The Resurrection of Jesus: Why Christians Are Convinced He Rose from the Dead

The Resurrection of Jesus: Why Christians Are Convinced He Rose from the Dead, by Daniel H. King, Sr. explores the key doctrine of faith in Christ—His resurrection from the dead. King begins by addressing the question: is it possible to take the claims about Jesus’s resurrection seriously in the twenty-first century? The text then moves to consider some “power passages” that address the resurrection. The author considers how the question of the resurrection fits into modern thought. The reader is then introduced to theories about the resurrection and the hard evidence that it really occurred. King ends by surveying concepts of the afterlife in the ancient world and the future hope Christ’s resurrection offers to believers.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Is It Possible to Take the Claims about Jesus’s Resurrection Seriously in the Twenty-first Century?

Thinking the Unthinkable

Believing the Unbelievable

Conclusion

Chapter 2: The “Power Passages” about the Resurrection in the New Testament 

“The Sign of the Prophet Jonah”—Matthew 12:39-40

“Declared with Power to be the Son of God”—Romans 1:2-4

“It Was Not Possible for Him to be Held by It (Death)”—Acts 2:22-27

“You killed the Prince of Life, Whom God Raised from the Dead, of which we are Witnesses”—Acts 3:15

“Raised on the Third Day according to the Scriptures…He Appeared to. . .”—1 Corinthians 15:3-8

“Raised with Him through Faith”—Colossians 2:12-13; Romans 6:4-11

“I Died, and Behold I am Alive Forevermore”— Revelation 1:17-19

Conclusion

Notes

Chapter 3: The Question of the Resurrection in Modern Thought

Is Resurrection Faith Expendable?

Were Miracles Necessary?

Is Resurrection Faith Historically Justifiable?

Is Resurrection Language Even Permissible?

Evangelical Weakness on the Resurrection

Realized Eschatology Proponents’ Error on the Resurrection

Conclusion

Chapter 4: The Major Theories about the Resurrection of Jesus

The Conspiracy Theory

The Legend or Myth Theory

The Hallucination Theory

The Resurrection Theory

Conclusion

Chapter 5: The Hard Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

The Old Testament Predictions

The Displaced Stone

The Empty Tomb

A Host of Believable Witnesses and Their Documents

The Unique Contributions of Dr. Gary Habermas

The Condition of the Graveclothes

The Multiplicity and Variety of the Appearances

Conclusion

Chapter 6: The Resurrection of Jesus and Our Future Hope

Greek Thought on Afterlife

Roman Thought on Afterlife

Jewish Thought on Resurrection and Afterlife

Resurrection Thought after the Apostolic Age

Jesus and Our Future Hope

Conclusion

Bibliography

Author’s Biography