an
admittedly genuine letter written within thirty years of the event is
almost as strong evidence as one could hope to get for something that
happened nearly two thousand years ago." Let's take the more than 500
witnesses who saw Jesus alive after His death and burial, and place
them in a courtroom. Do you realize that if each of those 500 people
were to testify for only six minutes, including cross-examination, you
would have an amazing 50 hours of firsthand testimony? Add to this the
testimony of many other eyewitnesses and you would well have the
largest and most lopsided trial in history.
HOSTILE WITNESSES
Another factor crucial to interpreting Christ's appearances is that He
also appeared to those who were hostile or unconvinced.
Over and over again, I have read or heard people comment that Jesus
was seen alive after His death and burial only by His friends and
followers. Using that argument, they attempt to water down the
overwhelming impact of the multiple eyewitness accounts. But that line
of reasoning is so pathetic it hardly deserves comment. No author or
informed individual would regard Saul of Tarsus as being a follower of
Christ. The facts show the exact opposite. Saul despised Christ and
persecuted Christ's followers. It was a life-shattering experience
when Christ appeared to him. Although he was at the time not a
disciple, he later became the apostle Paul, one of the greatest
witnesses for the truth of the resurrection.
If the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their
authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.
F. F. Bruce
Manchester University
The argument that Christ's appearances were only to followers is an
argument for the most part from silence, and arguments from silence
can be dangerous. It is equally possible that all to whom Jesus
appeared became followers. No one acquainted with the facts can
accurately say that Jesus appeared to just "an insignificant few."
Christians believe that Jesus was bodily resurrected in time and space
by the supernatural power of God. The difficulties of belief may be
great, but the problems inherent in unbelief present even greater
difficulties.
The theories advanced to explain the resurrection by "natural causes"
are weak; they actually help to build confidence in the truth of the
resurrection.
THE WRONG TOMB?
A theory propounded by Kirsopp Lake assumes that the women who
re****ted that the body was missing had mistakenly gone to the wrong
tomb. If so, then the disciples who went to check up on the women's
statement must have also gone to the wrong tomb. We may be certain,
however, that Jewish authorities, who asked for a Roman guard to be
stationed at the tomb to prevent Jesus' body from being stolen, would
not have been mistaken about the location. Nor would the Roman guards,
for they were there!
If the resurrection-claim was merely because of a geographical
mistake, the Jewish authorities would have lost no time in producing
the body from the proper tomb, thus effectively quenching for all time
any rumor resurrection.
HALLUCINATIONS?
Another attempted explanation claims that the appearances of Jesus
after the resurrection were either illusions or hallucinations.
Unsup****ted by the psychological principles governing the appearances
of hallucinations, this theory also does not coincide with the
historical situation. Again, where was the actual body, and why wasn't
it produced?
DID JESUS SWOON?
Another theory, popularized by Venturini several centuries ago, is
often quoted today. This is the swoon theory, which says that Jesus
didn't die; he merely fainted from exhaustion and loss of blood.
Everyone thought Him dead, but later He resuscitated and the disciples
thought it to be a resurrection. Skeptic David Friedrich Strauss--
certainly no believer in the resurrection--gave the deathblow to any
thought that Jesus revived from a swoon: "It is impossible that a
being who had stolen half-dead out of the sepulchre, who crept about
weak and ill, wanting medical treatment, who required bandaging,
strengthening and indulgence, and who still at last yielded to His
sufferings, could have given to the disciples the impression that He
was a Conqueror over death and the grave, the Prince of Life,
For the New Testament of Acts, the confirmation of historicity is
overwhelming. Any attempt to reject its basic historicity, even in
matters of detail, must now appear absurd. Roman historians have long
taken it for granted.
A. N. Sherwin-White
Classical Roman Historian
an impression which lay at the bottom of their future ministry. Such a
resuscitation could only have weakened the impression which He had
made upon them in life and in death, at the most could only have given
it an elegiac voice, but could by no possibility have changed their
sorrow into enthusiasm, have elevated their reverence into wor****p."
THE BODY STOLEN?
Then consider the theory that the body was stolen by the disciples
while the guards slept. The depression and cowardice of the disciples
provide a hard-hitting argument against their suddenly becoming so
brave and daring as to face a detachment of soldiers at the tomb and
steal the body. They were in no mood to attempt anything like that.
