Key Historical Claims in Cases for the Resurrection of Jesus

Different Christian apologists present different cases for the resurrection of Jesus.  However, there are just a handful of key historical claims that most Christian apologists use as the historical foundation of their cases. 

To rationally evaluate a case for the resurrection of Jesus, it is important to be familiar with the key historical claims it is based upon, to determine whether those claims are historical facts, and to have a clear understanding of the implications of those historical claims.

In his book Reasonable Faith (3rd edition, hereafter: RF3), the Christian apologist William Craig focuses on three key historical claims:

...(1) the tomb of Jesus was found empty by a group of his women followers on the first day of the week following his crucifixion, (2) various individuals and groups thereafter experienced on different occasions and under varying circumstances appearances of Jesus alive, (3) the first disciples came sincerely to believe in Jesus resurrection... (RF3, page 360)

In their book The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (hereafter: CRJ), the Christian apologists Gary Habermas and Michael Licona focus on five key historical claims:  

1. Jesus died by crucifixion (CRJ, page 48)

2. Jesus' disciples believed that he rose and appeared to them (CRJ, page 49)

3. The church persecutor Paul was suddenly changed (CRJ, page 64)

4. The skeptic James, the brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed (CRJ, page 67)

5. The tomb was empty (CRJ, page 69)

The Christian apologist Josh McDowell has the longest list of key historical claims in his case for the resurrection of Jesus in his book The Resurrection Factor. However, there is some overlap between his key historical claims, and the key historical claims of Craig, Habermas and Licona, as we will soon see.  

McDowell has six key historical claims that he labels "Security Precautions" and seven key historical claims that he calls "Facts to Be Reckoned With" (his use of the term "facts" is question-begging):

Security Precautions Claims  (TRF, page 68):

1. Christ was put to death by crucifixion...

2. The body of Christ was buried in a solid rock tomb.

3. Christ's body was wrapped with more than 100 pounds of spices...

4. The stone rolled in front of the tomb entrance weighed about two tons.

5. A Roman security guard...was positioned to guard the tomb.

6. The tomb was sealed shut with the official authority and signature of Rome.

Claims to be Reckoned With (TRF, pages 81 & 82): 

1. The feared power of Rome was ignored by the breaking of the seal at the tomb. [related to Security Precaution #6]

2. Both the Jews and the Romans admitted that the tomb was empty. [related to Security Precaution #2]

3. A two-ton stone was somehow moved from the tomb entrance while a Roman guard stood watch. [related to Security Precautions #4 and #5]

4. A highly disciplined Roman military guard fled their watch and had to be bribed by the authorities to lie about what actually happened. [related to Security Precaution #5]

5. The undisturbed grave clothes no longer contained a body. [related to Security Precautions #2 and #3] 

6. Christ subsequently appeared to as many as 500 witnesses at one time in a variety of circumstances. 

7. Because of the low Jewish view of the reliability of women, manufacturers of a resurrection story would never have selected them to be the first witnesses to the fact. [i.e. the fact that Jesus was seen alive after he was buried in the tomb]

Note that there is also some overlap between McDowell's two lists of key historical claims.  The "Security Precautions" claims are often an assumption of a Claim "to be Reckoned With." 

OVERLAPS BETWEEN LISTS OF KEY CLAIMS IN CASES FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

A. Jesus Died by Crucifixion:

1. Jesus died by crucifixion (CRJ, page 48)

1. Christ was put to death by crucifixion... (TRF, page 68)

[Security Precaution] 2. The body of Christ was buried in a solid rock tomb.

[Security Precaution] 3. Christ's body was wrapped with more than 100 pounds of spices... 

B. The Tomb of Jesus was found Empty: 

...(1) the tomb of Jesus was found empty by a group of his women followers on the first day of the week following his crucifixion... (RF3, page 360)

 5. The tomb was empty (CRJ, page 69)

[Security Precaution] 2. The body of Christ was buried in a solid rock tomb. (TRF, page 68)

 [Claim to Be Reckoned With] 2. Both the Jews and the Romans admitted that the tomb was empty. (TRF, page 81)

[Security Precaution] 3. Christ's body was wrapped with more than 100 pounds of spices... (TRF, page 68)

[Claim to Be Reckoned With]  5. The undisturbed grave clothes no longer contained a body. (TRF, page 82)

 C. Various People and Groups Experienced an Appearance of the Risen Jesus:

...(2) various individuals and groups thereafter experienced on different occasions and under varying circumstances appearances of Jesus alive... (RF3, page 360)

2. Jesus' disciples believed that he...appeared to them (CRJ, page 49)

3. The church persecutor Paul was suddenly changed (CRJ, page 64) [i.e. Paul converted and became a Christian believer]

4. The skeptic James, the brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed (CRJ, page 67) [i.e. James converted and became a Christian believer]

[Claim to Be Reckoned With] 6. Christ subsequently appeared to as many as 500 witnesses at one time in a variety of circumstances. (TRF, page 82)

[Claim to Be Reckoned With] 7. Because of the low Jewish view of the reliability of women, manufacturers of a resurrection story would never have selected them to be the first witnesses to the fact. [i.e. the fact that Jesus was seen alive after he was buried in the tomb] (TRF, page 82)

 D. Jesus Disciples and Others became convinced that Jesus had risen from the Dead:

(3) the first disciples came sincerely to believe in Jesus resurrection... (RF3, page 360)

2. Jesus' disciples believed that he rose... (CRJ, page 49) 

 3. The church persecutor Paul was suddenly changed (CRJ, page 64) [i.e. Paul converted and became a Christian believer]

4. The skeptic James, the brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed (CRJ, page 67) [i.e. James converted and became a Christian believer]

There are some additional key historical claims that McDowell lists, but that are not found in the lists of key historical claims by Craig, and by Habermas & Licona: 

E. Claims about the Roman Guard and the Moved Stone

[Security Precaution] 4. The stone rolled in front of the tomb entrance weighed about two tons. (TRF, page 68)

[Security Precaution] 5. A Roman security guard...was positioned to guard the tomb. (TRF, page 68)

[Security Precaution] 6. The tomb was sealed shut with the official authority and signature of Rome. (TRF, page 68) 

[Claim to Be Reckoned With]  3. A two-ton stone was somehow moved from the tomb entrance while a Roman guard stood watch. [related to Security Precautions #4 and #5] 

[Claim to Be Reckoned With] 1. The feared power of Rome was ignored by the breaking of the seal at the tomb. [related to Security Precaution #6] 

4. A highly disciplined Roman military guard fled their watch and had to be bribed by the authorities to lie about what actually happened. [related to Security Precaution #5]