Review of Class
• Arguments for God’s existence
– Universe created out of nothing in finite past – “scientific proof” for a supernatural Creator
• Definite beginning before which no space, time, matter or energy
– Universe required incomprehensible fine-tuning to not collapse into only Black Holes
– Laws of physics fine-tuned to support stars, chemistry, etc.
• Arguments for God as Creator of life
– Strong scientific evidence that life & biological information can’t originate from non-life
• Natural selection helps only after you get life
• Genetic code could not appreciably evolve, is universal, and is obvious product of design
– Evolution has limits as shown in experiments, research, and the fossil record
– Evolution cannot produce irreducibly complex systems or even form new suites of proteins
– Therefore, design and creation of life is from God
• Arguments for the Bible as God’s Word
– There is no way ancient people could have predicted amazing prophecies and mentioned
scientific facts discovered thousands of years later without God’s inspiration
• Therefore, the message of the Bible deserves to be heard and considered!
– Miracles of creation point to the possibility that miracles of Bible are true
1
Next Week: Who is Jesus?
Lakepointe Hot Topics Class #6
• Uniqueness / Impact
• Historical Evidence
• Evidence from Prophecy
• Evidence for the Resurrection
• Lord, Liar or Lunatic – You decide?
Allen Hainline
2
Who is the real Jesus?
3
Uniqueness of Jesus compared to
other political or religious leaders
•
•
•
•
Never authored a book
Held no political office or position
Not leader in religious establishment but opposed it
Did not travel far
– Few chances to influence; did not reside in influential area
• Did not try to draw in large numbers of followers
– Challenged them such that the numbers diminished
• Followers had no monetary, political, religious rewards
– God allowed persecution to validate His message
How did Jesus have such an impact despite these hindrances ?
Consider impact even in terms of how the entire world uses a
convention for what year it is based on Jesus!
4
Uniqueness of Jesus
One Solitary Life
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in
another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an
itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He
never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never
traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually
accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One
of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for
the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a
borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Twenty of long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and
leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were
ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have
not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
Essay was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis written in 1926
Play One Solitary Life Video
5
Radical Claims
of Christ
•
•
•
•
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father” John 14:9
“I and the Father are one” John 10:30
“Before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58
“I am the resurrection and the life. How who believes in me will live, even
though he dies” John 11:25
• Claimed to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 5:17-26)
• Jesus encouraged worship of Himself(Matt 14:33, John 9:38, John 5:22-23)
• Called Himself “Son of Man” Messianic title (Daniel 7:13-14)
• What was the Jewish expectations for the Messiah?
• How could a new religion emerge from Judaism based on God coming
down as a man?
6
Christianity based on Historical Facts
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is
worthless; you are still in your sins.” I Cor 15:7
• Apologetics needs to lead to message of Jesus
– "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under heaven that has been given among men by
which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
7
Historical Evidence for Religious Founders
•
Writings about ancient religious leaders recorded much later
–
–
–
•
Gathas (Hymans) of Zoroastrianism (1000 B.C.) not put into writing until the 3rd
Century AD
Buddha (6th Century B.C.) writing in the 1st Century AD
Islamic leader Muhammad lived from 570-632
• First biography of Muhammad not written until 767
Jesus
– Four eyewitness accounts incredibly preserved
• Matthew – apostle who lived with Jesus
– Early church would not have invented a “tax collector” author
• Mark – written based on Peter the apostle’s eyewitness accounts
• Luke – companion of the apostle Paul
– “They were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of
the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning it
seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you“ Luke 1:2-3
• John – apostle who was probably closest with Jesus (portion found in Egypt dated ~125 AD)
•
Conclusion: More detailed, current documents by far about Jesus than for the
founder of any other "religion"
8
New Evidence of Early Age of Gospels ?
•
Dead Sea Scrolls from Cave 7 may contain Early New Testament Writings
– Jose O’Callahan, a Spanish Jesuit paleographer, announced in 1972
he found these parts of New Testament:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mark 4:28 7Q6? A.D. 50
Mark 6:48 7Q15 A.D. ?
