Proof of the Resurrection

Did Jesus actually raise from the dead?

The death of Jesus is dependent on historical narratives. But historical narratives can describe actual historical events. Historical na

rratives do have an element of opinion in them. But actual historical events can be gleaned from historical narratives.

We can read the historical accounts of Lincoln's death and be relatively certain, that Lincoln was shot, where Lincoln was shot, and who shot Lincoln and that Lincoln died. We can also put these events in a hierarchy of certainty. We can put these in a hierarchy of certainty because of the effect that each of these events had on successive events after the shooting.

We are most certain that Lincoln died. All events after this support the idea that Lincoln died. Someone else became president, there was a funeral for Lincoln, and other events that we can read about.

Next we are certain that Lincoln was shot. There had to be a reason why Lincoln died and there was a man hunt that for the man that is believed to have shot Lincoln.

3rd would be the location of the shooting. We can be fairly certain of this because the theater was made into a museum there were many witnesses at the theater and we can read the account of those statements.

4th The fact that would be least confirmed would be who shot Lincoln. Because anyone could have shot Lincoln in the theater and results would have been the same as above. So the actual shooter does not have effect on the events around him as the results of the shooting.

In 1 Cor. 15:3-4 Paul gives the Corinthians a creed that was given to him.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…".

It is pretty much universally accepted that Jesus died on a Roman cross.

Is there evidence in the events that happen that He also was raised from the dead.

1. Christianity was born in the city where Jesus died, with the resurrection alway being part of Christian kerygma. The resurrection is the central theme of Christianity.

2. We know Lincoln died because no acts are attributed to him after the date of his death. That is not true of Jesus. He was seen by Paul , by the two men on the emmaus road and by 500 witnesses. He spoke to his disciples.

3. Well educated, as well as common people believed that Jesus was raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.

4. Because the creed that Paul quoted in 1 Cor. 15 can be dated within almost months of the resurrection. There is not enough time for someone to start a myth of that Jesus rose from the dead.

5. Why would a Roman historian write about a dead Jew that died on a cross. The Romans crucified millions. What would make Jesus stand out against the countless millions that were crucified before Jesus died.

The events surrounding Jesus' death scream that Jesus did rise from the dead.

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