CIM Briefing Papers

C.I.M. Outline #1

               THE RESURRECTION:  FACT OR FICTION

I.  INTRODUCTION

    A.  The resurrection is the falsification point of
        Christianity.  The keystone in the arch.  (I Cor. 15:14).

    B.   Christ predicted His resurrection 8 times (Matt. 16:21;
         17:9; 17:22-23; 20:18,19; 25:32; Mark 9:10; Luke 9:22-
         27; John 2:18-22).

    C.   The resurrection, if it really occurred in space-time
         history, would authenticate His claim of deity.

    D.   It would seem that for an event in antiquity, the
         resurrection has superior sources:

         1.  We have six Biblical sources (five different    
             reporters), Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, and I  
             Corinthians.

         2.  The aforementioned books were in circulation, for   
             the most part, by the end of the First Century A.D. 
             Recently some scholars are moving them back even
             closer to the event.

         3.  There are many extra-biblical sources that mention
             the resurrection of Jesus.  One ossuary (an ancient
             epitaph) mentions the resurrection only 18 years
             after Jesus' death.

II.  THE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION

     A.  The Empty Tomb

          1.  Both the followers of Jesus and His enemies agree
              the tomb was empty.

          2. There are extra-biblical references to it.

          3.  The Sermon on the resurrection preached by Peter
              in Acts 3:28 was given only a 20 minute walk from
              the tomb.  His message and response would be hard
              to explain without it if the body were still there.

         4.   Attempts to explain away the empty tomb:

              a. The body was stolen

                 (1) By the Disciples (Matt. 28:14-15)
                     Objections:

                     (a) How did the soldiers know it was the 
                     disciples if they were sleeping?

                     (b) Soldiers who allowed a prisoner to 
                     escape were executed.  

                     (c) Hypocrites are not martyrs.   

                 (2) By the Jewish authorities
                     Objection:  If so, they could have produced
                     the body to counter the preaching in  
                    Jerusalem.

          b. The Swoon Theory

             Originated by Venturinni around 1700 and made
             popular today by Hugh Schonfield in his book THE
             PASSOVER PLOT.

             (1) Original version:  Jesus was not really dead
                 but revived in the cool tomb.

             (2) Today's version:  Jesus plotted His own death
                 and a cohort gave Him a drug on the cross that
                 caused Him to appear dead.  He hadn't counted
                 on the spear wound.

                 Objections:  In order to accept this you have
                 to believe that:

                 (a) He freed Himself from the grave clothes.
                 (b) He pushed the stone away.
                 (c) Sneaked past the sleeping soldiers.
                 (d) Walked to Galilee and convinced his
                     disciples that He had arisen from the dead.

          c.  The Wrong Tomb Theory

              The women went to the wrong tomb.

              Objections:  (1) It assumes that Peter did too.
                           (2) Why didn't the authorities just   
                            point this out?

          d.  A Case of Mistaken Identity

              Mary Magdalene mistook the gardener for Jesus.  Or,
              it was a disciple who looked like Jesus, or His
              identical twin.

              Objections:  same as above.

          e.  Hallucinations

              Objection:  None of the right psychological 
              conditions were present.  Difficult to explain his
              appearing to 500 at once (I Cor. 15)!

          f.  It became a Legend

              Objections: (1) Gospels were written too early.
                          (2)He appeared to women first.

     B.  The Behavior of the Disciples

         1. It is hard to explain Peter's sermon in the light of
            the previous denials that he was a follower of Jesus
            the night of the crucifixion.

         2. It is hard to explain the behavior and  martyrdom of
            the disciples if they had a knowledge of the truth. 
            Note how they died according to tradition:

            Stephen-stoned, James-beheaded, Philip-crucified,
            Matthew-sword, Mark-dragged through the streets and
            burned, James the Less-beaten and stoned, Matthias-
            stoned and beheaded, Andrew-crucified, Peter-
            scourged and crucified upside down, Paul-beheaded,
            Thaddeus-crucified, Bartholomew-beaten to death,
            Thomas-speared, Simon the Zealot-crucified, John-
            sentenced to be boiled in oil but later died a
            natural death.

     C.  His Appearances

         In order they are:  To Mary M., a party of women, two
         men on the Emmaus road, Peter, to ten disciples in the
         upper room, one week later to eleven disciples, to seven
         disciples in Galilee, to 500 people at once, to James,
         to the disciples in Jerusalem, to Stephen, to Saul.

     D.  The existence of the church.

     E.  Day of worship shifted to Sunday.

     F.  The experience of Christians over 2000 years of history.

III.  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

      It means the Father accepted the Son's offering for sin. 
      It was proof of His deity.  We have hope of redemption.
                    
FOR FURTHER STUDY: 

Chapman, Colin.  The Case for Christianity.  Grand Rapids, MI.: 
     Wm. B. Erdmans   Publishing Co.,1981.Pp.278-290.

Chapman, Colin.  Christianity on Trial.  Wheaton, IL.:  Tyndale,
     1975.

Craig, William Lane.  The Son Rises.  Chicago:  Moody Press,
     1981.

Geisler, Norman L.  Miracles and Modern Thought.  Grand Rapids,
     MI.:  Zondervan, 1982.

Green, Michael.  Runaway World.  Downers Grove, IL.: 
     InterVarsity Press, 1968.

Green, Michael.  Man Alive!.  Downers Grove, IL.:  InterVarsity
     Press, 1967.

Habermas, Gary.  The Resurrection: An Apologetic.  Grand Rapids,
     MI.:  Baker, 19 

Miethe, Terry L.  Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?  San Francisco,
     CA.:  Harper & Row,   1987.

Morrison, Frank.  Who Moved the Stone?  Grand Rapids, MI.: 
     Zondervan, n.d.
    
 
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