Mark 6:52, 53 7Q5 A.D. 50
Mark 12:17 7Q7 A.D. 50
Acts 27:38 7Q6? A.D. 60
Romans 5:11, 12 7Q9 A.D. 70+
1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1-3 7Q4 A.D. 70+
2 Peter 1:15 7Q10 A.D. 70+
James 1:23, 24 7Q8 A.D. 70+
– Controversial but if even one
of these were true …
9
Extra-Biblical References to Jesus
Nero fiddled while Rome burned
From respected, secular, non-Christian historians
Josephus, Antiquities (1st Century A.D.): Describes how a High Priest named
Ananias took advantage of Roman Governor Festus to have James killed; states
James was “the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ. He accused them of
having transgressed the law and delivered them to be stoned.“
Also writes of Jesus as: a wise man who performed surprising feats, won over
many Jews and Greeks, accused by Jewish men of high standing, crucified under
Pontius Pilate, and reported to have been seen restored to life after three days,
and a tribe of "Christians" remains to this day.
Tacitus, Roman Historian, (AD 115): States that Nero persecuted Christians as
scapegoats to divert attention away from himself for the great fire that devastated Rome in A.D. 64:
"Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite torture on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians
by the populace. Christus, from whom the name came the origins, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius
at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment,
again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of evil, but even in Rome...Accordingly an arrest was first made of all who
pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted..."
Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithynia (AD 111): referring to the Christians he arrested:
"I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning
of the punishment awaiting them. If they persist, I order them to be led away for execution; ... the sum total of their guilt or
error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately
amongst themselves in honor of Christ as if to a god, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but
to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery...“
43 authors reference Jesus vs. only 10 that reference emperor of Rome at the time (Tiberius) within 150 years
10
What about those “Missing Gospels”?
Gnostic gospels (e.g. Gospel of Thomas, Judas)
–
–
–
–
Not based on eyewitness accounts
Not narrative, no historical details
Contradicted apostles’ teaching
Gnosticism – later heresy/distortion of Christianity
• Combination of Greek philosophy and Christianity
– Originating in early/mid 2nd century
• Salvation obtained by secret knowledge
• Spirit good, flesh bad
– More towards spirit-only concept of Jesus
– Underling gods botched creation
11
Historical Validation:
Darkness and Earthquake when Jesus died
• Scholar Paul Maier in his book Pontius Pilate said darkness phenomenon
was evident in Rome, Athens, and other Mediterranean cities.
• Julius Africanus refers to Thallus’ documentation (a Greek historian writing
in 52 AD) of darkness and that it corresponded to day of Jesus death
– Argued that darkness not from an eclipse because of full moon on day of Christ's death
– Africanus was pagan convert to Christianity entrusted by Roman Emperor Alexander
Severus to setup his library at Pantheon in Rome (~221 AD)
• “At the moment of Christ’s death, the light departed from the sun, and the
land was darkened at noonday, which wonder is related in your own annals,
and is preserved in your archives to this day” (Tertullian – historian)
• Greek author Phlegon (A.D. 137): In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad
(year of crucifixion) there was ‘the greatest eclipse of the sun’ and that ‘it
became night in the sixth hour of the day (noon) so that stars even
appeared in the heavens.’
– Writes of great earthquake in Bithynia (Turkey) on same day
12
Medical Validation of
Account of Jesus’ Last Hours
•
Jesus sweated blood in Garden of Gethsemane prior to crucifixion
– Validated as condition called hemathidrosis
• Reported 12 or so times in medical literature – occurs under incredible stress or agony
•
Skeptics previously questioned the flow of blood and water when Jesus stabbed with
spear to confirm he was dead (John 19:34)
– “There was an escape of watery fluid from the sac surrounding the heart and the blood of the
interior of the heart. This is rather conclusive post-mortem evidence that Jesus died, not the usual
crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure due to shock and constriction of the heart by
fluid in the pericardium.” Dr. Truman Davis
•
“Interpretations based on the assumption
that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to
be at odds with modern medical knowledge”
Dr. Davis
13
Prophecies of Jesus
300 OT
prophecies
fulfilled
Messianic Event
Old Testament Prediction
NT Fulfillment
Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:1
Isaiah 9:1-7
Matthew 4:12-16
Jeremiah 23:5
Revelation 22:16
Jeremiah 31:15, 16
Matthew 2:13-18
Psalm 41:9
Matthew 26:25,34
Zechariah 11:12, 13
Matthew 26:15
Psalm 22, Zech 12:10, Isaiah 53:5
John 19:28-30
Clothes gambled for
Psalm 22:18
Matthew 27:35
None of his bones would be broken
Exodus 12:46
John 19:31-33
Isaiah 53:9
Matthew 27:57-60
Psalm 16:10, Hosea 6:2
Acts 10:40
Isaiah 49:6-7
History from Acts to
present day!
