The Resurrection is the foundation of all Christianity. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then Christianity is false, the apostle Paul admits this in his letter to Corinth: > [!bible]+ [1 Corinthians 15:14 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/46/15/) > 14. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. %% #1Corinthians %% The belief in the resurrection of Jesus as a historical event, as opposed to alternative explanations, holds far more evidence over alternative explanations due to several reasons: # The Bible Is Reliable >[!tip] Prophecy Confirms The Bible! > - More Coming Soon >- [[The Prophecy Against Nineveh]] >- [[The Destruction Of Tyre|The Destruction Of Tyre]] >- [[Jesus Predicted The Fall Of Jerusalem]] (Coming Soon) > [!success]- The Gospels Are The Most Reliable Accounts Ever >![[The Gospels are Reliable Accounts]] # Jesus And The Resurrection Was Prophesied The belief in the resurrection was not unforeseen. Ancient texts like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, written by David, are believed by many Christians to have prophesied about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The consistency of these ancient texts with the New Testament accounts strengthens their credibility. >[!tip] Jesus Was Foretold Hundreds Of Years Before He Was Alive > > - [[The Prophecies Of The Messiah]] > - [[The Prophecy Of Jesus In Psalm 22]] # Jesus Was A Real Person The existence of Jesus is confirmed by both Christian and non-Christian sources. Non-Christian sources acknowledge his birth in Bethlehem, his wisdom and miracles, his significant following during his lifetime, the founding of Christianity, his crucifixion, and the persistence of the Christian faith after his death. >[!tip] See More: [[External Christian Sources About Jesus]] >[!Danger] [[External Secular Sources About The Life Of Jesus]] # Jesus Was Crucified and Buried Jesus' crucifixion and burial are historical facts, supported by archaeological evidence from the same period, common Roman practice, and modern medical studies. The Romans generally respected Jewish customs, allowing the Jews to bury Jesus before the Passover. Jewish law, which demanded the burial of those who died by hanging on a tree the same day, further supports the notion of the burial of crucified victims. >[!failure] See More: [[Evidence That Jesus Was Crucified]] >[!tip] See More: [[Was Jesus Buried]] # The Tomb Was Empty After Jesus' crucifixion, the tomb he was placed in was found empty. The fact of the empty tomb was not disputed, even by critics of Christianity. The lack of Jesus' remains being presented by authorities, despite their interest in discrediting the Christian message, implies the empty tomb was indeed a reality. > [!success]- The Early Empty Tomb Tradition > ![[The Early Empty Tomb Tradition]] # Many saw Jesus after He was killed After Jesus' death, there were multiple instances where He appeared to individuals in different settings. The consistency of these accounts among diverse witnesses adds to their credibility. Importantly, the early church's belief in the physical nature of these appearances and the transformation of initial skeptics into believers strengthens the case for Jesus' resurrection. > [!example]- Eyewitness Reports > ![[The Appearances Of Jesus]] ## The First Christians preached despite the persecution After Jesus' crucifixion, his followers were fearful and demoralized. Yet, after the purported resurrection, they became emboldened, publicly preaching about Jesus and establishing the early Christian Church. This drastic transformation in behavior is hard to explain without a significant event like the resurrection. > [!fail]- They Preached Until Death > ![[The Disciples Were Sincere In Their Beliefs]] ## Alternative explanations do not work Alternative explanations such as the Hallucination Theory, the Stolen Body Theory, the Swoon Theory, the Spirit Resurrection Theory, the Impostor Theory, and the Wrong Tomb Theory fail to convincingly account for the diverse and consistent accounts of Jesus' resurrection, the empty tomb, and the dramatic transformation of Jesus' followers. >[!failure]- Failed Attempts To Disprove The Resurrection >![[Alternate Theories To The Resurrection]] In conclusion, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus holds reasonable ground, supported by the reliability of the Gospels, external confirmations of Jesus' life, prophesies, and the unwavering faith of the early Christians despite severe persecution. The weaknesses in alternative explanations further underscore the strength of the resurrection narrative. ## Jesus Claimed To Be The God Of Israel >[!tip]- God Came Down In The Flesh >![[The Divinity Of Jesus Christ]]