• Romans 1:4
  • False theory: the stolen body
    • Roman soldiers were posted at Christ’s tomb to prevent the possibility. (Matthew 27:62-66; 28:2-4, 11-15)
    • The disciples of Jesus were incapable of stealing His body from the tomb.
      • They would not have believed it themselves.
    • If the disciples had stolen the body, then they would have known Christ’s resurrection was a fraud and they would not have been willing to suffer as they did.
  • False theory: Jesus merely “swooned”
    • It is impossible that Jesus could have revived by any natural means.
      • His injuries were terminal (John 20:25)
      • He was pierced with a spear (John 19:31-34)
      • His body was prepared, wrapped, and laid in the tomb by Joseph and Nicodemus.
      • Even if He survived, He could not have escaped the tomb alone.
    • The disciples would not have been emboldened by the appearance of a weak and injured Jesus.
  • False theory: a mass hallucination
    • The empty tomb dismisses this theory.
    • The theory cannot explain why the appearances of Jesus ceased after 40 days (Acts 1:3).
    • Such mass hallucinations are simply impossible and unbelievable.
      • I Corinthians 15:3-8
    • Final thoughts
      • As these theories concerning Christ’s resurrection fail, the word of God succeeds.