HISTORICITY OF THE RESURRECTION:

A THEOLOGICAL APPROACH OF EVIDENCE

OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IN THE NEW
TESTAMENT

Made Astika
sttjaffraymakassar@yahoo.co.id
astikadek@yahoo.com

INTRODUCTION

There are some who question the validity of the crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ was not murdered and did
not rise from the grave, then He is no different than any of the wise men
or prophets of other religions. Jesus' resurrection is what gives Him the
authority to say He is God and that there is no other means to experience
eternal salvation except to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior.
On the long journey of the church history, there are many of
objections emerge related to the resurrection of Christ. The enemies of
Christianity tried to break the truth of the resurrection of Christ.
On the other hand, there are not few of Christians hesitate the
resurrection of Christ as the event in the history of human being.
Theologians’ views of resurrection influence Christian faith. Many of
theologians were raised up false view of resurrection. Their view brought
many Christians fall into doubt.
Based on these realities, this research paper emerged as a burden
and responsibility to reveal the biblical concept about resurrection of
Christ and its application in Christian life. This effort is poured out on
theme: “Historicity of Resurrection: A Theological Approach of Evidence
of the Resurrection of Christ in the New Testament.” Hopely this paper
will coloring and encouraging the believer to stand on the truth of
resurrection because the resurrection is the foundation of Christian faith
for salvation.

1
 CHAPTER I
THE IMPORTANCE OF RESURRECTION

Many people do not believe in the resurrection. Even in New

Testament times we find those who refused to believe in the resurrection.
The Sadducees were materialists who did not believe in resurrection as
the Pharisees did. Even in the church, some people did not believe in the
resurrection. St. Paul wrote concerning this in 1 Corinthians 15. In 2
Timothy 2:17-18, it seems that Hymenaeus and Philetus were mentioned
by Paul as people who did not really believe in the resurrection of the
body.1
The reality of resurrection of Christ was clearly mentioned in the
fourth Gospels and the doctrine about Christ’s resurrection was clearly
explained by the apostle of Paul on his letter to the Corinthians. The
apostle Paul explain of how important the resurrection of Christ for the
faith of the believers.

A. Foundation of Christian Faith

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of Christianity,
and without the resurrection, there is no Christianity. The apostle Paul
clearly says, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so
is your faith. . . .We are then found to be false witnesses about God, for
we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead." In that
same chapter he says "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile;
you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen sleep in Christ
are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied
more than all men." But then Paul triumphantly declares, "But Christ has
indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:14-24).
The resurrection of Christ is essential to the validity of the
Christian faith. Apart from the resurrection, the believer’s faith and the
preaching of the gospel are vain; those who proclaim the resurrection are
liars, and there is no hope for the future resurrection if Christ was not
raised. 2 Further more, Thiessen explain that Christ’s physical
resurrection is vitally important, is evident from the fundamental
connection of this doctrine with Christianity. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19,
Paul shows that everything stands or falls with Christ’s bodily

1
P. G. Mathew, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, available from
http://dcn.davis.ca.us/~gvcc/ radio_trans/resurrection.html, cited on April 8th 2009
2
Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Kregel Publications, 1995), 89.
2
resurrection.3 Wiersbe clearly tells, “If He was not raised, there is no
Gospel to preach, if there is no Gospel, then you have believed in vain
and you are still in your sins! If there is no resurrection, believers who
have died have no hope. The resurrection is not just important; it is “of
first importance,” because that all we believed hinges on it.4

B. The Fulfillment of the Prophecy

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was foretold in the Old Testament

as well as by the Lord Jesus Himself in the New Testament. In the
Gospels, the Lord Jesus repeatedly spoke to His disciples of His death
and resurrection before it took place.
This section is composed mainly of verses which confirm that
Christ’s resurrection happened not by chance, but according to God’s
predetermined plan. In the entire Bible, and especially in the New
Testament, Christ’s resurrection was repeatedly foretold.
Jesus pointed to the experience of Jonah, “For as Jonah was three
days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will
be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” recorded in
Matthew 12:40. The only legitimate conclusion of this verse is that Jesus
knew long in advance about His death, burial, and resurrection, and saw
His life moving toward the climax; and the Christological implications
must not be avoided.5 Jonah was a sign to the people of Niniveh because
he had experienced (in the great fish) “death,” burial, and resurrection.
The only sign Jesus would give to His nation was death, burial, and
resurrection,6 to answer the Jews requirement of Messianic sign.
Other prophecies of Messiah’s resurrection in the Old Testament
was recorded in the book of Psalm 16:8-11 (see Acts 2:25-28); 22:22 ff
(Heb. 2:12); Isaiah 53:10-12; and Psalm 2:7 (See Acts 13:32-33).
In regard to resurrection Psalm 16:10 anticipated the fact that His
body would not see corruption but would be resurrected. All the
passages that speak about Christ’s kingdom reign in the Millennium as
well as His present session in heaven support the fact of His bodily
resurrection.7