The theory that the Jewish or Roman authorities moved Christ's body is
no more reasonable an explanation for the empty tomb than theft by the
disciples. If the authorities had the body in their possession or knew
where it was, why, when the disciples were preaching the resurrection
in Jerusalem, didn't they explain: "Wait! We moved the body, see, He
didn't rise from the grave"?
And if such a rebuttal failed, why didn't they explain exactly where
Jesus' body lay? If this failed, why didn't they recover the corpse,
put it on a cart, and wheel it through the center of Jerusalem? Such
an action would have destroyed Christianity--not in the cradle, but in
the womb!
THE RESURRECTION IS A FACT
Professor Thomas Arnold, for 14 years a headmaster of Rugby, author of
the famous, History of Rome, and appointed to the chair of modern
history at Oxford, was well acquainted with the value of evidence in
determining historical facts. This great scholar said: "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 bath given us that Christ
died and rose again from the dead." Brooke Foss Westcott, an English
scholar, said: "raking all the evidence together, it is not too much
to say that there is no historic incident better or more variously
sup****ted than the resurrection of Christ. Nothing but the antecedent
assumption that it must be false could have suggested the idea of
deficiency in the proof of it."
REAL PROOF: THE DISCIPLES' LIVES
But the most telling testimony of all must be the lives of those early
Christians. We must ask ourselves: What caused them to go everywhere
telling the message of the risen Christ?
Had there been any visible benefits accrued to them from their
efforts--prestige, wealth, increased social status or material
benefits--we might logically attempt to account for their actions, for
their whole-hearted and total allegiance to this "risen Christ ."
As a reward for their efforts, however, those early Christians were
beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified.
Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking.
Yet, they laid down their lives as the ultimate proof of their
complete confidence in the truth of their message.
WHERE DO YOU STAND?
How do you evaluate this overwhelming historical evidence? What is
your decision about the fact of Christ's empty tomb? What do you think
of Christ?
When I was confronted with the overwhelming evidence for Christ's
resurrection, I had to ask the logical question: "What difference does
all this evidence make to me? What difference does it make whether or
not I believe Christ rose again and died on the cross for my sins!'
The answer is put best by something Jesus said to a man who doubted--
Thomas. Jesus told him: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no
one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).
On the basis of all the evidence for Christ's resurrection, and
considering the fact that Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and an
eternal relation****p with God, who would be so foolhardy as to reject
Him? Christ is alive! He is living today.
You can trust God right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is talking
with God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words
as He is with the attitude of your heart. If you have never trusted
Christ, you can do so right now.
The prayer I prayed is: "Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying
on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and trust You as
my Savior. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.
Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Thank You that I can
trust You."
Josh McDowell, according to a recent survey, is one of the most
popular speakers among university students today. He has spoken on
more than 650 university and college campuses to more than seven
million people in 74 countries during the last 21 years.
[
Biography
Family and education
McDowell was born in Union City, Michigan in 1939 with the given name
Joslin. He was one of five children born to Wilmot McDowell, Sr.
Biographer Joe Musser indicates that McDowell struggled with low self-
esteem in his youth, as his father was an alcoholic and abusive. He
enlisted in the Air National Guard, received basic training and
assumed duties in mechanical maintenance of aircraft. After sustaining
a head injury he was discharged from the service.
He initially intended to pursue legal studies culminating in a
political career, and began preparatory studies at Kellogg College in
Michigan. According to McDowell, he was as an agnostic at college when
he decided to prepare a paper that would examine the historical
evidence of the Christian faith in order to disprove it. However, he
converted to Christianity, after, as he says, he found evidence for
it, not against it. He subsequently enrolled at Wheaton College,
Illinois, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then
studied at Talbot Theological Seminary of Biola University, La Mirada,
California. He completed an exit paper examining the theology of
Jehovah's Witnesses, and was awarded the Master of Divinity degree
graduating Magna *** Laude.
In 1982 McDowell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the
Simon Greenleaf School of Law, in recognition of his ministry and
writings. McDowell was also a visiting lecturer at that school in the
1980s.
Josh McDowell married Dorothy Youd, with whom he has four children;
they live in Dallas, Texas [1].
1Thes.4
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have
no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them
also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which
are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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