Untitled Sermon

Credibility of the Eyewitnesses

Why is this important?

What role do the eyewitnesses play in the Resurrection of Jesus?

How would we establish credibility in ancient manuscripts?

“An historian must not merely provide good relevant evidence but the best relevant evidence. And the best relevant evidence, all things being equal, is evidence which is most nearly immediate to the event itself.”

Political Conditions

Roman Authorities

Jewish Rulers

Jewish People

Greco-Roman World

Early Testimony

Comparing Ancient Manuscripts

Best non-Biblical Ancient Manuscripts

Earliest Manuscripts

Embarrassing Testimony

Disciples were chastised

Women at the tomb

Names of Testimony

Richard Bauckham Research

Corroborating Testimony

9 Non-biblical writers

Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate

He was buried in a private tomb

The disciples lost hope

The tomb was found empty

The disciples believed they saw the risen Jesus alive

Their lives were transformed (willing to die)

They proclaimed Christ risen

This took place in Jerusalem

The message centered on Jesus’ death and resurrection

Changed the sabbath

Jesus brother was converted

Saul, an enemy was converted.