Resurrection of Jesus: The Most Proven Ancient Historical Event
April 01, 2018      |     By: Sam McVay, Jr.      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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1. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV)

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

I have two primary reasons that I believe this radical piece of information:

1. Logical Reason: The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most well proven and documented event in ancient history.
2. Heart Reason: My inmost heart tells me that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest truth on planet earth.

Quick lesson in how we prove that ancient history actually happened:

1. Number of resources:

• Josephus
• Tacitus
• Suetonius
• Julius Africanus
• Origen
• Pliny the Younger

•     Plato; 427-347BC
  • 2 ancient copies which were written 1200 years after Plato’s time
•     Julius Caesar; 100-44BC
  • 10 ancient copies of his Gallic Wars dating around 1000 years after he lived
•     Homers Iliad; 900BC
  • 643 copies dating around 500 years after Homer’s time. The 643 copies have a 95% accuracy rate with each other.
•     Jesus Christ; 0-33AD
  • 5,600 copies dating as early 50-100 years after his death. The 5,600 copies have a 99% accuracy rate compared to each other.

The reality is that the Bible is the best attested to historical document in ancient history. None come close.

As one author said: If the Bible was about secular information and not “religion” it would be affirmed by every major learning institution in America.

So I agree with Josh McDowell when asked why he believed in Jesus and his resurrection: “Because I cannot deny history!”

But many do deny history because of a heart issue.

The existence of Jesus along with his death and resurrection is information that is warred upon by a real spiritual enemy – 2 Corinthians 4:4

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.