Posted on 04/24/2011 1:01:00 PM PDT by Olympiad Fisherman
The empty tomb is a historical fact leaving only six real possibilities to explain it (see Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ") - 1. Jesus' death was a hoax. 2. The disciples stole Jesus' body. 3. The resurrection accounts are legendary. 4. The disciples saw hallucinations of Jesus. 5. The disciples talked themselves into the resurrection. 6. Jesus was raised from the dead. Which is the best explanation that can explain the facticity of the early church? ...
The fact that Jesus performs astounding acts of healing(spiritual and physical)every hour of the day prove it to me.
The resurrection of Christ was a public historical miracle far beyond the private types of healing that Christians discuss today amongst themselves. It was designed to be unique event without parallel. Furthermore, a true miracle by definition is rare. If there are miracles happening all the time, it is no longer a miracle. Miracles are even rare in the Bible, let alone today.
The resurrection of Christ was a public historical miracle far beyond the private types of healing that Christians discuss today amongst themselves. It was designed to be unique event without parallel. Furthermore, a true miracle by definition is rare. If there are miracles happening all the time, it is no longer a miracle. Miracles are even rare in the Bible, let alone today.
Excellent book, read it saeveral years ago; one atheist's journey to the Truth, definately re-enforced my already strong faith!
I agree. I really enjoyed it too. What recently surprised me, however, is that Dr. Griffith Thomas’ classic book “Christianity is Christ” contained all the seeds of Strobel’s discussion in seminal form that dates back to the early 20th century. I almost finished reading this book and was stunned by how the same arguments for the resurrection of Christ were already discussed in a different bygone era.
C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" is another great resource on the Resurrection and Christian apologetics, IMHO...
Except that lots of non-Christian historical documents attest to his death.
2. The disciples stole Jesus' body.
If so, then they would have known that all Jesus' claims about himself weren't true, so why would they have followed Him and his teachings to their deaths?
3. The resurrection accounts are legendary.
How did the legend arise? Who started it? The disciples? If it was just a legend, people could go to the tomb to see if it were true. And why would the disciples be willing to die for an unprovable legend?
4. The disciples saw hallucinations of Jesus.
LOL! There are accounts of many many people seeing the risen Jesus at once. You do not have a whole bunch of people having the same hallucination all at once.
5. The disciples talked themselves into the resurrection.
Again, they would have to be really sure of what happened to be ready to die for their faith later.
6. Jesus was raised from the dead. Which is the best explanation that can explain the facticity of the early church? ...
Only satisfactory explanation.
Praise God that He love us so much He sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ to teach the people how to have a blessed relationship with Him. Thank You, Living Christ, for your sacrifice for our multitude of sins. You have made Yourself so relatively prominent in my life with myriad of miracles you have performed for me. Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer. I love You, Lord. Please come soon!
AMEN to that!
Well summarized!
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