Defining the Resurrection of Christ
It is quite incredulous, as a believer in Christ, to identify with anyone who does not perceive that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is real. It has therefore become the believer's reasonable service of duty to explain the resurrection and to assure the understanding that the resurrection is both relevant and real. In doing so, this missive will define the resurrection, examine the principles of noted idealists Richard Carrier and John Crossan who believe that the resurrection of Christ is a farce, and summarize the necessity of the resurrection. "Resurrection", according to Webster 's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, is "the rising again to life of the human dead before the final judgment" ("Resurrection," def. 1b). In order to debate the idea that no resurrection occurred, we must first explain conditions surrounding its occurrence. Josh McDowell, a notable orator, author and professor at Campus Crusades for Christ remarks that "the New Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background against which the resurrection took place (1-10)." McDowell explains "the body of Jesus, in accordance with Jewish burial custom, was wrapped in a linen cloth. After the body was placed in a solid rock tomb, large stone
" Thus, the laws of nature are of no consequence and have no hold on the Resurrection. Secondly, if it were true, Carrier's own assumption that no evidence could be found gives credence to a disappearing or resurrecting of the body. Unfortunately this explanation is not enough for John Crossan. Richard Carrier, instructor of Ancient History at Columbia University suggests "natural evidence casts suspicion on the aforementioned event being a true resurrection. That statement alone shows the inept attitude of Crossan as we see in historical books that even criminals were somebody. If the resurrection is false, then Jesus is false. Pontius Pilate was given assurance of Jesus' death by the centurion on the scene of the crucifixion (Mark 15:43-45). Also, the savage spear thrust into Jesus' side by the soldier (John 19:34) made certain of His death, "and forthwith came there out blood and water," evidencing complete collapse of the heart cavity (Morris 381). Instead, he argues that Jesus' body was most likely consumed by animals after his crucifixion (394). If Jesus is false then God cannot be real. Anyone trying to move the stone from the tomb's entrance would have broken the seal and thus incurred the wrath of Roman law (McDowell 1-10). This sentry affixed on the tomb the Roman seal, which was meant to prevent any attempt at vandalizing the sepulcher. " To contest his findings, we must look at what a miracle is. The Jewish-Roman historian Josephus writes that prior to the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.
Common topics in this essay:
Columbia University,
Crusades Christ,
LORD God,
Pontius Pilate,
DePaul University,
Jesus Christ,
Kirk Macgregor,
Resurrection Secondly,
John Crossan,
Collegiate Dictionary,
john crossan,
richard carrier,
resurrection jesus christ,
false jesus false,
jesus false,
1-3 carrier,
true resurrection,
jesus christ,
resurrection jesus,
carrier john,
carrier john crossan,
richard carrier john,
false jesus,
jesus died,
|
Acceptance Essays
