Ancient Sources Supporting Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The crucifixion of Jesus is attested to by both biblical and extra-biblical ancient sources. The Gospel of John records the event, stating, "where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle" [3]. Similarly, Matthew recounts Joseph of Arimathea approaching Pilate to request Jesus' body, indicating the crucifixion had occurred [2]. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, writing in the first century CE, also mentions Jesus' crucifixion in his Antiquities of the Jews, noting that Pilate condemned him to the cross [1].
The resurrection of Jesus is a central tenet of Christian faith, frequently referenced in the New Testament. Paul, in 1 Thessalonians, writes, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus" [4]. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses doubts about a future resurrection by emphasizing Christ's resurrection as its confirmation [6, 9]. one tradition states that Christ's resurrection occurred "just as the Scriptures said," pointing to Old Testament prophecies [5]. The Tyndale House commentary on 1 Corinthians notes that some believers in Corinth struggled with the concept of a bodily resurrection, preferring the Greek idea of the immortality of the soul [6].
The significance of the resurrection is further highlighted by Paul, who argues that if Christ has not been raised, then faith is futile and believers are still in their sins [10]. The resurrection provides hope for a future bodily resurrection for believers, transforming them to be like Christ [7, 12]. This hope is understood to be known by faith, with Jesus' own resurrection serving as evidence [8]. The message of Christ's atoning death and resurrection is considered the core of the Good News preached by Paul [9]. The crucifixion itself was a stumbling block for Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, yet its success points to its divine origin [11].
Sources
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 4, section 5: following.”
- Matthew “hic accessit ad Pilatum, et petiit corpus Jesu. Tunc Pilatus jussit reddi corpus. -- Matthew 27:58”
- John “where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle. -- John 19:18”
- 1 Thessalonians “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. -- 1 Thessalonians 4:14”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:4: 15:4 just as the Scriptures said: See Ps 16:10; Hos 6:2; Jon 1:17; Matt 12:40; Acts 2:24-32.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:12: 15:12-34 Paul now makes the case for a future resurrection. 15:12-20 Christ’s resurrection confirms the reality of the future resurrection. 15:12 Some believers in Corinth apparently had a difficult time accepting the Jewish notion of a bodily resurrection of the dead, preferring instead the Greek notion of the immortality of the soul (cp. Acts 17:18, 32).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:49: 15:49 Like the earthly man, Adam, we have physical bodies in this life. But we will someday be like Christ, the heavenly man, experiencing the Kingdom of God in resurrection bodies (cp. Rom 6:4-14).”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:7: 5:7 Our hope for future resurrection can only be known by faith (see Heb 11:1, 3, 27), yet we do have Jesus’ own resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit as evidence of what is to come (1 Cor 15:1-9; Eph 1:14).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:1: 15:1-58 Some people in the church had doubts about a future resurrection of the dead. Paul reassures them and, perhaps in response to their skeptical questions, discusses the nature of a resurrection body. 15:1-11 Paul summarizes the Good News that he preached. 15:1 At the heart of the Good News stands the message of the atoning death and resurrection of Christ (see 15:3-4; Rom 5:8-10; 6:5-11).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:17: vain--Ye are, by the very fact (supposing the case to be as the skeptics maintained), frustrated of all which "your faith" appropriates: Ye are still under the everlasting condemnation of your sins (even in the disembodied state which is here referred to), from which Christ's resurrection is our justification (Rom 4:25): "saved by his life" (Rom 5:10).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 1:23: we--Paul and Apollos. Christ crucified--The Greek expresses not the mere fact of His crucifixion, but the permanent character acquired by the transaction, whereby He is now a Saviour (Gal 3:1) crucified was the stone on which the Jews stumbled (Mat 21:44). The opposition of Jew and Gentile alike shows that a religion so seemingly contemptible in its origin could not have succeeded if it had not been divine. unto the Greeks--the oldest manuscripts read "unto the Gentiles."”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 4:14: Knowing--by faith (Co2 5:1). shall raise up us also--at the resurrection (Co1 6:13-14). by Jesus--The oldest manuscripts have "with Jesus." present us--vividly picturing the scene before the eyes (Jde 1:24). with you-- (Co2 1:14; Th1 2:19-20; Th1 3:13).”