Apologetics and worldviews - Jesus, the man, the son of God & Current issues

Should we expect to find a lot of evidence for Jesus?

No

Who should we not expect to find a lot of evidence for Jesus?

- Jesus was not a major figure
- The Romans didn't keep great records
- We lack records of major figures

Is it surprising that we have anything at all on Jesus?

Absolutely

Tacitus, Annals 15.44 (AD 115-117)

The story about how Nero blamed the Christians for a fire that he started.

Josephus, Antiquities, 18.63-64

Jewish historian who believed that Jesus Christ was a real person.

1 Corinthians 9:5-

Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas

Galatians 1:18-19-

The after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. but I saw none of the other disciples except James the Lord's brother.

Is Paul using "brother" in the actual sense of a brother or in the "Christian" sense?

It appears that Paul is using the word to refer to an actual brothers.

Conclusion to if Jesus was an actual man:

- Christianity was a major force by the early 2nd century and was always defended by its relationship to Christ.
- Most just assume that Jesus was a real man who really existed
- Paul actually knew the brothers of Jesus
- Paul's persecution could not have been because of a mythical man

Divine Inclusios:

A concept or idea that frames a book.

The virgin birth verses:

- Matthew 1:18 - Mary was Betrothed, before they came together, she was filled from the Holy Spirit.

- Luke 1:35 - The power of the Most High will overshadow you and the child will be the Son of God.

Mark 2:1-12

Healing of the Paralytic
- Son, your sins are forgiven
- Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone!

Romans 10:9 -

If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13:

Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Paul quotes Joel 2:32 in Romans 10:13 and relates it to Jesus. "Lord" in Joel 2:32 is "Yahweh." So, what is Paul doing?

Paul is not simply calling Jesus. "Lord" as in "master." but God... Yahweh Himself

Ancient Hymns:

Since these hymns are pre-Pauline, then we can be sure that the divinity of Christ did not originate with Paul but instead go back very early, maybe even to the early thirties.

What are some Ancient Hymns?

- Romans 1:3-4
- Colossians 1:15-20
- Philippians 2:6-11

An early creed verse:

1 Corinthians 15:3-7

1 Corinthians 15:3-7

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: Christ died for our sins, buried and resurrected and then appeared to others.

What are the facts of Jesus's ressurection?

- Jesus' death is a historical fact.
- Jesus' burial is a historical fact.
- Jesus' empty tomb is a historical fact.
- Jesus' appearances
- The origin of the disciples' belief

The wrong tomb hypothesis explanation:

This theory accounts for the death of Jesus, His burial, the empty tomb (partially), and the belief of the disciples (partially). But this theory fails to account for Jesus' appearances.

Conspiracy hypothesis accounts for what?

This theory appears to account for everything: the death of Jesus, His burial, the empty tomb, belief of the disciples, and His appearance.

The conspiracy hypothesis appears to account for everything, but...

- Would the disciples base their lie on women finding the tomb
- The narratives are simple (unlike false narratives that are very extravagant)
- It's difficult to believe the disciples would give their lives for a known lie.

Hallucination hypothesis explains what?

This theory explains the death of Jesus, His burial, and His appearances. This theory does not explain the empty tomb or the disciples' belief.

Hallucination hypothesis:

The disciples and others hallucinated Jesus.

What is the most reasonable explanation?

The resurrection.

What is the problem of evil?

- God is omnipotent
- God is wholly good
- And yet evil exists

Wrong tomb hypothesis:

The women went to the wrong tomb

Apparent death hypothesis:

Jesus was only partially dead and was revived due to the coolness of the tomb and walked out.

The conspiracy hypothesis:

The disciple's stole the body and lied about his appearances

The hallucination hypothesis:

The disciples and others hallucinated Jesus

The Logical problem of evil:

Freewill defense

Freewill defense:

- A world containing free creatures is more valuable than a world containing no free creatures

- Evil comes from the abuse of freewill

- Though Omnipotent, God cannot make someone do something freely