Reasonable Faith Podcast Question of the Week #943: If Jesus’ Resurrection Was Historical, Why Not More Jewish Conversions?
Jun 12, 2025
A Jewish thinker delves into the historical significance of Jesus' resurrection and its surprisingly modest impact on early Jewish conversions. The discussion highlights the geographical and sociological barriers faced by early Christians in Jerusalem. Exploring the nature of Jesus' resurrection appearances reveals their purpose to empower disciples rather than to convince the masses. The complexities of the empty tomb and contemporary Jewish responses add depth to the conversation. Ultimately, the need for extraordinary evidence for belief raises intriguing questions about divine intervention.
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Significant Local Conversions
- The gospel’s acceptance in Jerusalem was significant, not modest, with thousands converting including many priests.
- Conversion spread more widely as diaspora Jews took their newfound faith home after Pentecost.
Private Nature of Appearances
- Jesus’ resurrection appearances were private, mainly to his disciples, not the general public.
- This privacy explains why the resurrection was not immediately publicly demonstrable and why skepticism was common.
Empty Tomb and Theft Hypothesis
- The empty tomb was public and undeniable but allowed alternate explanations like theft.
- Jewish opponents circulated a theft theory to explain away the empty tomb, showing early skeptical responses.