Are there any evidence that Jesus rose from the dead?

[otseng]

One of the key beliefs of Christianity that sets it apart from all other religions is that Jesus rose from the dead. No other religious founder has risen from the dead.

The Bible is clear that Jesus rose from the dead. But, are there any other evidence that Jesus was resurrected from the dead?

[harvey1]

Sorry, did I misread Matthew? I thought that he was talking about literal sickness, literal lepers, literal demons and literal dead. Are you asserting that Jesus' instructions as recorded in Matthew 10 are figurative?

The word for dead is the Greek word, "Nekros" which can mean literal or metaphorically dead. (It can also mean lifeless.) For example, a chapter and half earlier Jesus was talking both literally and metaphorically:

Another follower said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead." (Matt. 8:21-22)

In addition, in Matt.9 Jesus had resurrected a girl whom he said was not dead:

While Jesus was saying this, a ruler came. He got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, "My daughter has just died. But come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again."... When Jesus entered the ruler's house, he saw the flute players there. And he saw the noisy crowd. He said, "Go away. The girl is not dead. She is sleeping." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been sent outside, Jesus went in. He took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

However, there are many accounts of people having "died" and Christians praying for them and having them revived.

[McCulloch]

Sorry, did I misread Matthew? I thought that he was talking about literal sickness, literal lepers, literal demons and literal dead. Are you asserting that Jesus' instructions as recorded in Matthew 10 are figurative?

The word for dead is the Greek word, "Nekros" which can mean literal or metaphorically dead. (It can also mean lifeless.) For example, a chapter and half earlier Jesus was talking both literally and metaphorically:

Another follower said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him, "Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead." (Matt. 8:21-22)

In addition, in Matt.9 Jesus had resurrected a girl whom he said was not dead:

While Jesus was saying this, a ruler came. He got down on his knees in front of Jesus. He said, "My daughter has just died. But come and place your hand on her. Then she will live again."... When Jesus entered the ruler's house, he saw the flute players there. And he saw the noisy crowd. He said, "Go away. The girl is not dead. She is sleeping." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been sent outside, Jesus went in. He took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Of course many words are used metaphorically and literally. So just what is it about Matthew 10 that makes you draw the conclusion that death is being used metaphorically? The Matthew 8 citation is both metaphoric and literal. Matthew 9 appears to be literal.

[harvey1]

So just what is it about Matthew 10 that makes you draw the conclusion that death is being used metaphorically? The Matthew 8 citation is both metaphoric and literal. Matthew 9 appears to be literal.

Again, the Greek word has a wider range of meaning than just literally dead. By preaching the Gospel to the spiritually dead, the scripture is being fulfilled. By healing someone from a coma, for example, the scripture is being fulfilled.

As to the scripture itself, I think there's good evidence that this was a very old saying. For example here is the Dead Sea Scrolls:

[...For the heav]ens and the earth shall listen to His Messiah.. For He will honor the pious upon the th[ro]ne of His eternal kingdom, setting prisoners free, opening the eyes of the blind, raising up those who are bo[wed down]... and the Lord shall do glorious things which have not been done, just as He said. For He shall heal the critically wounded, He shall revive the dead, He shall send good news to the afflicted...(4Q521 Frag. 2 + Frag. 4 Col. 2)

So, I think it is consistent to think that the scripture was widely interpreted as a general prophecy. If someone were raised from being almost dead, they would cite that as raising the dead. If someone were raised from being spiritually dead, they would cite that as raising the dead too.

In fact, so uncertain was it that someone would be prematurely buried, that there was often a waiting period between death and burial. This state was called being dead. If I'm not mistaken, that's why there are wakes.

[Nick Hallandale]

Dear Truth Seekers,
I have just another thought about 1Corinthians 15:4-7
4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

7then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;

In this Scripture passage, Paul is listing all the people who saw Jesus after he supposedly resurrected from the dead.
Verse 5.......Cephas
Verse 5.......the Twelve (Apostles) ****
Verse 6....... 500 Brethren
Verse 7.......James
Verse 7 ......The Apostles ****

Do you see the problem?
Paul has listed the Apostles TWICE on his list.

If this is """God Breathed""", how could the Holy Spirit make this mistake?
Maybe this is just evidence of fabrication?

Hallandale

[harvey1]

Do you see the problem? Paul has listed the Apostles TWICE on his list... Maybe this is just evidence of fabrication?

I don't see the problem that you see. Here's a recount of I Cor. 15:1-8:

1. Paul intends to remind them of the good news that he has to share ("I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received")
2. Most important good news is "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures"
3. He appeared to Peter
4. Then he appeared to the whole Twelve together
5. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time
6. Then he another occasion he appeared to James
7. Then on another occasion to all the apostles
8. Then after all of these events happened above, Jesus appeared to Paul, someone who is the least of all the apostles

So, what is the problem? Paul tells them what the good news he wishes to review, he tells them the most important element of that good news, and he verifies that good news by showing all the occasions that Jesus appeared to the people directly involved (including a time when 500+ people were present).

[Nick Hallandale]

Dear Harvey,
Somehow I knew that you would try to explain this fabrication away by saying that the Apostles saw Jesus twice. Once after peter, and a second time after James.
But your explanation is not valid.
Look at Acts 1:3 concerning Jesus and the Apostles after the supposed resurrection.
3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
3To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
3to whom also he did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them, and speaking the things concerning the reign of God.
3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

I quoted 4 Bible Versions.
I think that it says Jesus saw the Apostles many times over 40 days and not twice.

Hallandale

[harvey1]

Look at Acts 1:3...

Nick, again, the Acts of the Apostles was written many years after Paul had died. You can't use it to get an accurate flow of events. Paul lived at the time, and knew the people directly interacting with the historical Jesus.

[trencacloscas]

Nick, again, the Acts of the Apostles was written many years after Paul had died. You can't use it to get an accurate flow of events. Paul lived at the time, and knew the people directly interacting with the historical Jesus.

Sorry, harvey, just a doubt... The Gospels were written many years after the supposed depicted events. Does this fact mean that they cannot be used to get an accurate flow of events?

[harvey1]

Sorry, harvey, just a doubt... The Gospels were written many years after the supposed depicted events. Does this fact mean that they cannot be used to get an accurate flow of events?

It's a slightly different situation. In the case of the Gospels, we have good evidence that some of the sources originated around the time of Paul (e.g., Q), so those sources are considered pretty reliable too.

[Nick Hallandale]

Dear Harvey,
If some of the Gospels are reliable and some are not.........
And Acts is not reliable...........
How do you know what to believe and what to discard?
How come God couldn't keep all the NT reliable?
Do you realize that you have a big problem?
Hallandale