There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three. (Billy Graham)
Thinking about the musings from Day 63: Rest…Relax…Reflect.…
I would submit to you that after covering the first four, counter-resurrection theories regarding Jesus of Nazareth:
The Swoon:
Day 55: Resurrection Theories – Part 1. and;
Day 57: Resurrection Theories Part 1 – Conclusion.
Hallucination or Vision:
Day 58: Resurrection Theories – Part 2.
Stolen Body:
Day 59: Resurrection Theories – Part 3. and;
Day 60: Resurrection Theories – Part 3 – Conclusion. and;
The Falling Asleep And/Or Bribed Theories:
Day 61: Resurrection Theories – Part 4. and;
Day 62: Resurrection Theories – Part 4 – Conclusion.
The only conclusion that one can come to is that they are all seemingly falling apart.
I would further submit to you that there is one question that you have to consider while reading the final theory that tries to discredit the Gospels account of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth….
Will this fifth theory, make any more sense than the previous four theories?
The final theory that will be covered that tries to discredit the Gospels account of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the Conspiracy Theory.
5) Conspiracy Theory. This theory is on the surface quite simple, Christ’s disciples stole the body and then made up the resurrection story.
There is in fact historical evidence for the Conspiracy Theory, presented by Eusebius of Caesarea, who was alive from 260-340 CE.
Or at least…the absurdity of the Conspiracy Theory was presented by Eusebius of Caesarea….
Eusebius of Caesarea argued that the idea that the disciples would steal the body and then make up the resurrection story was in fact…
Impossible.
Is the Conspiracy Theory possible? Does it make logistical sense?
Let’s look at the evidence.
There was a man, named Eusebius of Caesarea, who lived approximately from 260-340 CE. Here is what he said regarding Christianity:
“I feel inadequate to do [church history] justice as the first to venture on such an undertaking, a traveler on a lonely and untrodden path.”
Why did he feel ‘inadequate’? Why was he ‘lonely’?
He tells you, it is because he was the first to ‘venture’ down this ‘untrodden path’.
So what is this ‘untrodden path’ that he is about to ‘venture’ down?
I would submit to you that it is because Eusebius of Caesarea is ‘the father of church history’. And being the first would help us to understand him going down this ‘untrodden path’.
To be the first of anything is no small task indeed. It appears that Eusebius of Caesarea is fully aware of the weight on his shoulders being ‘the father of church history’. He is considered the first to write about the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, outside the Gospels and outside the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
So what did Eusebius of Caesarea write about?
1) He was considered by historians as the first ever to write a comprehensive history of the church’s first three centuries;
2) He was writing it without any collection of documentation easily accessible and available to him at the time;
3) There were no books available documenting any of the figures surrounding these events;
4) There was no documentation or timeline, surrounding these events and;
5) The calendar and the dates of these events were in dispute back then.
Regarding the issue with the calendar dates, back then no one could have possibly anticipated the potential issues that would eventually come….
Over 1,000 years later.
So what is the calendar issue that comes up 1,000 years later and how does it relate to the Conspiracy Theory regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?
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 reading about Eusebius of Caesarea. Do not feel discouraged if you are still confused and you are still unsure as to whether the Gospels still stand up to the: Swoon, Hallucination or Vision, Stolen Body, Falling Asleep And/Or Bribed and Conspiracy Theories. Instead, embrace the idea that after this heavy reading, you are that much closer to the truth.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17-18 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 64: Resurrection Theories – Part 5.
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: