In the last post of this series, we will examine and debunk alternative explanations of the resurrection of Jesus. Despite overwhelming evidence for the resurrection, there are those who deny the disciples’ claim that Jesus rose from the dead. 
What We’ve Established in this Series
In these posts, we’ve reflected on the resurrection of Jesus, the central event of not only the Christian faith but also of world history. While we do not have a video of Jesus emerging from the tomb, the evidence shows the best explanation of the facts is that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, the third day.
In the first post, I established that the resurrection of Jesus was:
- A historical event. It was not an imagined or spiritual event.
- It was a physical event. Jesus rose bodily from the tomb.
- The resurrection of Jesus is the central truth of Christianity. If it didn’t happen, Christianity is false. (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).
- Many, including those professing Christianity, deny that Jesus rose bodily from the tomb.
- It is a mistake for Christians to say, “I don’t need any evidence. I have faith! I know what I believe.” Rather, there are good reasons for believers to know the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.
- Finally, I listed 12 Known Historical Facts for the Resurrection of Jesus.
Then, in the second part, we looked at 6 facts that provide evidence for the resurrection.
- Jesus died by crucifixion.
- They buried Jesus, probably in a private tomb.
- Jesus’ death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope.
- The tomb was empty.
- The disciples had experiences they believed to be authentic appearances of the risen Christ.
- Disciples transformed from doubters afraid to identify with Jesus to bold proclaimers of his death and resurrection.
Next, in the third post, we established 6 more facts that give evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
- This message was central to the preaching of the early church. The early gospel message centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus. (3.
- The disciples especially proclaimed it in Jerusalem, where Jesus died and buried only a short time before. Thus, it was easy to disprove the resurrection if it wasn’t true. This began soon after the resurrection. The disciples proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus early in the very city where the Romans crucified him.
- Because of the preaching, the church was born and grew.
- Sunday became the primary day of worship. This is especially powerful, considering the early believers were all Jewish.
- James, formerly a skeptic, converted to faith when he also met the risen Jesus.
- A few years later, Paul, likewise, converted by what he believed to be an appearance of the resurrected Jesus.
After doing this we asked: Taking all these facts together, how do we best explain them? What ties them together? What is the most reasonable explanation?
The only credible answer is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But there are those who deny that Jesus rose from the grave. However, to do that, they must present alternative explanations of the resurrection that defeat established facts. It’s to the most encountered alternatives to the resurrection we turn next.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection of Jesus
(The list of opposing explanations of the resurrection and counter evidence are based on The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona; class notes from lectures by Gary Habermas at Biola University; and lecture notes by Craig Hazen at Biola University.)
- 3 Fraud Claims
- Legend Theory
- Twin Theory
- Wrong Tomb Theory
- Apparent Death Theory
- Hallucinations
- Existential & Spiritual Resurrection Theory
- Visions
- One Weird Theory—Jesus was an alien from another planet. (I will not waste space to comment on this one.
I will begin with a quote from Gary Habermas:
It is important to note that the existence of several opposing theories to Jesus’ resurrection should not be seen as a threat to our Christian faith. If all of the theories fail to account for the known data, they cease to be anything more than unsuccessful attempts to explain what occurred in natural terms. A collection of unsuccessful attempts does not add up to one good one. Not only do these alternative theories have their own problems, but some are mutually incompatible with others. (The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus p. 82).
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection—Fraud Claims (3)
The Disciples Stole the Body (4)
This means the disciples also lied about the resurrection of Jesus.
Debunking the Claim
First, the disciples believed in the resurrection so strongly that they were willing to suffer and die for their belief.
Second, Paul, the persecutor of the church, converted after he met the risen Christ.
Third, James, the skeptical brother of Jesus, became a believer after the risen Christ appeared to him.
Someone Else Stole the Body
Debunking the Claim
This theory fails for the same reasons listed above. And it only questions the cause of the empty tomb.
Unknown Tomb
After Jesus died, they took his body down from the cross and threw it into a common grave unknown to the disciples. The disciples then created both the empty tomb and resurrection stories.
Debunking the Claim
This theory fails for the same reasons listed above.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection—Legend Theory
Proponents of this theory believe the account of the resurrection is a story, a fabrication that developed over the years.
Debunking the Theory
First, this theory ignores all the facts presented in my two previous posts.
Also, the disciples were preaching the truth of the resurrection of Jesus within 50 days of the event. This was Peter’s Pentecost sermon.