3
Henry C. Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987), 243.
4
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1 (Wheaton Illinois:
Victor Books, 1989), 618.
5
Frank E. Gaeblin, gen. ed. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan, 1984), 296.
6
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1 (Wheaton Illinois:
Victor Books, 1989), 43.
7
Lewis Sperry Chafer, Sytematic Theology, Volume one, Abridged Edition
(Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1988), 230.
3
C. Approval of Christ’s Divinity

By His resurrection, Christ brought His humanity fully into the

divine sonship and thus designated it as the Son of God. If Christ had not
risen from the dead there would be no compelling reason to suppose that
He was more that an ethical teacher or philosopher or fraud than other
men. This is because Christ himself affirmed that he would rise from the
dead as a final confirmation of his doctrine.8
The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is God. That is exactly
what God the Father wanted to communicate to us, as apostle Paul
wrote that the Gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in
the Holy Scripture regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a
descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was
declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the
dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.9
The Jews crucified Jesus Christ because, to them, he was
blaspheming when he said that he was the Son of God, equal to the
Father. The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates the truth that he is
who he said he was. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ man can see the
clear demonstration of the power of the true God. The resurrection
would have meant that God has been ultimately revealed in Jesus.10
The resurrection of Jesus witnesses to the immense power of God
Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God is
exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, He has
power to raise the dead also. If He does not have such power, He is not a
God worthy of believers’ faith and worship. Only He who created life can
resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the hideousness that is death
itself, and only He can remove the sting that is death and the victory that
is the graves. In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His
absolute sovereignty over life and death.

8
Raymond Taouk, The Importance of the Resurrection, available from
http://www.catholic apologetics.info/apologetics/islam/risen.htm, cited on April 7th
2009
9
Roman 1:14 New International Version
10
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker
Academic, 1985), 699.
4
 CHAPTER II
THE EVIDENCE OF RESURRECTION

Beginning in the latter part of the seventeenth century, some in

the church began to question putting faith in miracles, particularly in the
miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ. In England deists like John
Toland refused to believe in the resurrection. Rationalists like H. S.
Reimarus refused to believe in miracles, and questioned the authority of
the Bible and the church. The theologian David Strauss systematically
denied any miracles in his work, Life of Jesus, and in the twentieth
century Karl Barth, along with Rudolf Bultmann, also denied the
resurrection of the body. Today most liberal churches deny the
resurrection as well as any miracle as recorded in the New Testament.11
The resurrection of Christ is strongly supported throughout the
Bible, and especially in the New Testament. First, the account of Christ’s
resurrection is recorded in each of the four Gospels. Furthermore, the
earlier apostles and disciples, who were eyewitnesses of Christ’s
resurrection (Acts 1:22), took this fact as the focus of their gospel
preaching (Acts 2:32; 4:33). They witnessed of the resurrected Christ not
only by their teaching but also by their living, as portrayed in the Acts
and the Epistles. The disciples were transformed by forty days with Jesus
after His resurrection.12

A. The Empty Tomb

It was recorded in the fourth Gospels that the tomb in which
Jesus Christ was placed was empty on the third day. The New
Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background against which
the resurrection took place.
While Jesus was alive, he had predicted that he would rise from
the dead. He challenged his enemies: "Destroy this temple, and I will
raise it again in three days." He was speaking about his body (John 2:19-
22). Jesus also told his disciples many times that he would be killed by
the leaders in Jerusalem, but be raised to life on the third day. The
leaders who killed Jesus were aware of this prediction that he would rise
from the dead. Although they did not believe it, they wanted to ensure
that it would not happen, so they set a guard around the tomb.
The Gospel tells that on the next day, the one after Preparation
Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ”Sir,” they said,
“we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said, ‘After

11
P. G. Mathew, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, available from
http://dcn.davis.ca.us/~gvcc/ radio_trans/resurrection.html, cited on April 8th 2009
12
Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002),
10.
5
three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made
secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal
the body, and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This
last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate
answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they
went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and
posting the guard.13
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.14
The fact of empty tomb was told by an angel to Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the
Lord come down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the
stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes
were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook
and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be
afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is
not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he
lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead
and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I
have told you.”15

B. The Witnesses of Resurrection

The resurrection of Christ was a miracle, and the kind of evidence
needed to prove this fact is the same as that which is needed to prove any
other miracle. The witnesses are one of the evidence to prove it.16 On the
cross, Jesus was exposed to the eyes of unbelievers; but after the
resurrection, He was seen by believers who could be witnesses of His
resurrection.17
The Scripture tells that it was Christ appearance to His apostle
that caused them to believe in His resurrection as prior to this they all
13
Matthew 27:63-66 New International Version
14
Josh McDowell, Evidence for the Resurrection, available from,
http://www.bible.ca/d-resurrection-evidence-Josh-McDowell.htm, cited on April 7th
2009
15
Matthew 28:2-7 New International Version
16
Henry C. Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987), 244.
17
Compare with Acts 1:22; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32).
6
believed him to be dead. In fact even after His resurrection the Apostle
Thomas protested openly that he refused to believe unless he saw the
risen Christ himself, and so Christ did appear to him in the flesh
affirming to him "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed
are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
The Lord Jesus “presented Himself alive to His disciples after His
suffering by many irrefutable proofs, appearing to them through a period
of forty days” (Acts 1:3). The angels and the Holy Spirit also testified of
His resurrection (Matthew 28:5-6; John 20:11-13; Acts 5:29-32). Follows
are several proofs related to the appearance of Christ to His followers
during forty days before He ascended to Heaven as recorded in the
Bible.18

Appearance to Mary Magdalene

The first witnesses to see the risen Christ was Mary Magdalene
after Jesus' death and resurrection. It is touching that He appeared to her
after He had risen from the dead. She had found out that his body was
missing and she wanted to recover it. So she had really come seeking
Jesus with a heart full of love.
The gospel tells that in the early Sunday morning, Mary stood
outside the sepulcher crying. She stooped down and looked into the
sepulcher. A wondrous sight greeted her. Two angels dressed in white
were sitting one at the head and the other at the feet where Jesus' body
had lain! They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She answered,
"Because they've taken away my Lord and I don't know where they have
laid him."
Then she turned around and saw Jesus himself standing there, but
she didn't recognize Him. Jesus asked her, "Woman, are you crying?
Who are you looking for?" Thinking He was the gardener, Mary replied,
"Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I'll
take Him away." Then Jesus tenderly spoke her name, "Mary." Startled
and suddenly recognizing Her Lord, she turned and ecstatically
responded, "Rabboni!"
Jesus responded, "Don't touch me for I haven't yet ascended to My
Father, but go tell my brothers, I'm ascending to My Father, and your
Father and to My God and your God."

Appearance to Other Women

It was recorded in Matthew 28:9 that Jesus revealed Himself alive
to two or more other women as well. Again we notice that the second

18
Ultimate Victory of The Resurrection, available from
http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/ gospels-record-resurrection.php, cited on
April 7th 2009
7
appearance was to women whose testimony wouldn't have counted in a
court of law of their day. So if this was merely a legend, why choose
women as the first witnesses?
Jesus met them and said, “Rejoice!" They too saw the Lord. They
came and held Him by the feet -- the wounded, bleeding feet of Jesus. He
was probably bare-footed or wore sandals, so the scars on His feet would
have been visible. These women worshipped Him for they knew He was
their Lord. If Jesus wasn’t truly God, He wouldn’t have accepted their
worship. The risen Savior is to be worshipped.

Appearance to Peter
In Luke 24:34 we see that the resurrected Christ had a private
meeting with Peter after Jesus' death and resurrection.
We’re not told a thing about this interview. In Mark 16:7 a special
mention is made of Peter because of his threefold denial of Christ. You
see, Peter had miserably failed the Lord, but Jesus brought him back to
Himself. The Lord went to him personally and privately and restored
him. During this precious private interview, Peter confessed and was
restored.

The two on the way to Emmaus

In Luke 24:13 we read of this encounter that happened on the day
of the resurrection. Two followers of Christ were talking together of all
the things that had happened. One of them was named Cleopas.

Appearance to Ten apostles

Jesus appeared after his resurrection to 10 of his disciples at one
time. This is recorded in John 20:19. Thomas was missing on that
occasion. This was the same day -- resurrection day -- in the evening at
the close of the day when the doors were shut. The disciples were hiding
because they were afraid of what the Jewish leaders would do to them.

Appearance to Thomas
Thomas was not with the other apostles when Jesus visited them
at the first time appearance. This meeting with Thomas happened on a
Sunday a week after Jesus had appeared to the other 10
disciples. Thomas didn’t go to all the meetings and therefore missed out.
The ecstatic 10 men joyfully shared with Thomas that Jesus was risen.

Third Appearance to the Apostles

After Jesus had risen from the dead, the apostles returned to
fishing. They had fished all night but caught nothing. Probably they
were dependent on fish for their food. Jesus appeared to them again
8
“ this time standing on the shore. He commanded them to cast their net
on the right side of the ship. Immediately it filled up with 153 great fishes.
John said, ‘It is the Lord.” Then Jesus prepared breakfast for them and
asked them to come and eat.

