1.0 The Empty Tomb Narrative

The videos attempt to address two questions regarding the claims that need explanation and the best interpretations of those claims. Craig's spokesperson asserts that traditional Christianity provides the best understanding of the related facts. However, both videos ultimately fall short, as the supposed facts are exaggerated or misconstrued, and the appeal to divine intervention lacks coherent grounding.

The first video presents what it claims are three facts: the discovery of Jesus's empty tomb, the post-death appearances of Jesus, and the disciples' belief in his resurrection. However, the assertion that the empty tomb story is corroborated by “six independent sources,” including 1 Corinthians, the four Gospels, and Acts, is misleading.

This assertion lacks credibility; the Gospels are not truly independent, as Matthew and Luke draw extensively from Mark. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, over 90% of Mark’s content is found in Matthew, and more than 50% in Luke. Many scholars suggest that the author of John was also familiar with Mark. Furthermore, since Acts is a continuation of Luke, it cannot be considered an independent source.

Craig does acknowledge that Matthew and Luke likely depend on Mark but suggests they may also have utilized the Q source, which primarily consists of Jesus's sayings and doesn’t include the empty tomb narrative. Thus, it appears that Matthew and Luke sourced their accounts from Mark, and John’s narrative is the least reliable.

As for Mark's empty tomb story, some scholars propose it could be influenced by Joshua 10:16-27, which similarly reverses events surrounding a tomb.

1.1 Paul's Knowledge of an Empty Tomb Tradition

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul does not mention an empty tomb. Instead, he states that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, referring to these events as fulfilling Scripture. This indicates that Paul is not presenting an objective historical account; rather, he is discussing spiritual events meant to align with Jewish prophecies.

Paul's references derive from a pagan tradition concerning dying and rising gods and from Isaiah 53, which discusses a suffering servant. The crucifixion narratives in the Gospels also draw on these prophetic themes.

It is essential to recognize that any so-called prophecies fulfilled by Jesus can be interpreted as adaptations of earlier Jewish texts, rather than genuine prophetic fulfillments. This literary technique allows the authors to reshape narratives in a way that supports their theological claims.

The mention of burial in Paul's proclamation is merely a narrative device to underscore the resurrection's dramatic impact. By positioning the burial as a low point, the subsequent resurrection carries greater significance.

1.2 Female Witnesses

The video claims that women discovered Jesus's missing body, which apologists argue is significant given the era's patriarchal views that devalued women's testimonies. However, this claim is irrelevant, as the Gospels were not intended to serve as legal documents.

Richard Carrier posits that early Christians would not have been constrained by Pharisaic standards, given their counter-cultural stance. Furthermore, the Gospels' portrayal of women at the tomb serves a literary function, reflecting the theme of inversion where the last become first and the last first.

The presence of women discovering the empty tomb may also echo themes from Greco-Roman mythology, where women often mourn the deaths of gods and symbolize life’s renewal.

1.3 Jewish Authorities and the Empty Tomb

Craig argues that Jewish authorities' claims that Jesus's followers stole his body imply their acknowledgment of the empty tomb. However, this conclusion is flawed. The passage from Matthew suggesting the disciples stole the body could be a rhetorical strategy rather than an admission of fact.

1.4 The Consensus of NT Scholars

The video cites a New Testament scholar asserting that most scholars affirm the reliability of the biblical accounts of the empty tomb. However, this consensus is questionable, as many scholars are Christians, which could bias their interpretations. The discrepancies among scholars highlight the difficulty in reaching a truly objective consensus regarding the origins of Christianity.

2.0 The Appearances of a Risen Jesus

The video transitions to the second alleged fact: the risen Jesus's appearances to his disciples. While Paul lists several witnesses in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, these claims are ultimately hearsay and lack independent verification.

Paul describes the resurrected body as a hybrid between material and immaterial forms, suggesting a transformation rather than a physical resurrection. This conception aligns with the Gospel accounts, where the risen Jesus often appears in ways that challenge recognition.

2.1 The Synoptic Gospels' Problems

The video continues its misleading claim that the “various resurrection appearances of Jesus are independently confirmed.” In reality, the Gospels largely echo one another, with Mark being the primary source detailing these events.

3.0 The Disciples' Belief in the Resurrection

The final claim suggests that Jesus's followers, despite their fears, proclaimed his resurrection. However, accounts of other Jewish figures, such as the Teacher of Righteousness from the Dead Sea Scrolls, reveal that some Jews entertained radical messianic expectations.

3.1 Jewish Expectations of Resurrection

The video asserts that Jews anticipated a universal resurrection at the end of time, not an individual resurrection within history. This perspective overlooks the diverse beliefs present in first-century Judaism and the apocalyptic sentiments shared by early Christians.

3.2 The Curse of Crucifixion

The video notes the Jewish belief that crucifixion was an act of divine punishment, which would deter followers. However, Christians could reinterpret this narrative, presenting Jesus’s death and resurrection as a transformative covenant with God.

3.3 Early Christian Martyrs

Finally, the video claims early Christians were steadfast in their beliefs, facing persecution without recanting. Yet, historical records of martyrdom are sparse and often lack detail. Many early accounts do not provide a reliable basis for asserting that witnesses died for their beliefs.

4.0 Conclusion

This analysis of the initial video’s arguments concerning the resurrection narrative reveals significant weaknesses in their claims. Further exploration in Part Two will delve into the subsequent video, addressing the fallacies surrounding the resurrection story as a historical event.