WHY YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY

BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION

While the Gospels are the primary biographies of Jesus, his life is also documented by several significant external sources. These records, dating from the late first century through the fifth century, provide independent historical confirmation from diverse perspectives.Below are eight of the most notable pieces of evidence for the historical Jesus, including accounts by Roman, Jewish, and other non-Christian writers who were often indifferent to or even hostile toward the early Christian movement.
1 According to historical records, one of the oldest secular writers, Thallus, mentioned Jesus in his writings. Although his work no longer exists, Julius Africanus quoted Thallus, who tried to explain the darkness that occurred during Jesus's crucifixion. In Thallus's description, the world was enveloped in a fearful darkness, and a massive earthquake occurred at the time of Jesus's crucifixion. Despite the absence of Thallus's original work, we can conclude that Jesus lived and was crucified, and that an earthquake and darkness occurred during his crucifixion.
2 Cornelius Tacitus was a renowned ancient historian who lived from 56 AD to 120 AD. He was known for his thorough analysis and examination of historical documents. In his Annals, written around 116 AD, Tacitus provides an account of Emperor Nero's response to the great fire in Rome. According to Tacitus, Nero blamed the Christians for the fire and persecuted them. Tacitus also acknowledged the existence of Jesus, stating that he lived in Judea and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He further noted that Jesus had followers who faced persecution for their faith in him.
3 In 70 AD, a philosopher from Syria named Mara Bar-Serapion wrote a letter to his son. In the letter, he compared the life and persecution of Jesus to that of other philosophers persecuted for their beliefs. Mara Bar-Serapion referred to Jesus as the "wise king" and explained how the Jews had killed him, leading to the end of their kingdom. He believed that God had punished those who were responsible for Jesus's death. Mara Bar-Serapion considered Jesus to be an influential and wise man who died for his beliefs. He blamed the Jewish leadership for his death. However, Jesus’s followers continued to follow his teachings after his death.
4 A historian named Phlegon was mentioned by Julius Africanus, who wrote a chronicle of history around 140 AD. Like Thallus, Phlegon focused on the darkness surrounding Jesus's crucifixion. According to Phlegon, Jesus could predict the future with remarkable accuracy, and he was crucified during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Additionally, Phlegon states that Jesus showed His wounds to people with whom He came in contact after His resurrection.
5 Lucian of Samosata was a well-known Greek satirist who lived between 115 and 200 AD. Despite his sarcastic remarks about Jesus and Christians, he affirmed that they were real people and never referred to them as fictional characters. Lucian explained how Christians worshiped the man who introduced their novel rights and was crucified for doing so. According to his work, we can conclude that Jesus taught about repentance and the family of God. These teachings were quickly adopted by Jesus’s followers.
6 Celsus, a philosopher from 175 AD, was critical of the Gospels in the Bible. However, his criticisms ultimately reinforced the biblical authors' claims. In his writings, Celsus confirmed that Jesus performed miracles and possessed unusual magical powers. He also mentioned that Jesus had an earthly father who was a carpenter and claimed to be God. Celsus's writings are extensive and contain references to 18 biblical passages, which attest to their early appearance in history.
7 Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived from 37 to 101 AD. He wrote extensively about Jesus in his work "Antiquities of the Jews" in 93 AD. At the time, the Roman Emperor Vespasian ruled over Palestine and hired Josephus to write a history of the Jews. In his writings, Josephus describes Jesus as a wise man and the Messiah. There are various ancient versions of Josephus's writings, but they all suggest that Jesus was a teacher and performed miraculous acts. He was accused by the Jews and was ultimately crucified by Pilate. This event led to the formation of a group of followers, who came to be known as Christians.
8 The Toledot Yeshu is a Jewish account of the life of Jesus written in the medieval period. It is completely anti-Christian and attempts to explain away Jesus' miracles and deny the virgin birth. However, it does confirm some elements of the New Testament writings, such as Jesus claiming to be the Messiah and healing those with disabilities. The Toledot Yeshu also mentions that Isaiah foretold Jesus' life, and that he was worshipped as God. It describes how Jesus was arrested by the Jews, beaten with rods, given vinegar to drink, and wore a crown of thorns. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was betrayed by a man named Judas Iscariot. Jesus had followers who claimed that he was resurrected from the grave and ascended into heaven. Despite being written against Jesus and his followers, these accounts confirm many elements of the biblical record.