Appearance to 500 believers

1 Corinthians 15:5 was written about 20 years after the
resurrection of Christ. This text states that Christ was seen of Cephas
(Peter) and then the 12 and then about 500 brethren at once. Many were
still alive 20 years later. You could go and ask these 500 eyewitnesses
about the risen Christ whom they had seen.

Appearance to James
The Bible tells that the resurrected Christ was also seen by James
(I Cor.15:7). This apparently was another personal interview. James was
the head apostle in the city of Jerusalem. He was the chairman who many
looked to for leadership. This disciple was convinced Jesus rose from the
dead.

The ascension of Christ

Acts 1:10 recounts to us the ascension of Christ. While they looked
steadfastly toward heaven, Jesus was taken up and covered by a cloud.
Then two angels appeared and told the crowd that Jesus would return
the same way He went into heaven.

Appearance to Paul the Apostle

Jesus showed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-9
and 1 Corinthians 15:8.
Another factor crucial to interpreting Christ's appearances is that
He also appeared to those who were hostile or unconvinced. 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.

CHAPTER III
THE FALSE THEORY OF RESURRECTION

For years philosophers and others who claim to be extremely

intelligent have said that Christianity is absurd and that no intelligent
person could believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Skeptics have felt
that those who believe in the resurrection of Christ are foolish and
9
superstitious and that they've just swallowed a hoax, even if it is a well-
meaning hoax.19
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.20
Follows are several theories which come up and become big issues
on the history of Christianity. Theories emerge to deny the truth of
resurrection of Christ.

A. The Stolen Body Theory

Rarely suggested by modern biblical scholars, was popular among
Roman and Jewish writers until the Middle Ages. The major premise of
this theory is that Jesus tomb was empty because his followers stole the
body.
This theory was emerged firstly by the chief priest and it was
recorded in the Bible. Matthew tells that the guards went into the city
and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When
the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave
the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His
disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were
asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep
you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were
instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to
this very day.21
This is highly unlikely because; firstly, Jewish authorities
requested a unit of tough Roman soldiers to guard the tomb and prevent
this very thing, since Jesus had predicted his resurrection. The guards
knew that if he escaped, such an offense was punishable by their death.
This is documented in the Bible. If you do not believe the Bible, do you
believe that the Jews would have allowed Jesus body to be stolen?
Secondly, the disciples were proponents of the highest ethical
standards. Therefore, for them to have removed the body, lied about its
whereabouts and then continued to practice and preach God's holy
moral code and die as martyrs seems improbable. If the disciples died
horrific deaths for believing in the resurrection of Jesus when they

19
Evidence of the Resurrection,Available from
http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/, cited on April 7th 2009
20
Josh McDowell, Evidence for the Resurrection, available from,
http://www.bible.ca/d-resurrection-evidence-Josh-McDowell.htm, cited on April 7th
2009
21
Matthew 28:11-15 New International Version
10
actually hid his body, they were insane. If they were insane enough to die
for a lie, there should be much documentation on how crazy the disciples
were after Jesus death.
The body was stolen is one of the various theory to explain the
empty tomb. But those theories are laughed at today by thousand serious
scholars. In fact, they have been considered dead and refuted for almost a
hundred years. For example, the Jews or Romans had no motive to steal
the body--they wanted to suppress Christianity, not encourage it by
providing it with an empty tomb. The disciples would have had no
motive, either. Because of their preaching on the resurrection, they were
beaten, killed, and persecuted. Why would they go through all of this for
a deliberate lie? No serious scholars hold to any of these theories today.
What explanation, then, do the critics offer, you may ask? Craig tells us
that "they are self-confessedly without any explanation to offer. There is
simply no plausible natural explanation today to account for Jesus' tomb
being empty. If we deny the resurrection of Jesus, we are left with an
inexplicable mystery."22
The resurrection of Jesus is not just the best explanation for the
empty tomb; it is the only explanation in town.

B. The Swoon Theory

According to this theory, Jesus did not really die, but merely
fainted, while it was thought that He had actually died.23 This theory
was, 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.24
The gospel clearly mention that Jesus already dead on the Cross.
The Gospels tells that the Roman soldiers pronounced Jesus dead, and
He was dead. The mixture of blood and water that poured out of the
wound they made in his side is clear evidence of this.

