Six common arguments against the resurrection refuted

About Jesus, All Questions

Six arguments against the Resurrection refuted.

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Jesus,   All Questions

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Jan 8, 2025

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There are six common arguments used to explain or refute the resurrection event. The answers to these arguments, however, further only help to demonstrate the authenticity and credibility of the resurrection.

ARGUMENT 1

“Jesus' enemies would have taken / stolen His body.”

This scenario would be highly improbable because Jesus’ enemies would have certainly displayed His body if they could have, to humiliate His disciples, control any rumors of His resurrection, as well as cut short any new religious movement that would threaten their Mosaic traditions.

ARGUMENT 2

“Jesus' followers might have taken His body.”

It is unlikely that Jesus’ followers would have taken His body because, following His crucifixion, they were profoundly disappointed and discouraged.

They also hid away and did not believe that He would resurrect as He had promised. It is absurd to think that, given their emotional state, they would have invented a scheme wherein they would steal the body to fabricate a story that they did not believe in and would later be killed for.

Also, some claim that the apostles may have stolen Jesus’ body. However, there is a problem with this theory because the Roman cohort guarded the tomb. These men were trained military personnel. If the soldiers were found asleep during duty, they would be burned to death on the spike. Thus, it was unlikely that the disciples could steal the body of Christ while they were asleep.

ARGUMENT 3

“No one had actually seen Jesus risen and people who claimed to were just hallucinating with grief.”

Hallucinations are an individual phenomenon, not a group event.

An individual can hallucinate; however, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after His resurrection. Furthermore, the Bible accounts for Paul’s conversion after he witnessed the resurrected Christ, and he was not even in a state of grief (but instead was on route persecuting Christians).

ARGUMENT 4

“The Conversion of Paul could have happened by him just exploring other faiths as it occurs in today’s world.”

The conversion of Paul was not based on secondary evidence (reading material or being ministered to) but was rather based on a firsthand experience with the risen Lord Jesus Christ that led to his conversion.

ARGUMENT 5

“Jesus had a twin brother who looked like him and pretended to be the Messiah after the resurrection.”

While this is possible, it is unlikely that someone would attempt such a stunt and subject himself to the torture and flogging associated with the name Jesus during that time.

ARGUMENT 6

“Jesus did not die on the cross but had merely passed out and later woke up in the tomb and escaped.”

Jesus was severely beaten, exhausted, carried a cross that had splinters, had a crown of thorns placed on His head, was nailed to the cross, and finally, He was stuck with a spear.

He was then  taken down from the cross,  wrapped in 100 pounds of burial cloth and placed in a tomb with a stone weighing two to three tons in front of it. There is no way a person could have regained consciousness, unwrapped Himself, and still had the strength to push the stone and escape after going through all of that.

Additionally, the guards who crucified Jesus were professional executioners, and some say an executioner would face death if he removed a victim before he died.

Concluding Remarks  

In summary, the six common arguments challenging the resurrection of Jesus, when closely examined, not only fail to diminish its credibility but actually reinforce the authenticity of this pivotal event. From the improbability of Jesus’ body being stolen by either his enemies or his followers to the implausibility of alternative explanations like hallucinations, mistaken identity, or mere survival after crucifixion, each argument crumbles under scrutiny.

This thorough examination of counterarguments only strengthens the historical and logical case for the resurrection, affirming its central place in Christian faith and theology.

EVEN THESE SIX REASONS COULD NOT CONTAIN HIM IN THE GRAVE. JESUS IS ALIVE.

What is the Evidence for the Resurrection?

About Jesus, All Questions

What is the Evidence for the Resurrection ?

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Jesus,   All Questions

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Jan 8, 2025

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It is a fundamental part of Christianity to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

Therefore, Christians should always be prepared to explain why they believe in the resurrection.

The Apostle Paul even stressed the importance of this question when he said that if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then our faith is useless, and we are utterly deceived.

1 Corinthians 15:14-19 (NKJV)

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

To tackle this question, we will look at an acronym (CDPJE) summarized by the first alphabet of the following sentence: ‘Christ Disciples Preached Jesus Everywhere.

Crucifixion

Disciples

Paul conversion

James conversion

Empty tomb

The Crucifixion

Jesus died at the crucifixion. To prove that Jesus had resurrected, we first need to determine that He actually died (as people still claim He did not). Let’s look at some facts about the crucifixion event.

