Resurrection Pt. 2
Counters Handout
Jon Topping – The Resurrection of Jesus, Part 2: Skeptical Counters
www.jontopping.com Ultimate Questions Podcast
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How the argument works
Present historical evidence relevant scholars agree upon
Note = NOT accepting non-expert opinions. All “experts” agree on these facts.
Look at all possible explanations, and evaluate them
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Does the explanation handle all the data?
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Does the explanation commit a fallacy? (i.e. Flaw in logic and reasoning)
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Does the explanation lead to ridiculous results and/or a conspiracy theory?
All naturalistic (non-supernatural) explanations fail quite badly.
The resurrection explains all the data, with no logical problems, or ridiculous conclusions.
Therefore, the resurrection is the best explanation of the agreed upon historical data.
Historical data, verified by evidence in part 1
1 = Jesus died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius (from Tacitus).
2 = Disciples strongly believed the resurrection (to the point of torture and martyrdom).
3 = Resurrection was taught very early after the crucifixion (likely less than 2 years after).
4 = Jesus’ brother, James, went from thinking Jesus was crazy, to converting, leading a church, and martyred.
5 = Paul went from persecuting the Church, to giving up everything in his conversion, and being martyred.
6 = Jesus’ tomb was found empty, and there was no body to present.
Secular/naturalistic explanation 1 = Miracles don’t happen (bias against the supernatural)
This is a presumption that guides their worldview = Not based on evidence or reasoning.
This is literally just admitting a bias = Unwillingness to even consider the alternative.
Practically speaking, they are saying = “A miracle didn’t happen because miracles can’t happen.”
Doesn’t work as an explanation = Doesn’t even attempt to handle data, and commits a fallacy (confirmation bias)
Secular/naturalistic explanation 2 = The followers of Jesus hallucinated the risen Jesus
Problem = Hallucinations are limited in senses = Jesus appeared to people in sight, sound, touch.
Problem = Hallucinations are very short = Time period of Jesus’ resurrection was for 40 days.
Problem = Hallucinations are private, NOT public = Large groups saw/heard Him, sometimes hundreds.
Problem = Hallucinations are not life changing = You disbelieve the hallucination when you come out of it.
Problem = No account in all of recorder history of an hallucination even remotely close to this.
Problem = Doesn’t handle the data (Why did Paul and James convert? Why is the tomb empty?)
Doesn’t work as an explanation = Doesn’t handle the data, commits a fallacy (ad hoc), leads to ridiculous results.
Secular/naturalistic explanation 3 = Romans moved the body, or, women went to the wrong tomb
Problem = Jews and Romans would gladly point disciples to the correct tomb.
Problem = No one (except John) believe merely because of the empty tomb (they required seeing Jesus).
Makes sense = Simply a missing body, you do not then infer a resurrection just from that.
Problem = Doesn’t explain why people died for claim they saw the risen Jesus, or the zeal they had.
Problem = Doesn’t explain James’ and Paul’s conversions.
Doesn’t work as an explanation = Doesn’t handle data, commits fallacy (ad hoc).
Secular/naturalistic explanation 4 = Imposter on the cross
First method, from secularists = One of Jesus’ friends went to the cross for Him.
Problems = Jesus would be a liar, incompetency of Romans, doesn’t explain Paul conversion, or empty tomb.
Second method, from Islam = Quran says Allah made it “look” like Jesus was crucified, literally lying (Surah 4:157).
Surah 3:54 = Allah is the greatest deceiver.
Most translations will use a word like “plotter”, “schemer”, or “planner”. However, always negative word.
In context of Surah 4:157, Allah was deliberately causing people to believe falsely; which is lying.
Additional reason Muslims believe the imposter on the cross = The Gospel of Barnabas
Claim = Earliest and best Gospel, removed from canon by Roman Catholics.
Gospel of Barnabas says = God changed Judas to look like Jesus, and he was crucified.
Jesus then comes back, in order to correct everyone thinking He’s God.
In a sense, Jesus failed His mission, because everyone thinks He’s God.
Jesus is punished by God forever, by the shame of people thinking He was crucified.
Also says a final prophet will come, named Muhammad (yes, it literally names him).
Gospel of Barnabas is very obviously a Muslim forgery from the 1350s.
Manuscripts go back to a group of Muslims forced to convert to Christianity.
It uses medieval language and concepts (ex. Vassals, wooden casks, chivalry, etc.)
Quotes from Dante’s Inferno, written in 1320ad.
Worst = Says Jesus and disciples practiced Lent, which is part of Easter!!!
Problem = Jesus’ mother and best friend (John) were at the foot of the cross, knew it was Jesus.
Problem = Denies historical fact of Jesus’ crucifixion (ignores data). No evidence to say there was an imposter.
Problem = Jesus is the greatest moral teacher in human history. This theory makes God and/or Jesus a liar.
Problem = Ignores the empty tomb. Even if there was an imposter, then that body would be in the tomb.
Doesn’t work as an explanation = Doesn’t handle data, commits a fallacy (ad hoc), leads to ridiculous results.
Secular/naturalistic explanation 5 = Jesus didn’t die, He merely passed out on the cross (swoon theory)
Problem = Commits the fallacy ad hoc (no reason to believe it), and there’s lots of reason to disbelieve.
Crucifixion kills by full body asphyxiation (Journal of the American Medical Association).
When sagging in low position you can breathe in, but breathing out is difficult. Die very quickly.
Ex. Tree stand deaths, hung up by the arms they asphyxiated.
Ex. College pranks, strung young man up to playground, next morning dead, asphyxiated.
Even if Jesus “faked” being dead by staying in the low position, He would have then died.
Just to make sure, they executed a killing blow (stab Jesus in the side with a spear).
No accounts of anyone ever surviving a full Roman crucifixion.
Also = Becomes a ridiculous story of Jesus walking across Jerusalem naked and bleeding, appearing to disciples.
How could Jesus get out of the tomb, and escape the guards?
Why would the disciples think it was a resurrection? He’s clearly dying and needs medical attention.
Doesn’t work as an explanation = Doesn’t handle data, commits a fallacy, leads to ridiculous conclusions.
Secular/naturalistic explanation 6 = The disciples stole the body, and started the lie of the resurrection
Best explanation from skeptics = This is what the earliest enemies of the faith gave as an explanation.
Matthew 28:13 = Jews make up story about disciples stealing the body.
Also found in = Justin Martyr and Tertullian.
Problem = Again, merely an empty tomb doesn’t lead to belief in the resurrection. People needed to see.
Mary (Lazarus’ sister) = When told Lazarus would rise, she assumes resurrection in the end times.
When Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb, she doesn’t assume resurrection = Assumes body moved.
Problem = Doesn’t explain why James and Paul would convert (they would easily believe the Jews’ explanation).
Problem = Motivation of martyrdom of the eyewitnesses = They would have known it was false, why die for a lie?
Who moved the body? The disciples. Who died for the resurrection claim? The disciples.
If anyone knew it was false, it was the people who stole Jesus’ body. They wouldn’t die for a lie.
Doesn’t work as an explanation = Doesn’t handle data, commits fallacy (ad hoc), ridiculous conclusion.
Quote from Charles Colson = Huge government conspiracy. Politicians caved immediately
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
Quote from Charles Hartshorne = Non-Christian, world renowned first-class philosopher
“I can neither explain away the evidences to which [the Christian] appeals, nor can I simply agree with [the atheist’s] positions. … My metaphysical bias is against resurrections.”
Best Explanation of historical data = Jesus Christ literally physically rose from the dead.
