How would you answer?

[EricH]

On theo other hand we have the following documented post death and burial appearances of Jesus:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

I Corinthians 15:1 NASB

Paul lists the following witnesses to the post death appearances:

Peter (Cephas)

The 12

More than 500 at one time (most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote this letter)

James

The apostolic leadership

To Paul himself

In addition the gospels present other witnesses (Mary Magdalene, The 2 men on the road to Emmaus etc)

Luke when he wrote his account said this:

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from he beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus

Luke 1:1-4 NASB

Luke claims to have interviewed witnesses and researched carefully the facts surround Jesus and to have recorded what He discovered.

From a textual perspective we have more confidence that the texts we have are accurate (in terms of relaying what the original author wrote than many ancient texts from the same period)

Author When Written Earliest Copy Time Span Number of copies

Ceasar 100-44 BC 900 AD 1000 years 10

Plato 427-347 BC 900 AD 1200 years 7

Tacitus (annals) 100 AD 1100 AD 1000 years 20

Tacitus (other) 100 AD 1000 AD 900 years 1

Pliny the Younger 61-113 AD 850 AD 750 Years 7

Suetonius 75-160 AD 950 AD 800 Years 8

Aristotle 384-322 BC 1100 AD 1400 Years 5 (of any one work)

The Gospels 55 - 95 AD 130 AD 35-70 years 5200

Thus we are sure what we are reading in the gospels we have is actually what the writers wrote (on a textual basis we have more confidence than many of the peices of ancient literature we have. The writer claim to be witnesses. They appeal to other witnesses who were alive at the time they wrote. There is no archaelolgy that negates what they assert (in factg much of the arcaelology supports the background info they provide. This is not true with the Koran (which teaches that the Jewish temple never existed below the dome of the rock)

You tell me which is more attestable

[EricH]

Why isn't there any other historical documents to verify the resurrection?

Jesus only appeared to His followers. We do have non-biblical references staing that his followers had claimed to see him after his death.

[EricH]

What is interesting is that after His death, the disciples became very 'evangelistic" in and around Jerusalem regarding Jesus' resurrection. If the Romans had the body, it would have been very easy for them to produce it (so also the Jewish leadership that had him condemned ant the tomb guarded). We see none of that in the historical record. All we see is an increased effort to silence the witness through killing them.

[Brandli5]

This thread to me is Absolute ridiculous.

Although Scripture does not attempt to "prove" that Jesus was raised from the dead, it does present conclusive evidence that He was in fact resurrected. Christ

[Fiosh]

Why isn't there any other historical documents to verify the resurrection?

Jesus only appeared to His followers. We do have non-biblical references staing that his followers had claimed to see him after his death.

Can you please site those references? And what about the people who say that he was spotted after his death because it was rigged? That Joseph helped him off the cross and healed his wounds with mur? There's an article in Time magazine about this.

Think about this, paulo. Imagine that we scourge you (whip you with a lash imbedded with sharp pieces of metal) to within an inch of your life. Then, we force you to carry a piece of wood weighing approx. 150 lbs uphill till you can't walk without help.

When you finally drag yourself to the top, we throw you down and drive spikes into your wrists and feet to fasten you to the cross. Then we raise you up on the cross, naked and exposed to the hot sun. You hang there, dehydrated and gasping for breath until you ..............uh, fake your death.

Joseph takes you down and puts you in a tomb where he puts myrrh on your wounds--------all better? Hardly, paulo.

And, you CHOSE to do this as a sham???

It's absurd.

Think about it, paulo.

Peace,

Fiosh

[Fiosh]

Who is coming with a preconceived notion?

That would be you. You are assuming that the events described in the Bible (specifically the resurrection) are historical facts because the Bible states that they are. However, in order for them to be considered historical facts, we would need contemporary-extra biblical accounts.

To give an example; do you believe in Muhammad's ascent to Heaven? Why not? The Quran clearly describes this event, and since the Quran is allegedly the true word of God, then it must be true. This event was even allegedly seen by numerous people. However, I am guessing you would want some evidence outside of the Quran before you would accept this story as a historical fact. Correct?

I am asking the same of you. Can you please provide these numerous contemporary extra-biblical accounts of the resurrection of Jesus? And remember the original claim states that there are more first hand accounts for this event than for ANY other event in ancient history. I am expecting a lengthy list.

I'd just like to point out that the Bible isn't simply A book. It is approximately 70 books, written by about 40 authors over the course of 1500 yrs---------all in agreement that Jesus is Lord.

Peace,

Fiosh