Born in Bethlehem
First ministered in Galilee
Must be from King David's lineage
Attempted murder of Him as a baby
He would be betrayed by a friend
His friend to betray Him for 30 pieces of silver
His death to be by crucifixion
Buried in a rich man's tomb
Resurrection after 3 days
Salvation to end of earth; restore preserved ones of
Israel but be despised by nation
14
Prophecy of “crucifixion” before it’s invented
I am poured out like water, and all my
bones are out of joint… a band of evil
men has encircled me, they have
pierced my hands and my feet. I can
count all my bones; people stare and
gloat over me. They divide my
garments among them and cast lots
for my clothing.
Psalms 22: 14-18 (portions)
15
Timing of Messiah Prophesied
Historians document that Jews expected Messiah in first century A.D.
– Suetonius (Roman), Josephus (Jewish)
“From the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the
Prince there will be seven ‘sevens’ and sixty-two ‘sevens’” Daniel 9:25
– ‘sevens’ often translated as ‘weeks’ but most interpret as Sabbath years
– Sabbath year of rest for land – every 7 years
– Dan 9:2 refers to 70 years of captivity
– Lev 26:32-5, 43 – one year of captivity per neglected Sabbath year
– Jewish inclusive counting meant within not after 69th Sabbath year period
– Artaxerxes issued decree to Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem
• In 20th year of reign (Neh 2:1) (445 BC)
• 69th Sabbath cycle was from AD 27-34
• Scholars believe Jesus crucified somewhere within AD 30-33
16
Key Undisputed
Historical Facts
Vast majority of all NT scholars (including liberals and
skeptics) acknowledge the following historical facts:
1.
2.
3.
The tomb where Jesus was buried became empty
Many people thought they saw the resurrected Jesus
Those who claimed to see resurrected Jesus had a lifechanging experience
“The evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of
Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient
history” E. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics Auckland University
17
Undisputed Historical Facts
Empty tomb
• Made-up story would not have not chosen women
as first discoverers since cannot legally be
witnesses
• It would have been impossible for disciples to
proclaim resurrection unless tomb was empty
• Confirmed by Jewish or Roman sources
– Jewish arguments do not dispute empty tomb
» “Disciples stole away body”
Implications for Resurrection:
• Tomb had Roman seal – breaking it was capital offense
• Roman guard of 8-16 soldiers faced death if failed in mission
• Disciples scattered when Jesus brought into custody
• In disheartened state (Peter denied Christ)
• Could not have overcome Roman guard
• Could not have moved 2 ton stone out of locked position and uphill
18
Undisputed Historical Facts
Resurrection Appearances
“He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and
that He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He
appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time, most of whom
remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He
appeared to James“ I Cor 15:4-7
– 11 eyewitness accounts
• See Jesus with his nail-scarred hands, even touch him
– 500 people do not all see the same hallucination at once
• You cannot eat and talk with an hallucination
19
Undisputed Historical Facts
Those who claimed to see resurrected Jesus had
life-changing experiences
– Peter became incredibly bold (e.g. 3000 saved at Pentecost)
– James (Jesus’ brother) was skeptic until he saw risen Lord
– Paul persecuted church until he personally encountered
risen Christ
– All disciples lived radical lives and all but one died martyr’s
deaths
20
Implications of
Historical Facts
• Only the disciples would have had motivation to “steal away the body”
and to deceive large numbers of people
– Seems ridiculously unlikely that they could have pulled this off
• Many people die for what they believe in - but no one dies for a lie !
• If Christ was not raised, disciples would have known about this
– “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all
men. “ I Cor 15:19
• No financial gain in Christianity
• No political or popularity gains from Christianity
• Extreme hardship and persecution of early Christians
– Consider how military men are broken during cruel interrogation procedures
• “The plight of POWs in Korea and, later, in Vietnam taught the military that every
person has a breaking point. ”
• Yet, early Christians didn’t deny faith or resurrection
– How could Christianity flourish like it did in the face of extreme persecution if
there were not witnesses of the resurrection and an empty tomb ?