22
Desiring God Staff, Historical Evidence for the Resurrection, September 12, 2007,
available from
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2007/2390_Historical_E
vidence_for_ the_Resurrection/, cited on April 7th 2009
23
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B.
Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 2002), 348.
24
Josh-McDowell, Evidence for the resurrection, available from
http://www.bible.ca/d-resurrection-evidence-Josh-McDowell.htm, cited on April 7th
2009

11
 William Edwards, M.D., explain that crucifixion was an
excruciating experience, indeed, these two words are clearly related. The
cause of death by crucifixion was multifaceted and torturous. These
factors included exhaustion asphyxia, dehydration, and congestive heart
failure.25 That Jesus could have survived such agony on a Roman cross, to
limp out of the tomb by His own power, is improbable enough.
Crucifixion was a most painful and certain means of death. Christ
was whipped by Roman soldiers before his crucifixion (Mt 27:26-31).
Christopher Louis Lang explains that the Roman method for this was to
give thirty-nine lashes before crucifixion (forty lashes were considered
legally dead after which point an individual could no longer be
punished). The effect of this was to induce considerable blood loss. The
Romans used what was called a "cat-of-nine-tails." This whip had many
ends to it and usually had pieces of bone, glass, and metal shards
attached to it which would rip open the flesh.26 After being whipped,
Jesus was forced to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion. The
gospel records indicate that in his weakened state, he was unable to
carry the cross (which would have been carried on his wounded back Mt
27:32).
Jesus was then nailed to a Roman cross at which point his death
came within hours. The Jews were concerned that no bodies would be
left on crosses at sundown that evening because it was the beginning of
the Sabbath. The Apostle John wrote, “Now it was the day of
Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabath. Because the
Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabath, they
asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.” 27
Crucifixion victims, depending on their health and the method of
crucifixion, could last days on a cross. Victims died primarily through
blood loss, dehydration, and suffocation. In order to breathe when on a
cross, it is necessary for the victim to push up with their legs to release
the pressure on the lungs. This is a painful process because of the nails in
both the hands and feet or ankles. The purpose of breaking the victim’s
legs was so that they would be unable to push themselves up to breath
and thus dies more quickly.
However, when they came to Jesus the Roman guards realized he
was dead already. The Apostle John continues wrote, "The soldiers
therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, who had been

25
Rev. Gary W. Jensen, M.Div. and Paul S. Taylor, Is it possible that Jesus did not
die, but only fainted on the cross, later recovering from His wounds? Available from
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t013.html, cited on April 8th 2009.
26
Christopher Louis Lang, Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Christ,
available from http://www.xenos.org/classes/papers/doubt.htm, cited on April 7th 2009.
27
John 19:31 New International Version.
12
crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to
Jesus, and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a
sudden flow of blood and water."28 The Apostle John records this detail
of piercing Jesus side to indicate that he was in fact dead.

C. The Hallucination Theory

Another attempted explanation claims that the appearances of
Jesus after the resurrection were either illusions or hallucinations. Some
claim that witnesses to Christ's resurrection must have been
hallucinating or experiencing mass hysteria. The disciples projected
hallucinations of Jesus after his death, from which they mistakenly
inferred his resurrection. Is this possible?
The hallucination theory became popular during the nineteenth
century and carried over into the first half of the twentieth century as
well. It maintains that the disciples were so grieved by the loss of their
teacher that they experienced visions of him and then concluded he had
risen from the dead. At first this seems reasonable since they definitely
were shaken by his death.
The disciples could not have been hallucinating because this
theory is flatly contradicted by certain psychological principles
governing the appearances of hallucinations. The disciples’ was touched
Jesus and gave Him food (cf. Luke 24:39-43), which cannot be done with
a hallucination. In addition, this theory fails to account for the empty
tomb. Unsupported by the psychological principles governing the
appearances of hallucinations, this theory also does not coincide with
the historical situation.
The 500 plus brethren all saw Him at the same time (1 Cor. 15:6),
so it could not have been a hallucination or a deception. This event may
have been just before His ascension (Matt. 28:16ff).29
This is good ground for rejecting hallucination hypothesis. It is
psychologically implausible to posit such a chain of hallucinations.
Hallucinations are usually associated with mental illness or drugs; but in
the disciples' case the prior psycho-biological preparation appears to be
wanting. The disciples had no anticipation of seeing Jesus alive again; all
they could do was wait to be reunited with him in the Kingdom of God.
There were no grounds leading them to hallucinate him alive from the
dead. Moreover, the frequency and variety of circumstances belie the
hallucination theory. Jesus was seen not once, but many times; not by
one person, but by several; not only by individuals, but also by groups;
28
John 19:32-34 New International Version.
29
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1 (Wheaton Illinois:
Victor Books, 1989), 617.
13
not at one locale and circumstance but at many; not by believers only,
but by skeptics and unbelievers as well. The hallucination theory cannot
be plausibly stretched to accommodate such diversity.
There are none of the previous counter-explanations can account
for the evidence as plausibly as the resurrection itself. One might ask,
"Well, then, how do skeptical scholars explain the facts of the
resurrection appearances, the empty tomb, and the origin of the
Christian faith?" The fact of the matter is, they don't. Modern scholarship
recognizes no plausible explanatory alternative to the resurrection of
Jesus. Those who refuse to accept the resurrection as a fact of history are
simply self-confessedly left without an explanation.30