ARE THE TESTIMONIES TOO LATE TO MATTER

  • As to the argument that these testimonies are too far removed from Jesus to be considered reliable, consider Mohammed:
  • Born 570 AD
  • Early collections of his sayings (632–750 AD)
  • The most authoritative collections used today were compiled in the 9th century.
  • In the 10th and 11th centuries, the oral traditions began to be written down as the original words of Muhammad.
  • From the 14th century onward, these writings were strictly followed.

AN INTERESTING FACT

  • In ancient China, astronomy was a matter of state security. The Imperial Department of Astronomy monitored the sky continuously because the Emperor’s authority relied on the "Mandate of Heaven." These records are historically reliable; missing an event or making a false prediction could be punishable by death.

  • The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)
  • Source: History of the Later Han Dynasty, Vol. 1, Chronicles of Emperor Guangwu, 7th Year.
  • The annals record the following event in the 7th year of the Jianwu reign.
  • Chinese Date: 7th year, 3rd (or 4th) month, day of Gui Hai. This corresponds to AD 31 (specifically May).
  • The Text: "Yin and Yang have wrongly exchanged, and the sun and moon were eclipsed. The sins of all the people are now on one man. Pardon is proclaimed to all under heaven."
  • The Annotation: Some versions include a separate annotation from the annals (Annals No. 18, Gui Hai): "Eclipse on the day of Gui Hai, Man from Heaven died.”

THE SCIENTIFIC IMPOSSIBILITY OF A NATURAL ECLIPSE

  • The Conflict: Jesus was crucified during Passover (Pesach).
  • The Lunar Cycle: The Jewish calendar is lunar. Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan, which always corresponds to a Full Moon.
  • The Geometry: A natural solar eclipse requires a New Moon (when the moon is between the Earth and Sun). During a Full Moon, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth.
  • Conclusion: A natural solar eclipse during Passover is geometrically impossible. Furthermore, natural eclipses last minutes; the Gospel accounts describe darkness lasting three hours (Noon to 3:00 PM).

NEW MOON ~ SOLAR ECLIPSE

FULL MOON ~ PASSOVER

THE ARGUMENT OF A CONSPIRACY

  • If the disciples were trying to fake Jesus’ resurrection, why would they mention that the women were the first to see Jesus? In the first century, women were not considered reliable witnesses.
  • The Roman guards fell asleep:
  • Highly trained "special forces."
  • Minimum 4 guards, but the standard detachment was 16 guards.
  • To fall asleep was an offense punishable by death.
  • Scared fishermen take out the Roman guards???
  • Even if they could overwhelm guards and steal Jesus dead body, did they re-enact "Weekend At Bernie’s" with His "post-resurrection appearances"?
  • AND the Disciples' varying accounts??
  • J. Warner Wallace, a Dateline featured cold-case homicide detective, writes:
  • It is expected
  • EXACT testimony is suspect
  • Even see this on crime shows [Law and Order]
  • Mildly different testimonies only show what each individual focuses
While each of the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) emphasizes different themes and provides unique details, they are remarkably consistent on the "anchor points" of their testimonies.