      • All four gospel accounts (Mathew / Mark / Luke / John) record the crucifixion event. Signifying its historicity as the four accounts individually record this event.
      • No reputable scholar would dispute that Jesus was crucified. Even among skeptics who deny the deity of Christ, most of them would agree historically that a Man named Jesus was on the earth and that He died by crucifixion.
      • The guards who crucified Jesus were professional executioners. Some say that if an executioner took a man off before he was dead, he would also face the same death. That is why the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus on His side to see if the water and blood were separated, as is consistent with physical death.

Disciples and Paul’s Conversion: 

As soon as the disciples realized that Jesus had risen, they came out of hiding and continued to preach the gospel. They could have remained in hiding, but they chose to follow Him, preach the gospel and even died terrible deaths for it.

Additionally, the disciples, who had been part of Jesus’ three-year ministry and even witnessed His miracles, would have had a good reason to follow Him, but the Apostle Paul did not have the same motivation.

The Apostle Paul on the other hand did not know Jesus personally during His 3-year ministry. In fact, Paul was converted while on a mission persecuting Christians and was converted when he saw a vision of the resurrected Christ (Refer to Acts chapter 9). Paul’s drastic change from persecuting Christians to an avid follower of Jesus can only be explained by him supernaturally witnessing the resurrected Christ.

The Conversion of James:  

James, including all of Jesus’ brothers, were unbelievers during His earthly ministry (John 7:5). James was a notable leader of the Jerusalem Church and even earned the name ‘camel knees’ due to his devout and frequent prayers.

But when Jesus appeared to him (after the resurrection), he became a believer and was radically transformed.

However, his conversion was a source of contention for many Jews in that era who became hostile against him. Very soon he was dragged by a group of angry mobs who threw him off the place where he used to pray and later stoned him to death. Yet, even in the face of such extreme persecuting, James remained steadfast in his beliefs and persisted in his commitment to Christ until his final breath.

    The Tomb was Empty:  

    There are two sub-facts about the empty tomb of Jesus:

    1. The Enemy’s attestation of the fact that the body was missing.

    Common wisdom suggests that testimony from a friend or relative might be biased and thus less credible. However, when an adversary acknowledges something, it carries greater weight. In the case of Jesus’ resurrection, even His enemies, who had much to lose by doing so, attested to the missing body. This enemy attestation significantly bolsters the claim of the resurrection, as it’s unlikely they would confirm a fact that supports the narrative of someone they opposed.

    1. Testimony of women.

    In ancient times, women were often marginalized in legal and societal contexts, with their testimonies considered less valid than those of men. Intriguingly, it’s women who are reported in the Gospels as the first to find Jesus’ tomb empty.

    If the Gospel writers were fabricating this story, relying on women as primary witnesses would have seemed counterproductive in convincing a contemporary audience. Their choice in using the facts suggests a commitment to reporting events as they occurred rather than constructing a more culturally palatable narrative. The reliance on women’s testimony in such a critical moment underscores the Gospels’ aim for truthfulness over societal conventions.

    These two elements together strengthen the argument that the empty tomb account wasn’t a fabrication but a sincere attempt to record actual events. The involvement of enemies and marginalized witnesses in verifying this key event points to a narrative grounded in historical occurrences rather than a constructed myth.

      Conclusion  

      Taking all these facts into account, we can conclude that Jesus did exist, was crucified, and people around him, including those who did not personally know Him, witnessed Him resurrected.

      In addition to proving every claim about Christ made by the prophets and apostles, the resurrection of Jesus also erased doubts about His divinity.

      The resurrection proved that He truly spoke of things that the Father taught Him, that the Father was one with Him, and that He always did things that pleased the Father, for He could do nothing else in His divine perfection (Heb. 7:26).

      The resurrection is not merely a historical event; it is a foundational moment that eradicates doubts and cements the understanding of Jesus’ divine nature and mission.

      And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

      1 Corinthians 15:14-20

      Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?

      About Jesus, All Questions

      Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?

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      Jesus,   All Questions

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      Jan 8, 2025

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      To the unbelieving world, the idea that Jesus is the only way to heaven is often considered inconsiderate towards followers of other religions.

      We will examine three common arguments that people have concerning there being only ‘one’ way to heaven.

      Argument 1

      “It does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your choices.”

      Answer

      We should first ask ourselves an honest question: ‘can we be sincerely wrong in our choices?’ The answer is yes, we certainly can. Sincerity alone does not guarantee the correctness of our beliefs, especially when there is no objective standard to assess them.

      Simply put, the concept of right and wrong implies the existence of an objective truth, and without a foundation for determining truth, sincerity becomes subjective.

