Just and Sinner Podcast The Historicity of the Resurrection: A Response to Atheist Claims
May 22, 2014
The discussion centers around the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, responding to recent atheist claims. Dr. Jordan Cooper critiques the idea that the resurrection is merely a cultural legend. He emphasizes the improbability of varied witnesses independently imagining the same event. The episode explores significant scholarly works and evidence supporting early testimonies. It also highlights how cultural contexts of Ancient Greece and Rome challenge the notion of a fabricated resurrection.
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Start With Solid Scholarship
- Read high-quality scholarly works before accepting hostile summaries of apologetics.
- Jordan Cooper recommends N.T. Wright and Richard Bauckham as starting points for the resurrection debate.
Resurrection Was Culturally Unlikely
- Resurrection expectations did not exist in Greco-Roman thought and differ from Jewish end-time resurrection.
- That gap makes it unlikely the disciples invented a bodily, first-century resurrection narrative from existing cultural ideas.
Paul Preserves Early Traditions
- Paul's letters predate the Gospels and contain early resurrection traditions roughly 20 years after Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 15 lists appearances and 500 witnesses, pushing the tradition back to apostolic testimony.
