Posted on 04/16/2022 3:44:28 PM PDT by grumpa
Of course, during the last century liberal theology had no use for the historical resurrection of Jesus. But a remarkable change has come about during the second half of the 20th century. A new quest of the historical Jesus had begun. By 1968 the old skepticism was a spent force and began dramatically to recede. So complete has been the turnabout during the second half of this century concerning the resurrection of Jesus that it is no exaggeration to speak of a reversal of scholarship on this issue.
What are the facts that underlie this remarkable reversal of opinion concerning the credibility of the New Testament accounts of the resurrection of Jesus? It seems to me that they can be conveniently grouped under three heads: the resurrection appearances, the empty tomb, and the origin of the Christian faith. Let's look briefly at each.
Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus
(Excerpt) Read more at faithfacts.org ...
People who witnessed Jesus curing the blind and raising the dead STILL didn’t believe!
You think your “proof” will convince them?
It takes “faith” to believe, and if that were not impediment enough... believing would lead them to conclude they need to make changes to their lifestyle, which they don’t want to make.
Good thinking.
However, my reading offers some alternative possibilities. I list them, for others to attack.
1. In the new testament accounts of seeing the resurrected Jesus, some times those who knew Jesus did not recognize him, until he told them he was Jesus or "revealed himself" to them.
This may plausibly be consistent to the hallucination, or self deceptive hypothesis. If a person wants to believe strongly enough, they can convince themselves they have seen what they have not.
2. It seems unlikely 500 witnesses, who all may have said they saw Jesus after the resurrection, knew him before the resurrection.
3. It is not required that the Apostles took Jesus' body from the tomb. Other parties might have done so.
4. Once a belief has been committed to, people often are willing to die for it, even if it is not true. People are very good at lying to themselves.
I think the evidence is strong. I am a Christian. I do not think the evidence is absolute and overwhelming.
We are to believe by faith.
The Jews of the period desperately wanted a messiah.
There were hundreds of contenders.
The idea that Christianity would be sparked by that desire, is not completely irrational.
This evidence is part of defending our faith.
Those who don’t want us to defend it will protest.
The “hallucination” argument is untenable. There is no such thing as shared hallucinations.
Thousands knew Jesus before the resurrection.
There is no plausible scenario for anyone taking the body from the tomb.
Some people have a much greater need for strong evidence.
The apostle Thomas needed to touch the wounds on Jesus’ body before he believed.
We are given the account of Thomas so that we will know that some will be like Thomas, and we are to give them the evidence they need.
I am always reminded of this
Luke 16:30
…29But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’ 30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”…
And we see this attitude even today.
Good point!
It’s everywhere today and millions go to hell because of it.
The devil has so many folks duped into playing the “showcase showdown” of life and almost everybody goes bust in their attempt to win.
If you want to win, you trust Jesus for your Salvation.
He who dares, wins...
Romans 10:9-13
There is such a thing a shared false memories.
I recall, but do not have a source, that such a thing has repeatedly been demonstrated.
There is an event. Someone claims something happened, which did not, in fact happen, and the "false memory" spreads by word of mouth.
Soon, a significant number of people remember the claim as reality.
Even the orignator of the false memory may have mis-interpreted what happened.
I don’t think that anyone can believe unless God is “revealed” to that person. All the evidence in the world will be contested by those who have not been chosen to believe. I can’t explain my conversion experience. One day I did not know Him and the next I did.
The 500 saw him at the same time:
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. 1 Cor 15:6
Jesus had been seen by many. For example a huge crowd witnessed his entry into Jerusalem a week before his resurrection. The 500 may have seen him in Galilee.
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
The Apostles may have gathered the 500 in Galilee. In any case the fact that the 500 saw him at the same time means that those who didn't recognize him would have been made aware that it was him.
This is what I would surmise. The evidence is diluted because it is not really 500 witnesses. It some smaller number, who are told it is a resurrected Jesus, by others.
There may be other information. I think some texts say they saw Jesus ascending into the clouds?
Herod wanted to meet Jesus and see a miracle.
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
— Luke 23:8
People who witnessed Jesus curing the blind and raising the dead STILL didn’t believe!
***Jesus did miracles in front of His own enemies. They claimed that He did His miracles by the power of Satan. That was when Jesus said there was only one unforgiveable sin, attributing something that was OBviously good and by the Holy Spirit, calling it evil & from the devil. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
bump
“There is such a thing a shared false memories.”
Not on the scale we’re dealing with. You can forget that argument.
“We have no story in the gospels telling of Jesus’ appearance to Peter.”
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