HERE ARE THE SPECIFIC ASPECTS WHERE ALL FOUR GOSPELS AGREE:

  • 1. The Trial and Condemnation
  • • The Jewish Religious Leaders: All four accounts agree that the chief priests and the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high council) were the primary group that sought Jesus’ arrest and initial trial.
  • • The Role of Pontius Pilate: All four writers record that Jesus was handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who had the sole authority to order a legal execution.
  • • The Verdict: Despite Pilate’s various hesitations or attempts to release him (recorded with different levels of detail in each book), all four agree that he ultimately condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion.
  • • The Crowd's Involvement: Each Gospel notes that a crowd was present and influenced the decision to release the prisoner Barabbas instead of Jesus.
  • 2. The Crucifixion and Death
  • • The Location: All four name Golgotha (the "Place of the Skull") as the site of the execution.
  • • The Method: They all testify that Jesus was executed via crucifixion, a Roman form of capital punishment.
  • • The Inscription: Every Gospel mentions a sign placed on the cross by Pilate, identifying Jesus as the "King of the Jews."
  • • Timing: They agree that the crucifixion took place during the preparation for the Sabbath/Passover.
  • • Witnesses: All four accounts mention that a group of women followers was watching from a distance (or at the foot of the cross in John), and all four specifically name Mary Magdalene.
  • 3. The Burial
  • • Joseph of Arimathea: All four Gospels identify Joseph of Arimathea as the man who requested Jesus' body from Pilate and provided a tomb for the burial.
  • • The Nature of the Tomb: They agree it was a new tomb hewn out of rock and that a large stone was used to seal the entrance.
  • 4. The Resurrection
  • • The Timing: All four agree that the resurrection was discovered early on the first day of the week (Sunday morning).
  • • The Empty Tomb: The central physical evidence shared by all four is that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty.
  • • Mary Magdalene: She is the only person specifically named in all four Gospels as being present at the tomb on that morning.
  • • Angelic Message: Each account records that one or more heavenly messengers (angels) informed the followers that Jesus was not there, but had risen.

TIMELINE OF THE POST-RESURRECTION APPEARANCES

  • 1. Resurrection Sunday
  • Mary Magdalene: She is the first recorded witness in John and Mark.
  • The Other Women: This group includes Mary, the mother of James, Salome, and Joanna.
  • Simon Peter: This was a private meeting mentioned specifically in Luke 24:34 and 1 Corinthians 15:5.
  • The Two on the Road to Emmaus: (Note: Only one is named, Cleopas; the other remains anonymous).
  • The Eleven (Minus Thomas): This took place in the evening in a locked room.
  • 2. Eight Days Later
  • The Eleven (Including Thomas): This is when the "Doubting Thomas" moment occurs in John’s Gospel.
  • 3. The Following Weeks (Galilee)
  • Seven Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias: This is the "breakfast on the beach" scene in John 21.
  • The 500+ and The Great Commission: Paul mentions the "more than five hundred" in 1 Corinthians 15:6, which scholars often link to the mountain gathering in Galilee mentioned in Matthew 28.
  • James: This refers to James, the brother of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7).
  • 4. The 40th Day (The Ascension)
  • Final Instructions and Ascension:
  • Location: He led them [the disciples] as far as Bethany (on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives) for the Ascension.


THE DISCIPLES’ RELIABILITY

  • Can the Gospel accounts be corroborated?
  • The first-century Gospel accounts are better supported than any other ancient historical records:
  • Archaeology confirms many people, places, and events mentioned in the Gospels
  • Ancient Jewish, Greek, and pagan writings support the outline of Jesus’ identity, life, death, and resurrection.
  • Have the accounts been altered over time?
  • The strongest evidence indicates their content has been preserved accurately:
  • A "Chain of Custody" for the New Testament can be traced from the Gospel authors through their students [for centuries], confirming the original content.
  • Much of the Gospel material, including key aspects of Jesus, is supported by the writings of the Church Fathers [for centuries].
  • The many ancient Gospel copies can be compared to identify and eliminate late additions or copying mistakes.
  • They were not motivated by:
  • Money
  • Sexual or relational lust, or a
  • Desire for power.
  • They died without these incentives.
Their willingness to die for their testimony supports their honesty.There is no record of any of them recanting.
In his work Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace—a veteran cold-case homicide detective—approaches the resurrection as he would a "dead body" case with a missing corpse and multiple eyewitnesses. He evaluates the various "conspiracy theories" or alternative explanations through a professional investigative lens, ultimately concluding that the resurrection is the only explanation that accounts for all the "pieces of evidence" without introducing further logical contradictions.