• Especially beginning from Jerusalem
21
Who would die for a lie?
Stephen - stoned to death (~ 34 A.D.)
James (Jesus’ brother) - beaten and stoned at age 94
Luke - hanged on olive tree in Greece
Mark - torn to pieces by Alexandrians in front of pagan idol
Jude - crucified at Edessa ~ 72 A.D
Apostles (11 of 12 martyred – 6 crucified)
Philip - scourged and crucified at Heliopolis (~54 AD)
James the elder brother of John - killed by Herod Agrippa (~44 AD)
Peter - crucified upside down because “unworthy to be crucified in
the same manner as his Lord.”
Simon - preached in Africa and Britain, where crucified ~74 A.D
Matthew– killed by sword while preaching in Ethiopia (~60 AD)
Matthias - stoned at Jerusalem then beheaded
Andrew (Peter’s brother) preached throughout Asia;
crucified on a transverse cross in Edessa
Thomas - preached in Parthia and India and then thrust through
with a spear by pagan priests
Bartholomew translated the Gospel of Matthew in India;
cruelly beaten and crucified by idolaters there
Paul - died by the sword under Nero
22
How could Christianity spread so
fast in face of persecution and
poverty in the ancient world?
Contrast with other religions that
spread through military and/or
political forces
23
Jesus has Changed Lives
– Over 2 billion people worldwide claim to be Christians
– Jesus has changed countless lives for the better
• Overcoming drug and alcohol addictions
• Restoring marriages
• Overcoming depression to find joy/peace
– Christianity has helped change society
• For example, in overcoming slavery
24
Lord, Liar or Lunatic ?
Trilemma Made Famous by C.S. Lewis
Said it was foolish to “accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but … not accept His claim to be God. “ "That is the
one thing we must not say. 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.“
– Option 1: Liar (Jesus knew he wasn’t God)
•
•
•
Would have also been a hypocrite because he told others to tell the truth no matter what the cost
Would have been evil to tell others to entrust their eternal destiny to Him and to follow Him despite persecution
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." I Peter 2:22
– Option 2: Lunatic (Jesus thought he was God but wasn’t)
•
•
•
Jews of his day were fiercely monotheistic so this was an especially crazy claim
Jesus was rational, patient and never showed signs of being deluded or mentally disturbed
“The skill and depth of His teachings support the case only for His total mental soundness.” Pinnock
– Option 3: Lord (Jesus was God just as he claimed to be)
•
•
•
“Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven” Matthew 9:2b
“I and the Father are one” John 10:30
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
"The historical difficulty of giving for the life, sayings and influence of Jesus any
explanation that is not harder than the Christian explanation is very great.”Lewis
25
What shall we do with Jesus?
• He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say
that I am?“ Simon Peter answered, "You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God."And
Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon
Barjona, because flesh and blood did not
reveal this to you, but My Father who is in
heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17
• Pilate: "Then what shall I do with Jesus who
is called Christ?“ Matthew 27:22
– Pilate wanted to avoid making a decision
about Jesus, did not want to kill him
• You cannot avoid making a decision one way
or the other about Jesus
26
Where do you put your faith?
• Faith is required in any religion/worldview. Which takes more faith?
– Naturalism/atheism
– Universe created itself out of nothing
– Life created from non-life
– All biological complexity and information arose from randomness
– Other religions:
• No evidence from prophecy
• Blatant scientific mistakes in holy books
– Christianity:
– Evidence from science, history and archaeology for God, the Bible and Jesus
• What is the problem? Our sin, pride, desire to be our own god
– “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.” Isaiah 59:2
• Appeal to Christians and non-Christians
– Live for something much bigger than yourself (God)
– Trust in the one who died for you for eternal life and then daily
• Jesus requires a choice – what would Pilate do with Jesus? What would
you do?
27
Questions ?
