Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ

"The Resurrection" by Carl Heinrich Bloch.

Key evidences of the resurrection of Jesus Christ include:

1. Early accounts. The sources for Jesus Christ are remarkably early, especially in comparison to sources for other ancient historical figures (See also: Historicity of Jesus). The gospels were written relatively soon after the resurrection. Most of the Saint Paul’s letters were written previously to 60 A.D. Furthermore, Paul records an ancient creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, which notes the appearances of Jesus to both individuals and groups; this creed can be traced back to within a few years of the resurrection itself (this creed dates to 30-35 A.D.).

2. Multiple eyewitness accounts. There are 11 accounts of Jesus appearing after the resurrection to individuals/groups. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, over 500 people saw Jesus alive after his resurrection, in addition to Peter, James, Paul, and the rest of Jesus's disciples. At the time Paul reported these events around 55 A.D., many of the individuals Jesus appeared to were still alive and could be spoken to (this was approximately 25 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection).

3. Extrabiblical Christian, Jewish and pagan accounts of the resurrection. For example, Josephus, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, etc.

4. Embarrassing details. Women's testimony was considered unreliable at the time of Jesus. The gospel accounts of Jesus's resurrection report that women were the first people to see Jesus appear from the tomb after the resurrection.

5. Enemy attestation. The Jews and Romans both claimed that Jesus's body was stolen as an excuse to explain away the resurrection. This however was not a credible excuse. The Roman seal was placed over the tomb of Jesus. The seal over the tomb designated that the tomb was occupied and both the power and authority of Rome stood behind the seal. Breaking the Roman seal was punishable by death.).

6. The empty tomb. The Romans, Jews, and Christians knew where Jesus was buried, but his body was never produced.

7. Explosive emergence and growth of the early church. See: Historical examples of the exponential growth of Christianity

8. Transformation of the apostles. The apostles of Jesus were transformed from being timid to being bold witnesses who were eventually martyred. Eyewitnesses don't die for a lie. It is almost universally accepted by historians that the disciples genuinely and firmly believed they had encountered the resurrected Jesus.

9. The conversion of the Apostle Paul. Paul was transformed from being a fervent persecutor of Christianity who killed Christians to being its most ardent supporter. Paul said he had encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus post Jesus's resurrection.

10. Expected event. Jesus foretold his resurrection ((That is why the tomb was guarded) and Old Testament prophecies alluded to it via messianic prophecies. Prior to the resurrection, Jesus was known as a miracle worker. See: Bible prophecy

Minimal facts argument for the resurrection of Jesus Christ

DeMoss Learning Center at Liberty University

See also: Gary Habermas and Christian apologetics

Gary Habermas (born 1950) is a professor and department chairman in the areas of philosophy and theology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He is best known for his work in Christian apologetics. In recent history Gary Habermas is considered the foremost Christian apologist for defending the resurrection of Jesus.

The Minimal Facts Argument is a Christian apologetics defense of Jesus' resurrection that uses facts that are widely agreed upon by historians. The argument was developed by Gary Habermas.

Articles:

• Minimal Facts on the Resurrection that Even Skeptics Accept by Gary Habermas

• Minimal facts argument for the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Videos:

• The Minimal Facts Approach to the Resurrection by Gary Habermas

• The Resurrection Argument That Changed a Generation of Scholars by Gary Habermas

Criticisms of the minimal facts argument for the resurrection of Jesus Christ

• An Objection to the Minimal Facts Argument, William Lane Craig's website

• Problems for the Minimal Facts Argument for Jesus’s Resurrection? by J.W. Wartick

• The Minimal Facts Argument for the Resurrection is Too Minimal - video

• Why minimal facts isn't enough

Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophecies

• The Top 40 Messianic Prophecies
• How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill?, Got Questions Ministries
• Chart of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus

The probability/possibility of Jesus Fulfilling every Prophecy (Strong evidence that Jesus was the Messiah)

• How Many Messianic Prophecies Did Jesus Fulfill in Scripture?
• The Statistical Probability of Jesus Fulfilling the Messianic Prophecies
• Applying the Science of Probability to the Scriptures

Christian legal apologetics

For more information please see: Christian legal apologetics

Legal scholars, legal authorities, and eminent lawyers such as Simon Greenleaf, John Warwick Montgomery, Lord Darling, John Singleton Copley, Hugo Grotius, Lord Caldecote, J. N. D. Anderson, Lionel Luckhoo, and many others have asserted that western legal standards argue for the resurrection of Christ.

See also

• Christian Apologetics and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• Christian apologetics
• Evidential apologetics
• Historicity of Jesus
• Arguments for the existence of God

External links

• Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, CRU
• 9 Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus
• 7 evidences for the resurrection of Christ, Christian Post
• 4 Points of Evidence for the Resurrection
• What is the Proof and Evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?, Christianity.com
• 10 Concise Pieces of Evidence for the Resurrection

Videos:

• What are the proofs for the resurrection of Jesus?, Southern Seminary
• Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus, Interview with Dr. Gary Habermas
• The Resurrection Argument That Changed a Generation of Scholars by Gary Habermas