After the crucifixion of Jesus, his followers were afraid and in disarray and it took the magnitude of a miraculous event, such as the resurrection, to encourage them to continue the Jesus Movement in the face of persecution. Therefore the resurrection proved vital in the spread of Christianity and the survival of the Church. The Gospels serve as a way to preserve and share that story. Whether the texts are deemed to be a record of historical facts or a collection of fictitious stories will continue to be debated until the end of time. It is up to the individual reader to determine the veracity of the Gospels based on their own experiences, knowledge, and religious beliefs. For Christians that believe in the authenticity of the Gospels and the story they tell, there is no need for scrutiny over the harmony of the texts, or lack thereof, or additional historical documentation to verify their content because their belief is based on faith, not facts. As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letters to the Church in Corinth “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor 15:14
After the crucifixion of Jesus, his followers were afraid and in disarray and it took the magnitude of a miraculous event, such as the resurrection, to encourage them to continue the Jesus Movement in the face of persecution. Therefore the resurrection proved vital in the spread of Christianity and the survival of the Church. The Gospels serve as a way to preserve and share that story. Whether the texts are deemed to be a record of historical facts or a collection of fictitious stories will continue to be debated until the end of time. It is up to the individual reader to determine the veracity of the Gospels based on their own experiences, knowledge, and religious beliefs. For Christians that believe in the authenticity of the Gospels and the story they tell, there is no need for scrutiny over the harmony of the texts, or lack thereof, or additional historical documentation to verify their content because their belief is based on faith, not facts. As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letters to the Church in Corinth “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor 15:14