Why would the apostles lie? Liars always lie for selfish reasons. If they lied, what was their motive, what did they get out of it? What they got out of it was misunderstanding, rejection, persecution, torture, and martyrdom. Hardly a list of perks! (Peter Kreeft)
Thinking about the musings from Day 58: Resurrection Theories – Part 2.…
I would submit to you that the issue at hand still is, did the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth really happen. Two of these well-known theories, the Swoon, (covered in Day 55: Resurrection Theories – Part 1. and Day 57: Resurrection Theories Part 1 – Conclusion.), and Hallucination or Vision Theories, (covered in Day 58: Resurrection Theories – Part 2.), have so many unanswered questions between them, that they cannot possibly be considered as viable options regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
The next theory that tries to discredit the Gospels account of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the Stolen Body Theory.
3) Stolen Body Theory. This theory is one of the oldest of them all, dating back to the first century, only decades after the incident in question occurred. The reason for this is simple…
The theory begins in the Gospel of Matthew itself.
The Stolen Body Theory seems simple on the surface. It begins with the claim that Jesus Christ’s body was stolen from the tomb that he was buried in. Therefore, when the women investigate the tomb and find no body, the theory states that this would explain why the tomb is empty when they arrive.
So who would have stolen the body?
There are two groups of individuals who would have been motivated the steal the body: the apostles, or some other unknown person or persons.
In other words, Christians have been lied to regarding Jesus of Nazareth rising from the dead, as the resurrection was faked due to the body being stolen.
This lie potentially began with the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth themselves.
Is the Stolen Body Theory possible? Does it make logistical sense?
Let’s look at the evidence.
Consider the following in Matthew 28:11-15 (KJV):
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
It seems like a no brainer here, doesn’t it? Matthew himself is admitting that the body was stolen.
Case closed…right?
I am not so sure about that.
Regarding the Stolen Body Theory, I have a few questions for you to consider:
1) How much wealth would it take to bribe the multiple guards at the tomb to keep them quiet while the body is removed?
2) How did the disciples acquire this wealth to keep these guards quiet in the first place?
3) If there were additional witnesses that saw what the disciples were doing, were they aware of these additional witnesses and were they bribed as well?
4) How many potential, additional witnesses would have needed to be bribed in total to keep the stolen body of Jesus of Nazareth a secret?
5) Knowing that a single person cannot remove the body and dispose of it in another location, (literally dead weight), how many people were needed to remove, drag or carry, and find a new location for it?
6) For those involved in this part of the Stolen Body Theory, were they bribed as well?
7) Knowing what they were doing ahead of time, and knowing that their lives and the lives of their families would most certainly be in danger if caught, was it worth it to go to these lengths to steal the body?
8) Knowing that the disciples were witnesses to the death of Jesus of Nazareth from crucifixion, why would they risk dying that way if they stole the body, yet still claimed Jesus was resurrected?
9) Why would the disciples, already known by both the Roman and Jewish leaders, wish to continue spreading the idea that Jesus of Nazareth was resurrected, knowing that their social, economic, and overall standing in the region would be in serious jeopardy for them, or perhaps completely destroyed, not only for them, but for their families?
After re-reading the first 9 questions I brought up above, there are three more questions that still need to be asked when considering the Stolen Body Theory regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
So what are these three, final questions that needs to be asked?
That will be covered next time.
Do not feel discouraged if you are still having a difficult time believing in the resurrection of Jesus after reviewing the third counter theory. Do not feel discouraged if you are still confused if you are unsure as to whether the Gospels still stand up to the Swoon, Hallucination or Vision or Stolen Body Theories. Instead, embrace the idea that your conclusions are being based off of interesting facts that you may never have been exposed to in your life.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:27-29 KJV)
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 59: Resurrection Theories – Part 3.
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:
This is awesome! Only because I am abiding in the True Vine given the precious Gift of The Holy Spirit that teaches me, not to mention the crucial gift of discernment that Our Lord has freely given to me when I sincerely asked.