Next, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul calls on much earlier tradition as he expounds on the resurrection. We can date the epistle at 55 A.D. just a little over two decades after the resurrection.
Finally, it is well-documented that legends take many years to grow and develop. It is unlikely that a legend about the resurrection of Jesus would have been circulating so soon.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection—Twin Theory
This theory says that Jesus died and was buried. Soon after, his identical twin brother showed up and proclaimed himself the risen Christ.
Debunking the Theory
There are several reasons for rejecting this theory.
- If Jesus had a twin brother, it is likely we would find this in the gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus. It isn’t.
- Unless someone had moved Jesus’ body, the tomb would not be empty, and the twin’s story easily disproved.
- Would James have been convinced by the appearance of Jesus’s twin? This is doubtful.
- Wouldn’t the disciples and other followers of Jesus notice differences in speech and mannerisms?
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection—Twin Theory
This theory claims that on Sunday morning, the women were confused and went to the wrong tomb. Finding it empty, they concluded Jesus had risen from the dead.
Debunking the Theory
First, this doesn’t account for the post-resurrection appearances to the disciples and others.
Second, the empty tomb did not convince Paul and James but by their encounters with the risen Jesus.
Third, no sources, biblical or extra-biblical suggest the women went to the wrong tomb.
Finally, the gospel accounts clearly state that they buried Jesus in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, showing that the tomb’s location was known.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection—Apparent Death (Swoon) Theory
Jesus did not die on the cross but only became unconscious. Once he was in the cool tomb and spices applied, he revived. Then, he unwraps himself, sits up, and moves the large stone that sealed the tomb. But wait, there’s more! Jesus could then either overpower the guards (armed, vigorous men) or sneak past them. After these magnificent feats, he makes his way to the disciples and proclaims himself the risen savior.
Debunking the Theory
The first thing we need to ask is how Jesus, a mere man, accomplishes these things after being scourged, nailed to a cross, hung on the cross for several hours, and stabbed in his side with a spear? Even if he somehow survived the crucifixion and revived in the tomb, a man in his condition couldn’t have done what this theory presupposes.
Next, the Roman executioners knew what they were doing. If they failed to kill Jesus, they would pay for it with their own lives.
Finally, see the second post in this series where I cite medical evidence supporting the fact that Jesus died on the cross.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection–Hallucinations
In their grief, the disciples couldn’t accept Jesus’ death. These mixed emotions caused them to hallucinate a resurrected Jesus. Based on these hallucinations, they preached the resurrection and founded the church.
Debunking the Theory
Simply put, people rarely hallucinate the same thing, which Paul and James did. James was a skeptic and Paul an unbeliever. Neither man would have experienced the same grief and emotional upset as the disciples, making the claim they hallucinated the risen Jesus even less likely.
For this theory to be true, not only Paul and James had the same hallucination. According to 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus appeared to all the disciples and over 500 others that is, they would have had the same hallucination.
This doesn’t work because hallucinations are personal and not group occurrences. Also, it doesn’t account for the empty tomb.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection–Existential & Spiritual Resurrection
Jesus did not rise from the tomb in history. Instead, the disciples experienced the resurrected Christ in their hearts.
Debunking the Theory
The theory doesn’t adequately account for any of the facts.
Alternative Explanations of the Resurrection—Visions
The disciples’ encounters with a resurrected Jesus were not real. They were only visions.
Debunking the Theory
“Vision” is a vague term, and defining it is difficult. Also, visions can be objective or subjective. If the disciples experienced objective visions, then they say the resurrection is true. If they had subjective visions, they were hallucinating or deluded.
Visions do not account for the empty tomb or the bodily nature of Jesus’ appearances.
Conclusion
This has been a rather brief trip through several alternative explanations of the resurrection of Jesus. In sum, none of the theories presented holds up when we consider the facts surrounding the crucifixion, death of Jesus, the empty tomb, and more. If you need more evidence for this conclusion, the resources listed below provide more detailed responses to the alternate theories.
Once again, we conclude that all the evidence points to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the best explanation for the facts.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:20–23 ESV)
Resources Consulted
Internet Resources
Five Strands of Evidence for Jesus Christ’s Resurrection
History, Philosophy, and Christian Apologetics: Specializing in Resurrection-of-Jesus Research
Books
Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, revised edition Wheaton, IL: 1994), by William Lane Craig
On Guard, (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010), by William Lane Craig
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2004), by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona.