D. The Mythical Theory

Some critics charge that the Gospels have obscured the historical
Jesus of Nazareth by cloaking Him in layers of legend and myth. They
claim that the Bible's stories of Christ's resurrection are myth, not
history.
The mythical view asserts that Jesus' resurrection was a myth
created by the early church to maintain and grow the significance of
Jesus' teaching and death. The major problem with this view is that
Paul's testimony in 1 Corinthians 15:3 demonstrates that this so-called
"myth" began early in the church.
If it began early in the church, and had no real basis in history
whatsoever, it is difficult to see how it could have been propagated for
any length of time.
There are at least four reasons why the mythological interpretation
fails.31
First, comparative literature demonstrates that myth takes a
number of generations to develop. There are no parallels in other
literature of myth developing and being believed in the presence of eye-
witnesses and within the short timeframe in which the New Testament
was formed.
Second, many of these eyewitnesses to Christ's public ministry
were hostile toward the Jesus the Gospels describe (Matthew 12:22f).
These opponents had both motives and means to correct falsehoods
about Him had the first disciples attempted them. Yet their opportunity
did not produce a serious correction.

30
William Lane Craig, Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence for the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, available from http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth22.html,
cited on April 7th 2009.
31
Some say that Christ's resurrection was a myth, not history. Is this possible? Available
from
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t009.html, cited on April 8th 2009.
14
 Third, the Gospels don't resemble either Greek myth or Jewish
legend. In contrast to those, the Gospels understate and lack
embellishment, yet contain details counterproductive to the invention of
legendary heroes.
Fourth, Jews were the poorest of candidates for inventing a
mythical Christ. No other culture has so opposed mythically confusing
deity with humanity, as did the Jewish.
If it began early in the church, and had no real basis in history
whatsoever, it is difficult to see how it could have been propagated for
any length of time. Let alone become the foundation of the church.

CHAPTER IV
THE EFFECT OF RESURRECTION

According to the New Testament, Christ Jesus was born of a virgin,

lived a sinless live, healed the sick, raised the dead and preached the good
news. His enemies judged, arrested and crucified Jesus Christ, but they
could not keep the Lord Jesus Christ in the grave. Three days later He
rose again from the dead. Praise the Lord, because the resurrection of
Christ affecting Christian faith.

A. The Assurance of Salvation

The resurrection of Christ guarantees the assurance of salvation
and the eternal life in Christ. Archer, strongly mention that the bodily
resurrection was God’s certification to the world that the Savior of
mankind had paid a valid and sufficient price for sinners and that He had
for them overcome the curse of death.32 The resurrection indicated that
the work of the cross was completed. The resurrection shows that God
the Father accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, His Son.
Christ resurrections give us hope in the future resurrection and
certitude far greater than we previously had of life beyond the grave.
Christ himself tells this saying "I am the resurrection and the life; he that
believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live" (John 11:25). The apostle
Peter also proclaims "God raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him
glory, that your faith and hope might be in God" (1 Peter 1:21).
The resurrection shows that the Gospel is true. Because of the
resurrection of Christ, we can have the gift of eternal life. That is one of
the most important reasons for the death and resurrection of Jesus. No
one could be saved and go to heaven without the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. We are still in our sins if the resurrection did not

32
Gleason L. Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1982), 235.
15
happen. The resurrection is crucial to the salvation of sinners, because
without the resurrection we are still lost in our sins.33
The salvation depends on faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Bible says that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.34
This means that one’s cannot be a Christian unless you believe in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. This should tell that even if some people are
in churches, if they reject the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they are not
Christians.35
The Justification was secured by his obedience to the death, and
therefore he was raised from the dead. Paul wrote, “He was delivered
over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification”
(Rom. 4:25). His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for
our sins, that his sacrifice was accepted as a satisfaction to divine justice
and his blood a ransom for sinners. It is also a pledge and an earnest of
the resurrection of all believers (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:47-49; Phil. 3:21;
1 John 3:2).
Christ’s resurrection is an earnest of the believer’s resurrection. In
this world sorrow is our lot, but in heaven there is joy, a fullness of joy;
our pleasures here are for a moment, but those at God’s right hand are
pleasures for evermore. Through this thy beloved Son, and our dear
Savior, thou wilt show us, O Lord, the path of life; thou wilt justify our
souls now, and raise our bodies by thy power at the last day; when
earthly sorrow shall end in heavenly joy, pain in everlasting happiness.36
Charles Spurgeon commented, “This is a noble encouragement to
all the saints; die they must, but raise they shall, and though in their case
they shall see corruption, yet they shall raise to everlasting life. Christ’s
resurrection is the cause, the earnest, the guarantee, and the emblem of
the rising of all his people.”37 As he lives, the believers shall live also.