HERE ARE THE PRIMARY WAYS PEOPLE TRY TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE RESURRECTION AND REBUTTALS TO EACH:

  • 1. The Disciples Lied (The Conspiracy Theory)
  • This theory suggests the disciples stole the body and fabricated the story to start a new religion.
  • Wallace’s Rebuttal: Wallace notes that successful conspiracies require three things: a small number of conspirators, a short time frame, and strong relational bonds. This "conspiracy" involved at least 11 apostles and dozens of others over several decades.
  • The Motive Check: In criminal investigations, people lie for three reasons: financial gain, sexual/relational lust, or a desire for power. The disciples gained none of these; instead, they faced poverty, social ostracization, and brutal executions. People will die for what they believe to be true, but they rarely die for what they know is a lie.
  • 2. The Hallucination Theory
  • This suggests that the disciples were so grief-stricken that they "imagined" seeing Jesus alive.
  • Wallace’s Rebuttal: From a forensic standpoint, hallucinations are individual, internal subjective experiences—like dreams. They are not collective.
  • The "Same Dream" Problem: It is medically impossible for 500 people to have the exact same hallucination at the same time and place. Furthermore, this theory does not explain the empty tomb; if the disciples were just hallucinating, the Roman or Jewish authorities could have simply produced the body to end the movement.
  • 3. The "Swoon" or Apparent Death Theory
  • This theory claims Jesus didn't actually die on the cross; He merely fainted, woke up in the cool air of the tomb, and escaped.
  • Wallace’s Rebuttal: Roman executioners were professionals; failing to kill a prisoner resulted in the executioner’s own death.
  • Forensic Detail: Wallace points to the "blood and water" mentioned in John 19:34. As a detective, he identifies this as pleural effusion or pericardial effusion, caused by extreme physical trauma and heart failure. This is a clear medical indicator of death that a first-century writer wouldn't have known how to "fake" for a story.
  • 4. The "Wrong Tomb" or Displacement Theory
  • This suggests the women went to the wrong grave, or that Joseph of Arimathea moved the body later, leading to a misunderstanding.
  • Wallace’s Rebuttal: This fails to account for the post-resurrection appearances. Even if the tomb were empty because of a mistake, that doesn't explain why the disciples claimed to have eaten, talked with, and touched Jesus for 40 days afterward.
  • Additionally, the Jewish authorities would have known the correct location and would have corrected the mistake immediately.
  • 5. The Legend Theory
  • This argues that the resurrection was a story that developed over many decades, like a game of "telephone," turning a teacher into a God.
  • Wallace’s Rebuttal: Wallace uses the "Chain of Custody" to debunk this. By looking at the writings of the apostles' students (such as Polycarp and Ignatius), he shows that the "resurrection narrative" was present from the very beginning. There was no "gap" in time long enough for a myth to replace the historical facts without being corrected by living eyewitnesses.

WHY THE RESURRECTION IS THE

"ONLY LOGICAL WAY"

  • Wallace uses a principle called Abduction (Inference to the Best Explanation). In a cold case, once you eliminate the impossible or the highly improbable, whatever remains—however "miraculous" it may seem—must be the truth.
  • He concludes the resurrection is the most logical explanation because:
  • It possesses "Explanatory Power": It is the only theory that explains the empty tomb, the transformed lives of the disciples, the emergence of the Church in Jerusalem (the very site of the execution), and the specific details of the eyewitness testimony.
  • It avoids "Ad Hoc" Fallacies: Alternative theories require "stacking" unlikely events (e.g., "The guards fell asleep AND the disciples were lucky AND 500 people had a simultaneous hallucination").
  • The Evidence of Transformation: The radical shift of the disciples from "scared fishermen" to "bold martyrs" requires a massive event. In Wallace's experience, people don't change their entire life's trajectory and face death for a "mistake" or a “hunch."