Did Jesus Actually Rise From The Dead?

The historic accuracy that Jesus walked this earth is unmatched. Jesus is mentioned in over 30 independent ancient sources within roughly 150 years of his life with at least 10 notable non-biblical Roman and Jewish sources from authors like Tacitus, Josephus, and Pliny the Younger. There are over 25,000 surviving ancient manuscript copies of the New Testament. These sources confirm Jesus’s existence, his execution by Pilate, and the rapid spread of his followers, confirming the historical Jesus to be well-attested.

However, the historical accuracy of his resurrection is still widely debated. The Gospel cites that Jesus appeared to individuals and smaller groups over 40 days, including Peter, James, and the apostles, as well as a group of over 500 at once. Paul implies that many witnesses were still alive at the time of his writing (around A.D. 55-56), allowing people to verify the claim. Yet, skepticism exists regarding the lack of independent secular reports from that period that document these encounters.

What say you?

To prepare, check out this video of a debate on the podcast Unbelieveable? where they explore one of the central claims of Christianity: the resurrection of Jesus. Host John Nelson is joined by two leading New Testament scholars with different perspectives on the historical evidence. Dale Allison (Princeton Theological Seminary) is widely respected for his careful historical work on Jesus and early Christian belief, often urging caution about how far historians can go in explaining the resurrection. Mike Licona (Houston Christian University) argues that the best explanation for the early eyewitness testimony, the empty tomb tradition, and the rapid growth of the Christian movement is that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead. Both scholars agree on much of the historical data — including Jesus’ crucifixion and the early belief that he appeared to his followers — but they disagree on what historians can reasonably conclude. Can historians infer a miracle? How should we weigh visions, experiences, and empty-tomb traditions? And what does the historical evidence really point to?

Come to Brambleton Deli at 7pm on Thursday, April 23 to continue the discussion!