      Christians believe that the Bible is a trustworthy source of information and is foundational for determining right from wrong. This belief provides a framework for understanding and interpreting the world through the lens of objective moral and ethical standards.

      Consider a scenario where two individuals sincerely hold contradictory beliefs. The sincerity of their convictions doesn’t automatically validate the truthfulness of those beliefs.

      It is the presence of an objective standard, in this case, the Christian worldview based on the Bible, that allows for a consistent determination of right and wrong.

      Argument 2

      “Only narrow-minded people would believe that there is only one way to heaven.”

      Answer

      It’s no secret that many of us are narrow-minded in life. Consider when a doctor prescribes a specific medicine for a particular ailment. Often in such cases, we value the precision of that prescription, understanding that it’s tailored to address our specific needs.

      Similarly, if God Himself has prescribed a path to heaven, it is not narrowness to choose that path but rather a wise decision.

      The Christian perspective asserts that Jesus, through His redeeming work on the cross, established this singular path to heaven. This claim is rooted in the belief that God, in His infinite wisdom and love, provided a way for humanity to be reconciled with Him. While this may seem narrow in the sense of being exclusive, it’s crucial to recognize the inclusivity of this path. According to Christian teachings, this path is open to all who choose to follow Jesus, regardless of their background, past choices, or circumstances.

      Argument 3

      “There is no one way to Heaven. There is one destination but many paths. It is like climbing a mountain, there could be several paths, but they would all arrive at the top, at the same destination.”

      Answer

      Even though all religions claim to point to God, it is important to remember that every religion at its core has certain fundamental values that, if not believed in, would cast that person from its prescribed path to Heaven (and it isn’t just Christianity).

      It’s true that on the surface, the roads to Heaven may seem similar. In that they often advocate for moral living, compassion, and other virtuous qualities. However, when we delve into the foundational beliefs and teachings, we find significant differences. These differences aren’t mere nuances but often pertain to core truths such as the nature of God, the human condition, and the ultimate purpose of life.

      In light of these differences, it becomes clear that not all paths lead to the same destination.

      It is important to recognize that the concept of a prescribed path to heaven is not unique to Christianity; rather, it acknowledges that the fundamental values and teachings of various religions often contradict each other. The belief that all spiritual paths lead to the same destination ignores the significant theological differences that uniquely define each religious tradition.

      So then, as Christians, where do we take the stand?

      As Christians, our stance is grounded in the words of Jesus Himself: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (John 14:6). These words carry profound significance, asserting not only the exclusivity of the path to God but also the centrality of Jesus in the process of salvation.

      In conclusion, yes, Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.

      I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'

      John 14:6

      What is Jesus’ most significant claim to be God?

      About Jesus, All Questions

      What is Jesus’ most significant claim to be God?

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      Jesus,   All Questions

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      Jan 8, 2025

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      Jesus’ claim of divinity is shown most clearly in the Gospel of Mark. At the end of chapter 14, Jesus stands on trial before the High Priest, and answers the question, “Who are you?”

      Mark 14:61-62 (NKJV)

      But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man  sitting at the right hand of the Power,  and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

      These statements by Jesus might leave us scratching our heads in confusion in the 21st century, but His message was clearly understood by the high priests. Jesus here refers to Himself as the God revealed in the Old Testament, specifically referred to in Daniel Chapter 7.

      Daniel 7:13-14 (NKJV)

      “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

      Here are a few pointers to note:

      • The Bible references the One who ‘comes with the clouds of Heaven’ as the God Yahweh.
      • He looked like the Son of Man / having human form (referencing to Jesus).
      • This Son of Man also approached the Ancient of Days (term for God’s sovereignty), who is God Himself.
      • This person was given all Glory, Authority, and Sovereign power (the same glory due to God).
      • Every nation and language will worship this person.

      When Jesus uses the phrase ‘Son of Man,’ He confirms that He is the same man identified in Daniel Chapter 7.  Jesus is affirming that He is a heavenly being appointed by the Ancient of Days (7:9) to be the Lord of the earth and to receive the kingdom forever (vv. 13–14). The Son of Man, having descended from heaven, returns there and is enthroned in glory. So, when Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, He was not practicing humility rather He was claiming to have divine origin.

      Some confuse the phrase ‘Son of Man’ by saying it is only the human title of Jesus, whereas ‘Son of God’ is His divine title. However, the opposite is true. There were many ‘Sons of God’ are mentioned in the Bible, such as Adam and Moses, but  there is only one divine ‘Son of Man’ referenced in the Old Testament, and Jesus claimed to be that.

