>>11632569I present you this, respond with your objections...
If Jesus bodily rose from the dead, then Christianity is true.
1) Jesus didn’t really die
2) Jesus’ body was stolen
3) People were hallucinating
4) The account is legendary
5) It really happened
All historical accounts affirm he died. A spear was thrust in his side after crucifixion. Pilate verified he died. During the lifetime of eyewitnesses no one disputed his death.
What if someone stole his body? The location of the tomb was well-known, a large stone was rolled in front with a Roman seal, a trained Roman unit of up to 16 soldiers was guarding it, and the city was overflowing with Passover pilgrims who would've been witnesses. If the guards failed, they would've been executed. Bribery would've led to failure and execution. Neither the Romans nor Jewish leaders wanted the body to be tampered with. The disciples had no reasonable motive to steal it, plus they were severely afraid and wouldn't die for a lie. Yet the tomb was found open and the body was gone. If anyone showed Jesus' body, Christianity would've never existed.
What if people hallucinated the resurrection? It is absolutely inconceivable that hundreds of people of average soundness of mind should suddenly experience all sorts of sensuous impressions, and that all these experiences should rest entirely upon hallucination.
Is it just a legend? Legends don't develop while eyewitnesses are alive to refute them, but a creed containing his resurrection existed within only a few years. Legends aren't supported by critical historical and archaeological research. The legend theory doesn't explain the firm conviction of the apostles that Jesus was alive, who were scared, fled, hid, and denied they knew Jesus, nor their bold preaching of his resurrection to the point of torture and death. Even the Talmud by Jesus' enemies says he was a real man who was killed for sorcery and apostasy. Virtually all historians agree that Jesus was a real man.
