[Due to technical difficulties, part of the audio in the middle of this lesson was lost and the video stream was cut in two. I have attempted to piece the audio back together. My apologies! -MRW]

Part 1:

Part 2:

  • Matthew 28:1-10

  • Can we believe what Matthew wrote about the resurrection?

  • Are the New Testament writings reliable?

    • Luke 1:1-4

    • The New Testament is repeatedly confirmed by outside sources.

      • Luke 1:5; 2:1-4

      • If it was a work of fiction, it would be written with as few details as possible. Not so with the New Testament.

      • Luke 3:1-2

      • 59 marks of authenticity

        • John 5:2; 11:49

      • 84 marks of authenticity in the book of Acts

    • They included embarrassing and unlikely details.

      • Mark 8:33; 9:32; Matthew 14:312; 26:56; Mark 16:11

      • John 9:28-29; Acts 10:34-35

    • Alleged contradictions are actually marks of authenticity

  • Could the disciples have stolen the body?

    • Matthew 28:11-15

    • What’s their motivation – persecution and death?

      • Acts 4:1, 20; 8:1-3

    • How likely is it that not a single one would recant?

      • I Corinthians 15:5

      • Acts 12:1-3

      • Most of the apostles suffered cruel, torturous deaths because of their preaching.

    • How did they get past the guards?

      • Matthew 27:62-66

    • How do we explain the appearances of Jesus?

  • Could the disciples have been deceived?

    • Substitute on the cross theory.

      • Surah 4:157-158 – Jesus was not the one on the cross.

    • Swoon theory

      • Jesus was close to death, but did not really die.

    • Wrong tomb theory

      • Nobody checked? Also, how do you explain the appearances of the risen Jesus?

    • Hallucination theory

      • People don’t hallucinate in groups, and they certainly don’t hallucinate the same thing!

      • How do you explain the empty tomb?

  • John 5:25-29