Expert: David Gardner - 4/20/2005

Question
Can you give me facts on the resurrection of Jesus? I have done some research on the internet, but I keep coming up with the same information.  Any information will be helpful. Thank you. Andrea

Answer
Andrea,

I'm not sure what you're looking for. If you want to read what the New Testament says about the resurrection of Jesus, you could start with 1 Corinthians 15 and the closing chapters of the four gospels. But really references to the resurrection are also littered throughout the rest of the NT. You could use a concordance (or an online Bible search site) to find words like resurrection, raised, arose, etc. You'll find that the faith of the early Christians centers on and arises from their conviction that the crucified Jesus did not stay dead but lives exalted to the heavens.

If what you mean by "facts on the resurrection of Jesus" is "what really happened," or what would a New York Times reporter say happened if we could send one back in time to witness the events as they unfolded ... that's more complicated. There are no uninterpreted facts, and the stance of the interpreter can have a substantial effect on the narration of the events. It's worth noting that most scholars do not regard anything in the NT as a contemporary eyewitness account, except for Paul's statements about his own encounters with the risen Jesus. The accounts in the gospels seem to have been passed down across two to four generations of Christians before being reduced to writing. They are, however, direct accounts of what Christians believed in the decades following the crucifixion / resurrection.

As for researching on the Internet: as always, but all the more so with questions pertaining to religion, good luck sorting through the wild variety of material you'll find, ranging from the thoughtful and well-informed to the absolutely bonkers with every shade between...

If you have a more specific question, feel free to write again.

DG