Zone1 The Best Evidence For The Resurrection

[ding]

And since I wrote that there still hasn't been even one.

The risen Christ appeared to a variety of individuals and groups, with accounts in the Bible describing appearances to at least eight different groups of people over a 40-day period. While the Bible details specific instances, it does not explicitly state that these were the only appearances.

In all Jesus appeared a dozen different times over forty days to more than 515 individuals. He appeared to women and to men, He appeared to individuals and to groups, He appeared indoors and outdoors, He appeared to people who were skeptics and people who were believers, He appeared to people who were hardhearted and people who were tenderhearted. And He talked with people, He ate with people, He even invited Thomas - the skeptic, the doubter - to put his finger in the nail holes in His hands, put his hand in the spear wound in His side - to see and touch the evidence himself. Then what was Thomas's reaction? To say, "My Lord and my God!" He became convinced by the evidence that Jesus had returned from the dead. And what does history tell us about Thomas? He spent the rest of his life declaring Jesus did return from the dead, He is the Son of God, even to the point of being put to death for his faith in southern India.

 

[Hypatia415]

All four canonical Gospels make a concerted and central effort to portray that Jesus rose from the dead, presenting it as a physical, historical, and transformative event. While the narratives differ in specific details—which scholars often interpret as complementary, independent eyewitness accounts rather than contradictions—they consistently agree on the core truth that the tomb was empty and Jesus appeared to his followers.

It is generally accepted that both the author of Matthew's gospel and the author of Luke's had access to the text of Mark.

These texts were also written decades after the events and by authors who most likely never visited the region.

Key Evidence of a Concerted Effort

The Gospels employ several strategies to assert the reality of the resurrection:

• The Empty Tomb & Early Witnesses: All four Gospels record that women were the first witnesses to the empty tomb on Sunday morning, an detail that would have been unlikely to be fabricated in 1st-century Jewish culture where a woman's testimony was often not accepted.
• Physicality of the Risen Jesus: To combat early notions that Jesus only rose spiritually, the Gospels emphasize a physical resurrection. Luke 24:39-43 describes Jesus eating fish and showing his "flesh and bones," while John 20:24-29 features Jesus inviting Thomas to touch his wounds.
• Post-Resurrection Appearances: The Gospels record multiple appearances to individuals and groups, including Mary Magdalene, other women, the disciples in locked rooms, and on the road to Emmaus, designed to prove he was alive.
• The Great Commission: The Gospel narratives culminate in Jesus appearing to his disciples to authorize their mission, cementing the resurrection as the foundation of the Christian faith.

Thematic Differences in the Narratives

While the message is consistent, the authors emphasize different aspects:

• Matthew (28): Highlights the earthquake, the guarding of the tomb, and Jesus' appearance to the women.
• Mark (16): Originally ends abruptly with the empty tomb and fearful women, though the longer ending (16:9-20) adds later,, traditional post-resurrection appearances.
• Luke (24): Focuses on the road to Emmaus appearance and the physical, touchable nature of Jesus, emphasizing the fulfillment of Scripture.
• John (20-21): Provides detailed accounts of Mary Magdalene at the tomb and the doubting Thomas scene, placing strong emphasis on the personal, intimate nature of the interactions.

The consistent, albeit varied, reporting of these events suggests a deliberate effort by the gospel writers to affirm that the resurrection was not a myth or legend, but a concrete event.

I appreciate that you believe all this but the resurrection is not a fact. It requires faith/trust.

 

[ding]

It is generally accepted that both the author of Matthew's gospel and the author of Luke's had access to the text of Mark.

These texts were also written decades after the events and by authors who most likely never visited the region.

People didn't begin worshipping Jesus as God when the gospels were recorded in writing. They began worshipping Jesus as God immediately after he rose from the dead and they realized Jesus is divine. The dramatic change in the disciples, from fearful followers to bold proclaimers, is cited as evidence for genuine experiences.

 

[Hypatia415]

Yes, I know. My comment was meant for the emoticom on #55.

My apologies.

 

[GLASNOST]

It is generally accepted that both the author of Matthew's gospel and the author of Luke's had access to the text of Mark.

These texts were also written decades after the events and by authors who most likely never visited the region.

Exactly the point.

 

[GLASNOST]

My apologies.

No-no, it's my fault for not being clear.

 

[ding]

I appreciate that you believe all this but the resurrection is not a fact. It requires faith/trust.

I disagree. There's tons of evidence. There are 24,000 written manuscripts which chronicle the 3 1/2 year ministry of Christ and document the many miracles performed by Christ and his resurrection; the Babylonian Talmud confirms the crucifixion and the reason for the crucifixion which corroborate the NT accounts; there's the dramatic change in the behavior of the disciples coming out of hiding fearing for their lives to proclaim Jesus is Lord despite persecution, imprisonment and death which corroborate his resurrection; there's the empty tomb which no one disputed was empty; there are no texts which dispute the miracles and resurrection of Christ; non-Christian historians recorded the first Christians worshipped Jesus as God; there are no texts which dispute Jesus was worshipped as God by the first Christians who were his apostles and disciples..

It's not faith I take this on. I have good reasons.

 

[BlindBoo]

The best evidence against a resurrection is the smell........

 

[ding]

The best evidence against a resurrection is the smell........

The tomb was empty, so no smell. So it either happened or there was an epic conspiracy.

 

[BlindBoo]

So it either happened or there was an epic conspiracy.

More like a supernatural myth that was crafted and handed down by 10 or 15 generations before story was written down. Like the mythical Conception and Ascension, they are supernatural events, or they just didn't happen.

 

[ding]

More like a supernatural myth that was crafted and handed down by 10 or 15 generations before story was written down. Like the mythical Conception and Ascension, they are supernatural events, or they just didn't happen.

