Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

It is often said that Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus. But here more nuance is needed. Christianity certainly stands or falls with the event of Jesus’ resurrection. If Jesus did not rise, then he was just another failed Messianic pretender. But Christianity does not stand or fall with the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. Most events in history leave no or little evidence of their occurrence. You wouldn’t expect that an event like Jesus’ resurrection, even if it occurred, would have much, if anything, by way of historical evidence in its favor. It is all the more remarkable, then, just how good a historical case can be made for the historicity of this event. This can give confidence that the event actually occurred.

A historical case for Jesus’ resurrection consists of two steps: (i) establishing the facts to be explained, and (ii) assessing the best explanation of the facts.