How can you explain how you’ve determined that circumstantial evidence, eyewitness testimony, and the resurrection claim in the Bible is what they consider as “strong” evidence in a court of law?

Thank you for the evidences in a court of law for he resurrection, “How can you explain how you’ve determined that circumstantial evidence, eyewitness testimony, and the resurrection claim in the Bible is what they consider as “strong” evidence in a court of law?”

I. The eyewitnesses testimony that Jesus was trialed, crucified, and died.

A. The testimonies of eyewitnesses to the trial, crucifixion and death of Jesus.

To established a resurrection, there must be a death of that person. What are the evidences of the death of Jesus Christ? If an investigator was present at the trial of Jesus, he would have quotes or statements that Jesus was condemned to death by crucifixion.

1. He would have recorded the Sanhedrin decision to condemned Jesus to death. He could ask the High Priest and the 70 Council members for their testimony of their meeting an decision to condemn Jesus as a heretic and to send him to Pontius Pilate.
2. He would have recorded the religious leaders and the crowd asking for the death of Jesus by crucifixion.
3. He would have recorded the testimony of Barabas who was set free while Jesus was condemned to crucifixion.
4. He would have recorded the testimony of Pontius Pilate and his desire to set Jesus free but through social pressure he condemned Jesus for sedition.
5. He would have recorded the testimony of the crowd who saw carrying his cross and being nailed to the cross.
6. He would have recorded the testimony of the Roman soldiers who nailed him to the cross.
7. He would have recorded the testimony of the centurion who declared that Jesus was dead with the spear piercing his side.
8. He would have recorded the testimony of the individuals who took down the body of Jesus and put him into a tomb with a stone rolled over it.
9. He would have recorded the testimony of soldiers watching over the tomb to ensure that no one would steal the body of Jesus.
10. He would have recorded that the crucifixion was in a public setting and not in a private prison.

The testimony of individuals would be overwhelming that Jesus was crucified, dead, and entombed. Dr. Luke in his Gospel says this, “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (NIV). Dr. Luke states there were eyewitness of what happened and the listeners stated or recorded what happened. He states that himself made a careful investigation from the beginning and recorded his own findings.

The Apostle Paul states to the Corinthians believers in I Corinthians 15 these words, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born” (NIV). The Apostle Paul states that there are still living witnesses at the time of his writing of the life of Jesus including the resurrection in Israel and that himself is a witness that Jesus is alive. That if they didn’t believe him, they can go to Israel to speak to the living witnesses.

The question would be the credibility of the witnesses. Jews would not violate the Ten Commandment of bearing false witness. Christians are commanded to speak the truth in love, to reject falsehood. Would one question the death and crucifixion with the testimonies of the High Priest, the crowds of people who called for his death and saw him nailed to the cross, to the Roman soldiers who nailed him and those who guarded the tomb, to the centurion who certified that he was was dead, and the women and men who anointed his dead body and entombed him. The disciples did not think that Jesus faked his death for they had trouble believing that he was still alive.

B. The Medical report on the wounds of Jesus.

There has been medical research on the wounds of Jesus that at least indicates the loss of blood would have made it impossible for him to escape from the tomb.

1. The lack of food for 3 days from the Passover to the questionable resurrection.
2. The scourging and crown of thorns by the Romans would have caused/contributed to loss of blood.
3. The inability of Jesus to carry the cross to the execution site shows his physical weakness while the other thieves had no problem carrying it.
4. The pounding of nails in the wrist and on the feet would have increased the loss of blood.
5. The soldier piercing the side of Jesus is reported to be a fatal wound as blood and water flowed out.
6. The wrapping by men would have made it very difficult for someone who is wounded to break free from the wrappings.

C. The Physical Tomb of Jesus.

1. The stone rolled over the tomb normally would have a dip so that it can’t be easily pushed over or rolled opened.
2. The Roman sealed was placed on the tomb to reflect that no one can open the tomb.
3. The soldiers guarding the tomb as requested by the Sanhedrin to Pilate.

Thus it is highly improbable, nearly impossible for Jesus to fake his own death and escape by pushing the stone away from the tomb.

II. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A. The Testimonies of witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus.

1. The testimony of the guards who witnessed an angel and the tomb being rolled away.
2. The testimony of the religious leaders who heard the soldiers’ testimony of what they saw at the tomb of Jesus. This is second hand information.
3. The testimony of the women who saw Jesus.
4. The testimony of the ten disciples who appeared in the Upper Room.
5. The testimony of Thomas who doubted the resurrection until he met Jesus in the Upper Room with the other disciples.
6. The testimony of 11 disciples at the Sea of Galilee who saw and ate with Jesus.
7. The testimony of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus.
8. The testimony of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.

In a court of hearing, if one was to judge the truthfulness of the death and resurrection will be based on their character of the witnesses, the circumstances for the death and the events surrounding the resurrection, and the possibility of a resurrection. Was this the first resurrection in the New Testament? The resurrection of Lazarus witnessed by many individuals would reflect that resurrection is possible. The religious leader’s didn’t believe it but the testimonies by the individuals can’t be disregarded. Based on the eyewitnesses of testimonies and the character of the witnesses, one can conclude that the trial, death, and resurrection is more than likely true. The historian Josephus cites the event of the man name Christus. Modern scholars discount that citation as being amended by Christians. In my opinion, if a Christian were to add or amend the text, there would be a more clearer and greater section on Jesus Christ as being the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

It has been argued by some that the Gospels were fabricated and compiled as late as the 4th century at the Council of Nicea. As one reads the pseudepigrapha especially the Didache, the dating of this Christian Discipline is to the 50–120 CE which cites the Lord’s Prayer, the Eucharist, Baptism, of declaring the truth, avoiding lying. Would the church leaders at the Council of Nicea intentionally fabricate a fictitious life of Jesus and declaring that it is true? It would be highly improbable that there would be one righteous person who would object to that lie. The early Christians were persecuted for the belief in the one God and Savior, Jesus Christ and their refusal to worship the Greek-Romans deities. It is reasonable that the Christians before 325 CE believe in something or someone and were willing to die for their beliefs. The Muratorian Canon lists 22 of the 27 New Testament books. This Canon is generally accepted as being in the second century while others date it later in the 4th century.

If one believes that the witnesses are liars or fabricated by Christians, that is a possibility. How likely is that in light of their Christian teaching of speaking the truth? One has to be the judge for oneself. Are the witnesses credible? Only you can decide if the record is true or false.

SUMMARY: Based on the preponderance of testimonies and the Jewish-Christian beliefs of honesty that the trial, death, and resurrection is credible in my view.

For more perspectives:

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