“Evidence can be aligned to point in more than one direction” (Strobel 13). In The Case for Christ, Strobel investigates the Bible, and information included in the Bible, from the perspective of an open minded skeptic. By interviewing thirteen scholars about topics pertaining to their respective fields of study, he was able to compile an overwhelming amount of evidence that convinced him to convert. The first major topic Strobel investigates is the reliability of the gospels. He states that, “evidence can be aligned to point in more than one direction” (Strobel 13). In order to fairly investigate the gospels, he had to “[trade his] bias for an attempt at objectivity” (Strobel 13). In order to be a gospel included in the Bible, they had to
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1 Corinthians 15:3-8 says, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas...to the Twelve...to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters...to James...to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me” (The Bible). In an interview, Strobel discovered that this early creed, “is actually a summary that corresponds line by line with what the gospels teach” (Strobel 281). There are many inconsistencies when it comes to the resurrection, but, the inconsistencies are not found in the major details, so they don't actually discredit it. One theory pertaining to Jesus’ body disappearing is that the women went to the wrong tomb, which would lead them to deduce that Jesus had been raised. However, this isn't plausible, as authorities would have alerted them of the error. Another idea is that the guards fell asleep, but this also assumes that the tomb was in fact empty. There is a possibility that the appearances were merely legends, or they were simply hallucinations, but the fact that Jesus appeared to so many people after being raised from the dead, and that those same apparitions can be located elsewhere in the gospels, disproves this and provides strong evidence for the fact that they actually occurred. For example, “Mark’s account of the empty tomb is stark in its simplicity and unadorned by theological reflection” (Strobel 297). With all of the disproved theories and the supporting evidence, it is nearly impossible to make a logical case against the resurrection. In investegating the gospels, Jesus’ divinity, and the resurrection, Strobel managed to convince himself, and many others, beyond a doubt, that Jesus is the Son of God. He also proved that the Bible is true, and showed how plethora of information can be obtained by reading it from a historical and spiritual
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 says, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas...to the Twelve...to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters...to James...to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me” (The Bible). In an interview, Strobel discovered that this early creed, “is actually a summary that corresponds line by line with what the gospels teach” (Strobel 281). There are many inconsistencies when it comes to the resurrection, but, the inconsistencies are not found in the major details, so they don't actually discredit it. One theory pertaining to Jesus’ body disappearing is that the women went to the wrong tomb, which would lead them to deduce that Jesus had been raised. However, this isn't plausible, as authorities would have alerted them of the error. Another idea is that the guards fell asleep, but this also assumes that the tomb was in fact empty. There is a possibility that the appearances were merely legends, or they were simply hallucinations, but the fact that Jesus appeared to so many people after being raised from the dead, and that those same apparitions can be located elsewhere in the gospels, disproves this and provides strong evidence for the fact that they actually occurred. For example, “Mark’s account of the empty tomb is stark in its simplicity and unadorned by theological reflection” (Strobel 297). With all of the disproved theories and the supporting evidence, it is nearly impossible to make a logical case against the resurrection. In investegating the gospels, Jesus’ divinity, and the resurrection, Strobel managed to convince himself, and many others, beyond a doubt, that Jesus is the Son of God. He also proved that the Bible is true, and showed how plethora of information can be obtained by reading it from a historical and spiritual