B. The Day of the Lord

The Lord’s Day is another effect of the resurrection. The disciples
immediately began to meet together in commemoration of Jesus’
resurrection. The Bible said, “On the evening of that first day of the week,

33
Why Is The Resurrection Important? http://www.resurrection. azprophecy.com/
what-the-resurrection-means.php, cited on April 7th 2009
34
Romans 10:9 New International Version
35
P. G. Mathew, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, available from
http://dcn.davis.ca.us/~gvcc/ radio_trans/resurrection.html, cited on April 8th 2009
36
Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Waynesboro,
Georgia: OM Literature, 1995), 371.
37
Alister McGrath and J.I. Packer, eds., The Crossway Classic Commentaries: Psalms
vol. 1 (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1993), 47.
16
when the disciples were together … A week later His disciples were in
the house again and Thomas with them (John 20: 19, 26). On the first day
of the week we came together to break the bread (Acts 20:7).”
It is remarkable thing that the apostles who were Jews should turn
from the observance of their time-honored Sabath Day, which had been
given in Eden and been made a sign of their covenant relation with God
(Exodus 31:13; Ezek. 20:12, 20), to Sunday worship. The origin of the
Lord’s Day can be accounted for only on the ground that the apostles
change it in honor of Christ’s physical resurrection and with his
approval.38 The Jewish believers, meanwhile, were so impressed by this
miracle that they began to worship on the day of Christ's resurrection,
Sunday, rather than on Saturday, as their custom had been.

C. Changed Lives of the Disciples

Another evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is the changed lives
of the disciples. The fact is that before the resurrection they were
frightened men and were hiding away in fear of their lives. The disciples
knew Christ had died and were skeptical at first concerning His
resurrection, but when they saw Him alive, they were completely
changed. After the resurrection, they preached everywhere for no earthly
benefit, only suffering and martyrdom. There was a definite change in the
disciples after the resurrection, especially noticeable in Peter.39
Look at the life of the Apostle Paul. What changed him from being
a persecutor of the church into an apostle for the church? It was when
the risen Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6).
The early believers were beaten, stoned, thrown to the lions,
tortured and crucified for sharing a lie, if the resurrection had not
occurred. The ultimate martyrdom of thousands of believers is one of the
strongest proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 40 Because of the
miracle of Christ's resurrection, Jesus' depressed and disappointed
disciples were instantly transformed. They began to preach the gospel
with power, and the resurrection of Jesus was at the heart of their
preaching. These disciples of Jesus willingly suffered martyrdom for their
faith. The enemies of the gospel were totally unable to refute this central

38
Henry C. Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987), 247.
39
Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1995), 89.
40
Key Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ --Changed Lives of the Disciples,
available from, http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/changed-lives-evidence.php,
cited on April 7th 2009.
17
claim of the gospel. They could not produce the body of Jesus Christ and
put a stop to Christianity.
Among the twelve disciples, ten died for their belief in Christ's
resurrection and their belief in Him as the Son of God. This is significant
because if Jesus had not risen from the dead His disciples knew it. People
may die for something they believe to be true, but is in fact false. But if
the resurrection did not happen, the disciples did not just die for a lie
that they mistakenly believed to be true, but died for a lie that they knew
was a lie. Ten people would not all give their lives for something they
knew to be a lie.

D. The existence of the Christian Church

The existence of the Church confirms the resurrection. If Christ
had no resurrection body, then there is no mystical body performed by
the Holy Spirit who came as the result of Christ resurrection and
ascension. The fact and presence of the Church, then, demonstrates the
proof of the resurrection and believer is a living proof of such a doctrine,
Lockyer explained.41
Without belief in the resurrection of Jesus, Christianity could
never have come into being. The crucifixion would have remained the
final tragedy in the hapless life of Jesus. The origin of Christianity hinges
on the belief of these earliest disciples that Jesus had raised from the
dead.42
The existence of the church is dependent on the fact of the
resurrection. The early church grew through the preaching of the
doctrine (Acts 2:24-32; 3:15; 4:2).43 Without the resurrection, there is no
Christianity. Josh McDowell writes, "The Church was founded on the
resurrection, and disproving it would have destroyed the whole
Christian movement. However, instead of any such disproof, through the
1st century, Christians were threatened, beaten, flogged and killed
because of their faith."44

E. The Completion of the New Testament

The books of the New Testament itself are also an effect of the
resurrection. There is no New Testament, if there is no resurrection.

