Mike Liconna vs. Bart Ehrman | Did the Resurrection of Jesus REALLY happen? | Debate Review

#Jesus #MikeLiconna #BartEhrman

This is a 30-minute review and summary of a 6-hour+ debate between Dr. Mike Liconna and Dr. Bart Ehrman. I go through the salient features and give some thoughts on the major themes of the debate.

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Mike's Arguments
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Mike begins with some introductory points about the Bible and some points that he believes are facts:

- Most historians agree that Jesus was crucified in AD 30
- Mark written in 65-70 AD
- Matthew and Luke written in 80-85 AD
- John written in 90-95 AD
- 13 letters attributed to Paul; 7 of them everyone agrees were written by Paul
- He says he will only refer to those letters undisputedly written by Paul

MIKE'S MAIN SOURCE: 1 CORINTHIANS

- 1 Corinthians was written between 53 and 57 AD and Mike claims that this makes it trustworthy and the earliest source on the resurrection.

- 1 Corinthians 15:3-5:

"3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."

- 1 Corinthians 15:6-8

"6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters[c] at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.[d] 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."

- 1 Cor. 15:11

"11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe."

- Paul was persecuted; it was dangerous to preach the message. Yet he preached the resurrection of Jesus

THE 6 FACTS OF THE RESURRECTION (ACCORDING TO MIKE):

1. Jesus died by crucifixion
2. A number of his disciples had experiences they interpreted as the risen Jesus appearing to them (believed)
3. The risen Jesus is said to have appeared to groups (claimed)
4. Paul had an experience he interpreted as an appearance of the risen Jesus to him
5. Apostles believed Jesus was raised bodily/physically
6. Apostles believed resurrection of Jesus is historical

THE 4 METHODS TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT JESUS WAS RESURRECTED:

1. Explanatory scope (How many things are explained by the hypothesis?)
2. Explanatory power (how powerful is the explanation)
3. Less ad hoc (how many things are included that do not have good supportive evidence?)
4. Plausibility (how likely is the explanation?)

AHMADIYYA MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE:

Jesus did not die on the Cross. He only became unconscious, and later revived from his wounds. He only had a near-death experience. Read more here: https://www.alislam.org/book/jesus-in-india/