– Announcements: “Small” Life Group
28
Backup Charts
29
Good References
• http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/PageServ
er?pagename=popular_articles_Jesus_Of_Naz
areth
30
Deal with issue of canonization, false
gospels
• Dan Brown – Da Vinci code quote: “The Bible has
evolved through countless translations, editions and
revisions – history has never had a definitive version”
In intro, fiction based on fact – details based on fact
• Jesus ossuary
• Gospel of Thomas, Judas
• jokes – real Jesus – what would I do on wrist? ; Monk
looking over documents – going back to the original;
wailing and crying because they left out the r in
celebrate
31
Important Early Greek Manuscripts
• Rylands Papyrus containing part of John 18 – near 125 AD
• The Codex Vaticanus and Codex Siniaticus are two excellent
complete parchment copies of the New Testament that
date between AD 325 and AD 450.
• The Chester Beatty Papyrus and the Bodmer Papyrus II date
from AD 180 and AD 225. From these manuscripts can be
constructed all of Luke, John, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians,
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2
Thessalonians, Hebrews and portions of Matthew, Mark,
Acts, and Revelation.
Christianity vs. Legends
• Theology, while saying that a special
illumination has been vouchsafed to Christians
and (earlier) to Jews, also says that there is
some divine illumination vouchsafed to all
men… We should, therefore, expect to find in
the imagination of the great Pagan teachers
and myth makers some glimpse of that theme
which we believe to be the very plot of the
whole cosmic story—the theme of incarnation,
death, and rebirth. C.S. Lewis
33
More Details on Extra-Biblical References to Jesus
Josephus, Antiquities (1st Century A.D.): Describes how a High Priest named Ananias took advantage of Roman Governor Festus (also mentioned in the New Testament) to have James
killed:
"He convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of having
transgressed the law and delivered them to be stoned."
Josephus also writes of Jesus as: a wise man who performed surprising feats, won over many Jews and Greeks, accused by Jewish men of high standing, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and
reported to have seen restored to life after three days, and a tribe of "Christians" remains to this day.
Tacitus, Roman Historian, (A.D. 115): States that Nero persecuted Christians as scapegoats to divert attention away from himself for the great fire that devastated Rome in A.D. 64:
"Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite torture on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name came the
origins, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the
moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of evil, but even in Rome...Accordingly an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an
immense multitude was convicted, not so much for the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind."
Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithyna (A.D. 111): referring to the Christians he arrested:
"I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning of the punishment awaiting them. If they persist, I order them
to be led away for execution; for, whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubborness and unshakable obstinancy ought not to go unpunished...They also
declared that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in
honor of Christ as if to a god, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery...This made me decide it was all the more
necessary to extract the truth by torture from two slave-women, whom they called deaconesses. I found nothing but a degenerate sort of cult carried to extravagant lengths."
Jewish Talmud (A.D. 500): Jesus is called a false messiah who practiced magic, a teacher with followers, who was justly put to death. Also mentions he was born of Mary and a Roman
soldier.
--This supports the Gospel claim of healer/miracle worker, had disciples, unusual birth, and a teacher with followers.
* When ancient people began religious movements, usually writings were not recorded until many generations later.
-There are better historical documents about Jesus than for the founder of any other "religion".
-The Gathas of Zoroaster (1000 B.C.), believed to be authentic, not put into writing until the 3rd Century A.D.
-Buddha (6th Century B.C.) scriptures were written in the 1st Century A.D.
-Sayings of Muhammad (570-632); biography written 767.
*Summary: Even without Christian writings of Jesus we would know:
he was a Jewish teacher, performed healings/exorcisms, people believed He was the Messiah, rejected by Jewish leaders and crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius (See
Luke's Gospel), his followers believed he was alive and spread beyond Palestine to multitudes in Rome by A.D. 64, and all types of people worshipped Him as God.
Cannot discredit best/earliest sources just because they’re favorable – they are our most reliable documents!
34
More details on Historical Validation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Thallus wrote a history of the eastern Mediterranean world since the Trojan War. Thallus wrote his regional history in about AD 52.6 Although his
original writings have been lost, he is specifically quoted by Julius Africanus, a renowned third century historian. Africanus states, ‘Thallus, in the third
book of his histories, explains away the darkness as an eclipse of the sun—unreasonably as it seems to me.’ Apparently, Thallus attempted to ascribe
a naturalistic explanation to the darkness during the crucifixion.
