One of the all-time best apologists (defenders) of Christianity is the Apostle Paul. His New Testament epistles are stuffed with cogent arguments in support of the Christian faith.
For example, 1 Corinthians 15 is one of his apologetic treatises.
We have just celebrated Resurrection Day, commonly known as Easter. The Apostle Paul explains the true significance of the Easter season in his defense of Christianity.
The Apostle Paul based his argument for the Christian faith on two key historical events (1 Corinthians 15:3-8):
1. The Crucifixion – Christ died for our sins.
2. The Resurrection – Christ rose from the dead the third day.
The Crucifixion knocked the disciples and friends of Jesus for a loop. Then the Resurrection knocked everybody else off their feet.
The Gospel
Why is the death of Christ essential to the Gospel? It is by Christ’s death that God’s wrath is turned away from sinners who trust Christ (Romans 3:21-26).
Why is the Resurrection essential to the Gospel? Because it vindicated Christ’s claim to be the Son of God. Because it validated the efficacy of His sacrifice for sin. Because it displayed Christ’s victory over death. (Romans 1:4; 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17,21,22)
Intriguingly, Paul used Genesis to explain why Jesus died and the significance of His resurrection. Paul knew Genesis was a firm foundation for his theological explanation of the Gospel of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 15:21,22,45-49)
Paul’s “died…buried…raised” sequence clearly teaches the Resurrection was literal and physical. The body that died by public execution was the same body that was buried by Joseph and Nicodemus. This same body is what Paul says was raised. This refutes the popular notion that the Resurrection was merely “spiritual” (whatever that means).
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Empty Tomb
Defense
Paul’s apologetic argument trumpeted two irrefutable facts which established the truth of the two key events.
1. Jesus was buried.
2. Jesus appeared to many eyewitnesses after the Resurrection.
The significance of the burial is that it proved His actual death. Covered with 100 pounds of aromatic spices and bound head-to-toe in linen wrappings, Jesus was buried by two prominent members of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Their names were Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, called “the teacher of Israel” by Jesus (John 3:10). Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and other Galilean women witnessed the burial in Joseph’s own tomb. The tomb was closed with a massive stone, officially sealed, and guarded by soldiers.
Jesus’ death was attested by both friends and enemies, including battle-hardened Roman soldiers who knew death when they saw it. In all history, these contemporaries are the people best qualified to evaluate whether Jesus actually died or not. At the time nobody had even the slightest doubt that He was dead. It was an accepted fact confirmed by the burial.
The significance of Jesus’ appearances to eyewitnesses is that they verified the Resurrection. Paul’s defense listed six separate appearances. In all, Scripture records at least 11 different appearances after the Resurrection, in at least nine geographical locations spread over 150 miles. They began three days after the Crucifixion in Jerusalem, where He was crucified and buried. Jesus appeared to individuals, to groups, and even to a crowd of over 500. These were extended daylight interactions, not brief glimpses. Meals were shared, conversations developed, activities enjoyed. From personal encounters with the risen Christ, hundreds of people in all walks of life knew Jesus rose from the dead.
Paul’s widely-circulated letter to the church at Corinth was written only 20 years after the Crucifixion. Thousands were still alive who remembered the events from first-hand experience. They could confirm or dispute Paul’s account of resurrection appearances. Paul could not have effectively made these public statements if they were not true. Remember how rapidly the Swift Boat veterans negated John Kerry’s 30-year-old claims in the 2004 American presidential campaign.
Jesus’ tomb was empty. The disciples began preaching the Resurrection right in Jerusalem with the empty tomb. Their message could not have been sustained for even an hour unless all parties accepted the empty tomb as fact.
All it would take to extinguish Christianity at its inception would be for the Sanhedrin to look in the tomb and produce the dead body of Jesus. How hard could it be to find the body from a public execution, buried by Jewish leaders before witnesses in a government-guarded tomb? This they could not do — because it was not there. What a shock!
The disciples changed. Before the Resurrection they were craven cowards evading authorities. After the Resurrection they were bold witnesses defying government suppression. Discouraged, dejected, despairing men were suddenly energized to ignite a revolution which encircled the globe. It still impacts millions 2,000 years later.
What so profoundly transformed the disciples? These men, Jesus’ closest confidants, could not have been fooled about the Resurrection. They knew whether Jesus had been raised. Most died for their certainty that Jesus rose from the dead. Men do not die for what they think may be false. Remember how fast the Watergate conspiracy fell apart with everyone scrambling to save his own skin.
and produce Jesus’ body? That’s all it would
take to extinguish Christianity at its inception.
How hard could it be to find the body from a
public execution, buried by Jewish leaders before
witnesses in a government-guarded tomb?
Conclusion
Paul underscored the essence of the Gospel and laid out an unassailable defense (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). His apologetic was based on historical events that actually happened on earth at specific times. People experienced these events first-hand and testified to their reality. Paul emphasized this eyewitness testimony — the very best type of evidence historically and legally.
The Christian faith is firmly grounded in history, and history makes a difference. Actions and events have consequences which reverberate throughout time. The central events of the Christian faith, Christ’s crucifixion and His bodily resurrection, are well-attested facts of history that happened on this earth in the city of Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago. This authenticity is crucial, for if either event did not happen, then Christianity is false and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).
Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall live also.” (John 14:19) True hope for the future is grounded on the Resurrection.
The Gospel by which we are saved is bedrocked on actual historical events. Christ solved the sin problem by His death. The Resurrection proved He conquered death.
Here is a Rebus puzzle with an apropos saying for this season of the year. Like the Resurrection following the Crucifixion, this puzzle represents a saying about something good following something unpleasant. Can you figure out what common adage this puzzle represents? Try to solve the puzzle before you look at the answer below.
Questions to Ponder
1. Which specific piece of evidence for the Resurrection is compelling enough for you to mention it to a friend or colleague today?
2. What arguments in defense of truth do you prefer for influencing a present-day skeptic?
Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.
Rebus Puzzle Answer: April showers bring May flowers.
[ape+R+hill Sh+how+ears b+ring m+hay flowers]
(Click Rebus Puzzles for links to blog articles with a Rebus puzzle.)
For Christ and His Kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria.
This is the third post in the series on Apologists in the Bible.
Read the prequels:
1. Elijah Does Apologetics
2. Peter Does Apologetics
Read the sequel:
4. John Does Apologetics
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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday April 24, 2019 A.D.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
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