Two accusations by skeptics regarding the Christian faith
are that the miraculous aspects of the life of Jesus were invented late and
that the written accounts we now have in the Bible were also written later than
the lifetimes of the supposed authors. It
is reasonable to conclude that neither of these accusations are true. The theology
that Jesus died for our sins and then rose from the dead is present in the
Christian community within 4 years and written down within 17 years of the
death of Jesus. Starting with two
epistles written by Paul we can date the doctrine of the resurrection to very
soon after of the crucifixion of Jesus. It is the overwhelming conclusion by
ancient historians – even Christian skeptics - that Paul did actually write these
letters. 1st Corinthians was
written by Paul around 53 AD, while Galatians was written sometime before 57
AD. The dating of Jesus’s death is
debated, but it is either 30 AD or 33 AD.
Using Paul’s writings, the logic goes as follows:[1]
1.
We know from many sources that Paul dies around 65
AD, 32-35 years after the crucifixion (yac)
2.
1st Corinthians was written around 53
AD, 20-23 years yac.
3.
Paul went to Corinth around 51 AD (18-21 yac)
and wrote down what he was taught. “that Christ died for our sins in accordance
with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas and then to the twelve.”[2]
4.
Galatians records that when Paul became
transformed, he went first to Arabia, then 3 years later went to Jerusalem to
see Cephas and James.[3] He then goes back to Jerusalem 14 years
later.[4] 51-14 = 37 AD (4-7 yac) when Paul first went
to the apostles and “received” the ancient creed.
5.
Paul went to Arabia for three years right after
his conversion. 37-3 = 34 AD (1-3
yac).
In about 34 AD there was already a robust doctrine of the
resurrection. This could be as early as
1 year after the crucifixion but no later than 3 years after. Remember, some time had to elapse between the
crucifixion and Paul’s conversion because Christians had to become problematic
enough for the Jewish leaders (Saul) to track them down and kill them! It is clear from uncontested letters written
by an eye-witness that resurrection theology was present immediately after
Jesus died.
What about the written
documents? As mentioned above, we know
for sure that Paul wrote down a Christian creed in about 50 AD, so written
documentation of Christian Theology was surely present within 20 years after
the death of Jesus. This is still well
within the lifetimes of the eye-witnesses.
As it turns out, it is reasonable to think that it was written down by
others at an even earlier time. (The following argument comes from J. Warner
Wallace in Cold Case Christianity)[5]
1.
Nowhere in the New Testament (NT) is there any mention
of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
If you were writing the history of New York City would you leave out the
9/11 attack on the Twin Towers? You
would if you were writing the history before September 2001! This is the only explanation that makes
sense; the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 AD is one of the most
significant historical events in the first century! Also, Jesus predicted it would happen! If the gospel were invented later, why write
that Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple and then not mention that it
actually happened! Conclusion: All NT documents were written prior to 70 AD.
2.
NT does not mention the siege of Jerusalem at
all. The city of Jerusalem was under
assault for three years prior to the temple being destroyed; this is also a
significant historical event for the writers of the NT. Suffering and
persecution are common themes in the NT writings, so why leave out a
significant time of suffering and persecution?
Conclusion: All NT documents were
written before 67 AD.
3.
Luke does not mention the death of Paul,
martyred in 62 AD, or the death of Peter, martyred in 65 AD. Paul and Peter are
the two most prominent figures in the book of Acts; it would make no sense to
leave out their deaths unless, of course, they weren’t dead yet! In fact, the
book of Acts end with Paul under house arrest in Rome. Conclusion:
All NT documents were written before 62 AD.
4.
Luke does not mention the death of James
(brother of Jesus) martyred in 62 AD. Luke describes the deaths of Stephen and
James (brother of John), so why leave out the killing of the brother of Jesus?
5.
According to Luke himself, Luke wrote his gospel
before he wrote Acts.[6]
Conclusion: Luke’s gospel was written at least a few years before 62 AD.
6.
Paul quoted Luke’s gospel in his first letter to
Timothy, written in 62 or 63 AD.[7]
Paul wrote this as though Luke’s gospel was common knowledge and even referred
to it as “Scripture.”
8.
Paul mentions “Scripture” and quotes Luke’s
gospel in his letter to the Corinthians, written about 50 AD.[9]
Conclusion: Luke’s gospel was written, circulated, well-known and accepted as
scripture by 50 AD. To be fair, let’s say it only took two years for Luke to
write his gospel, have it circulated, and accepted as “Scripture.” This puts the writing of Luke’s gospel at 48
AD.
9.
Luke quoted Mark and Matthew repeatedly.[10] 350 verses from Mark appear in Luke’s gospel,
while 250 verses from Matthew appear in Luke’s account. Conclusion: Matthew and Mark were both
written, circulated, and well-known much earlier than 48 AD. We will use the same two years to provide
enough time for Matthew and Mark to be written, circulated, and become
well-known. This puts the writing of
Matthew and Mark at 46 AD.
Christian theology regarding the resurrection was robust
immediately after the death of Jesus and accounts describing the events were written
down - at the very latest - within 16 years of the death of Christ. Paul’s
letters, Acts, Luke, Mark, and Matthew were all written in the lifetimes of
eye-witnesses and circulated in the area were the crucifixion and resurrection
occurred. It is reasonable to conclude that the Christian doctrine of the
resurrection was not a late invention and that the written accounts of Jesus
were written by eye witnesses to the actual events.
[1]
I think I first heard this argument on Stand
to Reason, but I can’t find the exact reference.
[2]
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
[3]
Galatians 1:17-21
[4]
Galatians 2:1
[5]
J. Warner Wallace, Cold Case Christianity,
David C. Cook Publishing, 2013
[6]
Acts 1:1
[7]
1 Timothy 5:17-18
[8]
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
[9]
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
[10]
Luke 1:1-4
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