Phlegon was a Greek historian who wrote an extensive chronology around AD 137:
In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33) there was ‘the greatest eclipse of the sun’ and that ‘it became night in the sixth hour of the day
[i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in
Nicaea.’7Image Locutus Borg
Annular (ring) eclipse. An eclipse could NOT have caused darkness at the crucifixion because they don’t occur during the full moon.
Phlegon provides powerful confirmation of the gospel accounts. He identifies the year and the exact time of day. In addition, he writes of an
earthquake accompanying the darkness, which is specifically recorded in Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 27:51). However, like Thallus, he fallaciously
attempts to interpret the darkness as a direct effect of a solar eclipse.
Africanus composed a five volume History of the World around AD 221. He was also a pagan convert to Christianity. His historical scholarship so
impressed Roman Emperor Alexander Severus that Africanus was entrusted with the official responsibility of building the Emperor’s library at the
Pantheon in Rome. Africanus writes:
On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts
were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun. For the
Hebrews celebrate the passover on the 14th day according to the moon, and the passion of our Savior falls on the day before the passover; but an
eclipse of the sun takes place only when the moon comes under the sun. And it cannot happen at any other time but in the interval between the first
day of the new moon and the last of the old, that is, at their junction: how then should an eclipse be supposed to happen when the moon is almost
diametrically opposite the sun? Let opinion pass however; let it carry the majority with it; and let this portent of the world be deemed an eclipse of
the sun, like others a portent only to the eye. Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun
from the sixth hour to the ninth—manifestly that one of which we speak. But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks,
and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? Surely no such event as this is recorded for a long
period.8Africanus rightly argues that a solar eclipse could not have occurred during the lunar cycle of the Passover, asthis diagram shows. He also
questions the link between an eclipse, an earthquake, and the miraculous events recorded in Matthew’s gospel. Eclipses do not set off earthquakes
and bodily resurrections. We also know that eclipses only last for several minutes, not three hours. For Africanus, naturalistic explanations for the
darkness at the crucifixion were grossly insufficient, as he showed by applying real science.
On the other hand, Africanus writes of the darkness as a global event. Tertullian, the famous second century apologist, also hails the darkness as a
‘cosmic’ or ‘world event’. Appealing to skeptics, he wrote:
At the moment of Christ’s death, the light departed from the sun, and the land was darkened at noonday, which wonder is related in your own
annals, and is preserved in your archives to this day.10
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Overview
• History
– What are the historical facts?
– What is the best explanation for the historical fact?
• Needs to have explanatory scope (explain all related facts)
• Needs to have explanatory power
• 4 ways to establish a historical fact
–
–
–
–
Early sources
Multiple, independent sources
Lack of legendary embellishment
No other compelling stories that are contradictory
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4 Key Historical Facts
1.
2.
3.
4.
•
Fatal Torment
Empty Tomb
Appearances of Christ
Transformation of the Disciples
Consensus of all NT scholars
– Skeptics, Liberal, Conservative …
– Facts 1, 3 and 4 are each 90+%
– Empty Tomb is accepted by 75%
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Fatal Torment
• Jesus died and was buried in tomb of Joseph
of Arimathea
– I Cor 15:3-5
• All attribute I Cor to Paul, his creed (seen through
Aramaic/Semitic language embedded within Greek)
was within 5 yrs of crucifixion (perhaps 18 months acc
to one key British scholar)
– Early gospel (Mark written 42-56 AD)
– Romans were great at killing – they would be
crucified if they failed at their job
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Empty Tomb
• Testimony from all 4 gospels + Paul in I Cor 15
– Lack of embellishment vs. gospel of Peter with
head stretching to heaven and talking cross
• N.T. Wright – Jews expected bodily resurr.
• Woman found body at tomb
• Jews lied about body being stolen in Matt 28
(not challenged fact of empty tomb)
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Appearances of Christ
• 11 documented appearances were
experienced
– Claims go beyond hallucinations
– Most attested fact
– Ludermann even believes
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Transformation of Disciples
• Suddenly and sincerely transformed to believe
despite every predisposition to the contrary
– Jewish expectations of a messiah did not include
him dying as a criminal
– Jews did not expect bodily resurrection until all at
once were res. At end of history
– Show disciples death from Fox’s
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6 theories with any plausibility
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Conspiracy theory – disciples stole body
Swoon theory – J not dead
Wrong tomb
Hallucinations
Disciples lied
God raised J from dead
42