Mainstream Apologetics CHAPTER 5: RESURRECTION OF JESUS Jesus was Raised from the DeadOnce we have established that Jesus is Divine, we establish that Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead. We observed that Jesus appeared bodily to 500+ people after his certain death by crucifixion. This is evidenced by extra-biblical accounts, eyewitness testimony, forensics and circumstantial evidence. ARGUMENT 5:Jesus was Raised from the Dead Jesus died a certain death from injuries resulting from Roman scourging and crucifixion. He was later witnessed alive by 500+ people who had a personal, physical encounter with him. As a result of these encounters, many of Jesus' disciples reoriented their lives to teach the gospel message and died a martyr's death to demonstrate the depth of their convictions. Based on the preponderance of evidence, the most reasonable conclusion is that Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God. This chapter is comprised of the following claims ... CLAIM 5.1:Jesus Died by Crucifixion Jesus died a violent and certain death based on the preponderance of evidence from both extra-biblical and biblical sources. These sources corroborate the claim that Jesus died by crucifixion. CLAIM 5.2:Jesus' Vacated His Tomb The claim that Jesus vacated his tomb is the most logical conclusion given the evidence. All counterclaims can be easily disproved. CLAIM 5.3:Hundreds of Eyewitnesses Attest to Jesus' Resurrection Jesus' resurrection was observed by 500+ people based on trustworthy accounts. Resurrection claims were made publicly by Peter, Paul and others within 7 years after the actual resurrection. Given that these claims are coincident with the resurrection event, these claims are free of legendary embellishments and distortions. Hallucination and delusion theories cannot discredit the reality of Jesus' resurrection. To assume that 500+ eyewitnesses hallucinated and had the same observation regarding Jesus' resurrected state is absurd. The evidence strongly suggests that Jesus was raised from the dead with a physical and immortal body. CLAIM 5.4:Conversions Only Explainable by Resurrection Jesus' disciples lived with him for three years and witnessed thousands of miracles. However, their lives were marked with doubt and disbelief. It was not until the disciples encountered Jesus in the flesh after his resurrection that they believed. Their dramatic conversion is only explainable by the resurrection of Jesus. CLAIM 5.5:Circumstantial Evidence Supports the Resurrection The phenomenal events surrounding Jesus' passion support the supernatural resurrection of Jesus. While these events are circumstantial, they strongly support the claim of Jesus' resurrection because of their number, independence and diversity. CLAIM 5.6:Shroud of Turin is Likely the Genuine Burial Linen of Jesus There is a large corpus of scientific, forensic and historical evidence related to the Shroud of Turin. Based on this evidence, the Shroud of Turin accurately depicts the postmortem characteristics of the crucified body of Jesus. Specifically, evidence related to the linen cloth, scourging and medical strongly suggest that the Shroud of Turin could not have been forged during the fourteenth century.