Early Testimony of the Resurrection

2021-09-18

The resurrection of Jesus was a part of the apostles’ teaching from the beginning. This prevented any interpolations of myth into the message of the Gospel. Here is some evidence.

  1. The ancient creed of 1 Corinthians 15 is nearly unanimously agreed by biblical scholars to be very early material. It clearly talks about numerous witnesses of the resurrection, naming many of them.
  2. Despite heavy persecution in Acts 8:1, the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. Peter was still there in Acts 15:7 but is not mentioned again in the book of Acts. Paul goes to Jerusalem about 17 years after his Damascus Road appearance, and Peter is still there (Galatians 1:18; 2:1, 9). Because the Christian creed was a part of Christian doctrine, anyone who could have gone to Jerusalem to investigate the matters and interview witnesses.
  3. Imagine that Peter, who denied even knowing Jesus on the eve of the Lord’s crucifixion (Matthew 26:74; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:60; John 18:27), was boldly preaching Jesus risen in the Temple 50 days after His crucifixion (Acts 2:14-41). He was preaching in the enemies’ domain, in the middle of the same men that were responsible for Christ’s death! Jesus was buried about three days (Matthew 12:40), He was seen alive by His disciples for 40 days (Acts 1:3), and Pentecost is about 50 days after the Passover (Deuteronomy 16:9; Acts 2:1). Peter and the other disciples would have been wanted men, and with Jesus’ trial and crucifixion fresh on the authorities’ minds, you would think Peter and his companions would have hid for awhile until the crucifixion was more of a distant memory.
  4. In those early days, the religious and government authorities in Judea could have delivered the body of Jesus. Had they done that, the movement of Christianity would have quickly died, being added to a list of other failed Messiahs (Acts 5:36-37). The authorities could have plenty of opportunity to do so, but they could not. Instead, we read this:

    Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. (12) And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, (13) Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. (14) And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. (15) So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)

The early preaching of the resurrection is evident that no myth was interwoven with the Gospel over time.

This is Exhibit E for the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.