Has He risen?

HAS HE RISEN? A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

I. THE PROPHETIC BACKGROUND

Old Testament writings foreshadow a coming Redeemer who would triumph over death. Isaiah foretells a Servant who would “bear the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12). Psalm 16:10 also declares that God’s Holy One would not see decay. These passages build an expectation: if a Messiah truly comes, part of His mission must involve victory over the grave.

Throughout genealogies and historical records, Scripture presents a cohesive narrative leading to this culmination. Many who accept a young-earth perspective point to biblical chronologies in Genesis (e.g., Genesis 5; 11) to position these prophecies in a historically consistent framework, affirming that from Adam to the prophets, a singular theme of redemption runs without contradiction.

II. THE GOSPEL RECORDS AND EMPTY TOMB

The four Gospels each record the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. According to Matthew 28:6, the angel announced, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” This statement is central: it implies Jesus physically left the tomb, fulfilling His own predictions that He would rise on the third day (see Matthew 16:21).

Mark (16:6), Luke (24:5–7), and John (20:1–9) echo the same event. Ancient manuscript comparisons—including early papyri such as P45 and P66—show remarkable consistency in these accounts, confirming that the empty tomb narrative was not a later invention. The Gospels, supported by thousands of manuscript copies, preserve an unbroken chain of testimony that He rose.

III. EYEWITNESSES AND TRANSFORMED LIVES

Numerous individuals claimed to see the risen Christ. The Apostle Paul recounts that Jesus “appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once” (1 Corinthians 15:5–6). This “five hundred brothers” note underscores the breadth of witness.

The transformation of fearful disciples into bold proclaimers supports this claim. As recorded in Acts 2, these apostles publicly declared Christ’s resurrection in Jerusalem—merely weeks after His crucifixion—not in a distant or hidden location. Observers saw their conviction and willingness to suffer. Such change, historically verified through early church writings and Roman documents, points to a genuine encounter with a resurrected Christ, not a staged event or mass delusion.

IV. HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL CORROBORATION

Non-Christian sources from the first and second centuries make reference to Christ’s execution and the early Christians’ belief in His resurrection. The Roman historian Tacitus mentions Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus records that Jesus was condemned and crucified, and that His followers reported He appeared to them alive again on the third day. Josephus’ writings, though contested in certain passages, still offer external attestation that early disciples genuinely believed He had risen.

Archaeological studies reinforce the broader biblical record. Excavations in the Jerusalem area match the Gospel descriptions of tombs cut from rock. While no single artifact can “prove” the resurrection, the geographical and cultural details align with first-century practices, adding credence to the authenticity of the resurrection accounts.

V. THEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF RESURRECTION

Scripture describes creation as the purposeful work of an eternal God (Genesis 1:1). Scientific inquiries into fine-tuning—such as the precise balance of fundamental physics constants—continually point to intentional design. These observations harmonize with the biblical worldview that all systems and life itself have a Designer.

Within that framework, the resurrection stands as the signature miracle, testifying that the same power responsible for creation can raise the dead. As Jesus demonstrated supernatural acts such as healing the blind (Mark 10:51–52) and calming storms (Matthew 8:26), the rising from the dead is consistent with the display of divine authority. This aligns with intelligent design arguments that life and miraculous events reflect the activity of an all-powerful Creator.

VI. IMPLICATIONS FOR SALVATION

The core of Christian belief is that the resurrection validates the saving work of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:17 states, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” This explains that only through a risen Savior—One who conquered death—can humanity find salvation. By trusting in Him, individuals participate in a reconciliation that spans back to the entry of sin in Genesis, culminating in God’s plan of redemption.

VII. PHILOSOPHICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVES

From a behavioral science viewpoint, belief in the resurrection profoundly impacts moral choices and life purpose. Virtues such as empathy, integrity, and compassion find a concrete anchor in the example of the risen Christ. Philosophically, the resurrection offers a definitive statement about life’s meaning: if death is not final, hope is genuinely tangible.

These considerations echo in personal anecdotes throughout history, where persecutors have become proponents after encountering what they perceived as God’s transformative power. Reports of unwavering faith, coupled with countless testimonies of spiritual healing and renewal, reinforce that if Christ is truly risen, then ultimate hope is accessible to all.

VIII. COUNTERARGUMENTS AND RESPONSES

Some critics propose theories to explain the resurrection narratives: the disciples stole the body, they experienced a collective hallucination, or they embellished details over time. Yet these explanations struggle to account for the empty tomb in a guarded setting, well-documented outside the Gospels; the large number of independent eyewitnesses; and the sudden growth of a movement facing hostile opposition.

Textual criticism, aided by the abundance of early manuscripts, shows minimal and inconsequential variations in resurrection passages. The consistent theology of the risen Christ across multiple documents indicates no gradual evolution of legend. Moreover, early Christian creeds—like the one in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4—are dated by many scholars to within a few years of Christ’s crucifixion. This timing leaves little room for myth to develop.

IX. CONCLUSION

In light of ancient prophecies, the consistent Gospel testimonies, archaeological and manuscript evidence, and the radical transformation of believers who suffered greatly rather than deny their conviction, the question “Has He risen?” is answered with a resounding affirmative in the biblical record. The life-altering consequences reported by believers throughout history continue to testify that this event is not merely a point of doctrine but the living, foundational truth of hope and salvation for all who trust in Him.