If that's what you believe then you must believe the apostles were responsible for an epic conspiracy because the gospels intentionally presented the resurrection as an historical event and that was taught during the great commission by the apostles and disciples.

The problem with that is that there's no evidence to support it. In fact, all of the evidence supports they genuinely believed Christ rose from the dead.

 

[BlindBoo]

If that's what you believe then you must believe the apostles were responsible for an epic conspiracy because the gospels intentionally presented the resurrection as an historical event and that was taught during the great commission by the apostles and disciples.

The problem with that is that there's no evidence to support it. In fact, all of the evidence supports they genuinely believed Christ rose from the dead.

The apostles were not the authors of there own gospels, so of course they were portrayed as believing in his resurrection.

 

[Meriweather]

The apostles were not the authors of there own gospels, so of course they were portrayed as believing in his resurrection.

What about Paul, who wrote to the Corinthians in the early 50s? He mentions that 500 people saw Christ after his resurrection, many of whom were still living. He recommended that those who were still unsure ask those who did see Jesus after his resurrection.

 

[BlindBoo]

What about Paul, who wrote to the Corinthians in the early 50s? He mentions that 500 people saw Christ after his resurrection, many of whom were still living. He recommended that those who were still unsure ask those who did see Jesus after his resurrection.

The consummate salesman at work. He also promised the followers that they too would be resurrected from death.

 

[ding]

The apostles were not the authors of there own gospels, so of course they were portrayed as believing in his resurrection.

So you are arguing a different conspiracy. Then how do you explain the apostles worshipping Jesus as God after his resurrection. Because that's when it began.

 

[ding]

The consummate salesman at work. He also promised the followers that they too would be resurrected from death.

You do realize Paul was persecuted, beaten, imprisoned and put to death for it, right? What exactly did he get for his consummate salesmanship that was worth all of that?

 

[BlindBoo]

So you are arguing a different conspiracy. Then how do you explain the apostles worshipping Jesus as God after his resurrection. Because that's when it began.

According to the myth that is when it began, a pivotal moment of superstition in the story. Resurrections of supernatural "Gods" are a reoccurring theme in many religions, including Christianity. I'm saying the concept of resurrection simple goes beyond the bounds of natures life and death cycle.

 

[ding]

According to the myth that is when it began, a pivotal moment of superstition in the story.

Non-Christian historians recorded the first Christians - who were Jews - worshipped Jesus as God. So no, the first Christians worshipping Jesus as God is not a myth. The first Christians worshipping Jesus as God is independently corroborated by non-Christian historians in the 1st century.

Just like the Babylonian Talmud is independent confirmation of the Gospels recording Jesus was put to death for performing miracles (i.e. sorcery) and claiming to be equal to God (i.e. blaspheme/leading Israel to apostasy).

Resurrections of supernatural "Gods" are a reoccurring theme in many religions, including Christianity. I'm saying the concept of resurrection simple goes beyond the bounds of natures life and death cycle.

Supposition: an idea, belief, or theory that is assumed to be true or possible, usually without concrete proof or conclusive evidence. It is essentially the act of making a guess or taking something for granted to help reason through a situation.

 

[DennisPTate]

Insufficient evidence. The Bible has lots of people coming back from the dead but I've never seen it nor has anyone else I know.

You should perhaps invest a few more hours of your time to research the near death experience of Robert Marshall whose brain was deprived of oxygen for an extremely long time due to his lungs being filled with blood.

44 Hours in Heaven audio | 44 Hours In Heaven

44 Hours In Heaven Audio Book

www.44hoursinheavenministries.org

"Upon entering the emergency room, the admission staff quickly observed the medical emergency: I was having difficulty breathing. I was immediately escorted to the care area of the ER and met with a member of the medical team who performed the perfunctory vital signs and symptom identification.


The hospital staff responded to my symptoms and ordered a new CT scan and a broader, all- encompassing blood test. The results showed I had “unstable/abnormal vital signs and life-threatening conditions,” as described in my medical record. I was at risk of my airway being blocked by the mass indicated on the CT scan and I needed emergency intubation with ventilator support. They moved me to a surgical suite, inserted the oral intubation tube, and admitted me to the ICU immediately."

Emergency Room Medical Note:

IMPRESSION:

Increased inflammatory change in the deep left neck soft tissues with worsening swelling of the epiglottis and moderate to severe airway narrowing. Additional inflammatory change involving the left submandibular fossa and submandibular gland as well as the left anterior belly of the digastric. Findings suggest worsening infectious pharyngitis/tonsillitis/epiglottitis. No drainable collection.


Left glossotonsillar sulcus fullness persists. Although superimposed infection is likely, evaluation for an underlying malignancy should be pursued. Direct visualization and tissue sampling may be warranted by ENT. Follow-up CT neck with contrast in one to 3 months is recommended to confirm resolution.

No cervical lymphadenopathy by size criteria.

Incidental severe spinal canal narrowing C5-6 due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

For the next two days, I rested comfortably, my body fighting the infection with the help of IV antibiotics, and the intubation tube that kept the mass away from my airway.

[Robert and Carol Marshall, Forty Four Hours in Heaven," page 13]

PROFOUND NDE: BRAIN DEAD for 90 MINUTES; Met JESUS in HEAVEN & RETURNED w/ MESSAGE | Robert Marshall​

 

[GLASNOST]

What about Paul, who wrote to the Corinthians in the early 50s? He mentions that 500 people saw Christ after his resurrection, many of whom were still living. He recommended that those who were still unsure ask those who did see Jesus after his resurrection.

Was Tania Head one of them?

The consummate salesman at work. He also promised the followers that they too would be resurrected from death.

If we could just have enough faith we would live forever.