41
Herbert Lockyer, All the Doctrines of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1974), 53.
42
William Lane Craig, Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence for the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, available from http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth22.html,
cited on April 7th 2009.
43
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989), 235.
44
Evidence for The Resurrection of Christ, available from
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/ art9100.asp, cited on April. 7th 2009.
18
Evans says, “If Jesus had remained buried in the grave, the story of His
life and death would have remained buried with Him.”45
If the resurrection of Christ were to be abandoned no Gospel or
Epistle would remain in the New Testament. That Christ had risen from
the dead by His own power was the message that the believers of the
New Testament period were concerned to make known. They never for a
moment imagined that there could be a Gospel apart from the
resurrection.46

CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He'll never wear grave clothes
again. When he appeared to his disciples after the resurrection, he
appeared not in a shroud of death, but walking in endless life.47
The Lord Jesus is the Son of God who became man. He is very God
and very man. He was crucified, he died and was buried, and he was
raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures.
The proofs of resurrection can be found both in the Scripture and
also in the history. Historically, the empty tomb and Jesus appearances
to His disciples and many of His followers are clear proving that the
resurrection of Chris is real. Biblically, it was the main preaching and
teaching of the apostles. Beside that Jesus Himself prophesied and
teaches about His resurrection.
These three great facts--the resurrection appearances, the empty
tomb, and the origin of the Christian faith--all point unavoidably to one
conclusion: The resurrection of Jesus. Today the rational man can hardly
be blamed if he believes that on that first Easter morning a divine miracle
occurred.48 Further fact is, if no resurrection, there will no church, there
will no Christianity. Because of Jesus resurrection, the believers have
assurance future life. Because He lives, there is hope for the future; there
is certain hope for the salvation of the believers.

45
William Evans, The Great Doctrine of the Bible, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1949),
91.
46
Raymond Taouk, The Importance of the Resurrection, available from
http://www.catholic apologetics.info/apologetics/islam/risen.htm, cited on Nov. 7th
2007
47
Why Is The Resurrection Important? Available from
http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/ what-the-resurrection-means.php, cited on
April 7th 2009.
48
William Lane Craig, Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence for the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, available from http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth22.html,
cited on April 7th 2009.

19
 It can be said, there are no one theory can proof the rejection of the
historicity of the resurrection of Christ.
How do we respond to the resurrection of Christ? "Believe in the
Lord Jesus and you will be saved," Paul told the Philippian jailer (Acts
16:31).

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Archer, Gleason L. Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1982.
Berkhof, Louis. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002.
Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Sytematic Theology, Volume one, Abridged Edition.
Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1988.
Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1989.
Evans, William. The Great Doctrine of the Bible. Chicago: Moody Press, 1949.
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Waynesboro, Georgia: OM Literature, 1995.
Lightner, Robert P. Handbook of Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1995.
McGrath, Alister and Packer, J.I., eds. The Crossway Classic Commentaries:
Psalms vol. 1. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1993.
Thiessen, Henry C. Lectures in Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987.
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1. Wheaton
Illinois: Victor Books, 1989.

Website
Craig, William Lane.Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence for
the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Available from
http://www.leaderu.com/ truth/1truth22.html
Desiring God Staff. Historical Evidence for the Resurrection. Available from
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/200
7/2390_Historical_Evidence_for_ the_Resurrection/
Mathew, P. G. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Available from
http://dcn.davis.ca.us/ ~gvcc/ radio trans/resurrection.html
Evidence for The Resurrection of Christ, available from
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/ art9100.asp

20
Evidence of the Resurrection. Available from
http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/
Jensen, Gary W. and Taylor, Paul S. Is it possible that Jesus did not die, but only
fainted on the cross, later recovering from His wounds? Available from
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t013.html
Key Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ --Changed Lives of the Disciples.
Available from, http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/changed-lives-
evidence.php
Lang, Christopher, Louis. Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Christ.
Available from
http://www.xenos.org/classes/papers/doubt.htm
McDowell, Josh. Evidence for the Resurrection. Available from,
http://www.bible.ca/d-resurrection- vidence-Josh-McDowell.htm
Some say that Christ's resurrection was a myth, not history. Is this possible?
Available
from http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t009.html
Taouk, Raymond, The Importance of the Resurrection. Available from
http://www.catholic apologetics.info/apologetics/islam/risen.htm
Ultimate Victory of the Resurrection. Available from
http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/ gospels-record-
resurrection.php
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http://www.resurrection.azprophecy.com/what-the-
resurrection-means.php

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