      This is also evidenced by the high priests’ reaction, who were eager to stone Him for claiming divinity.

      Lastly, no other prophets had ever claimed to sit at the right hand of God, which meant to rule the universe having the same authority as Him. In the Old Testament, Moses stood with God, Enoch stood with God, and Adam walked with God, but no one is ever depicted to be sitting with God.

      Jesus claimed to be God and is now seated at the Father’s right hand with sovereign power, glory, and authority.

      Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

      Mark 14:62

      Is Jesus God?

      About Jesus, All Questions

      Is Jesus God?

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      Jesus,   All Questions

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      Jan 7, 2025

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      Every believer should have a biblical answer to questions raised against the deity of Jesus Christ.

      There has never been more confusion regarding the person of Jesus Christ in history than today; while most people readily accept that He was once a man, many will rage at claims that state He was more than a man.

      Some have also alleged that Jesus never said He was God, but this is totally incorrect. Jesus asserted that He was God, and His statements shocked the listeners who heard Him.

      Let’s  look at some of Jesus’ claims concerning His deity, including those of His closest followers and the statements of the early church.

      Claims of Jesus:

        • To be the eternal Yahweh (John 8:58)
        • To have equality with God (John 10:30)
        • To be able to forgive sin (John 8:11; Mathew 9:2)
        • To be the Lord of Sabbath (Mark 2:28)
        • To have all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 11:27; 28:18; John 17:2; cf. John 3:35; 13:3; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 1:2)
        • To have the authority to answer prayers (John 13:13-14)
        • To be the Apocalyptic ‘Son of Man’ (Mark 14:62; Daniel 7:13-14)
        • To be the Lord of King David (Mathew 22:41-45)
        • To be Greater than the temple of God (Mathew 12:6)
        • To be the supreme Judge who will one day return in glory (Matt. 16:27; 24:30; Acts 1:11; 2 Thess. 1:7)
        • To be wherever His followers are gathered (Mathew 18:20)
        • To be with His followers forever (Mathew 28:20)
        • To be Eternal (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6)
        • To have come down from heaven (John 3:13; 6:38, 62; 8:23)
        • To be the determiner of people’s eternal destinies (Matt. 16:27; 25:31–46; John 5:22, 27, 30)
        • To be the source of eternal life (Mark 10:29–30; John 3:16; 4:14; 5:39–40; 6:27, 40, 47, 54; 10:28; 11:25; 14:6; 17:2)
        • To have the right to be honored on an equal basis with the Father (John 5:23)
        • To be one with the Father (John 10:30)
        • To have the power to raise the dead (John 5:28–29) and even rise from the dead Himself (Matt. 16:21)
        • To be the One to whom the Old Testament Scriptures pointed (John 5:39)
        • To be omnipresent – ever-present (Matthew 18:20; 28:20)
        • To be omniscient – all-knowing (Mathew 11:27; John 16:30; 21:17)
        • To be omnipotent – all-powerful (Phillipians 3:21)

      Furthermore, in John Chapter 5:17–24, Jesus makes five distinct claims of being equal with God. He claims to be equal with the Father in His person, in His sovereign power, in His works, in His judgment, and in the honor that is due to Him.

      John 5:17-24 (NKJV)

      But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

      Claims of Jesus: 

      Moreover, we also see statements by Jesus’ close disciples who acknowledged Him as God. Despite some of them taking a while to fully realize it, they finally discerned that behind His humanity dwelt the glory of His divinity.

        • Thomas called Jesus God (John 20:28)
        • John calls Jesus God (John 1:1; John 1:14)
        • Mathew refers to Jesus as Immanuel in his book (Mathew 1:23)
        • Peter recognized divine identity as the “Messiah, the Son of living God” (Mathew 16:16)

      Claims of the early Church:  

      According to the Chalcedonian Creed (a doctrinal statement of the early Church) written in 451 AD, the Church openly affirmed that Jesus was both God and man; and even refuted any claims that reduced Him to merely a man.

        Concluding Remarks  

        As we can see from these clear statements, there is sufficient evidence for anyone to recognize that Jesus was more than just a man. He was God revealing Himself in human flesh. In fact, there are only three possible explanations for the claims that Jesus made.

        (1) Either he was crazy, (2) a deceiver or (3) exactly who He claimed to be – that is, God incarnate.

        C. S. Lewis, the famous author, had this to say concerning the deity of Christ and those who claim that Jesus was merely a good teacher;

        ”A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about Him being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

        “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

        John 8:58

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