***Evidence for Christianity Summary
Evidence from Logic:
We can use Logic, reasoning, and science to establish truth and the existence of God.
Universe and Nature cannot be divine since according to science and Logic, they have a beginning.
Law of Causality (Every Effect must Have a Cause) is the foundation of science and reasoning.
Causality is the requirement that there should be no time machines that allow us to go back into our past, and change it.
Since something exists, God must exist, according to the Law of Causality.
Nothing material can be eternal according to science, and Logic.
Law of identity: No Effect can be its own cause!
Self creation is irrational and logically impossible, because something must exists before it’s self creation.
1- Beginning of the universe:
Roger Penrose: Chance didn’t created the universe.
Initial conditions of the universe are fine tuned to an incredible precision.
We don’t have enough particles in the universe to write down the precision necessary;10×10^123
Volume of the phase space of possible universes: Roger Penrose of Oxford University explains that the creator would have to aim for a very tiny volume of the “phase space of possible universes” to create a universe that resembles our own. This is quite technical science, but we should ask the question: how tiny is this volume? According to Penrose the volume would be 1/10 to the power of X which is 10^123. The precision required to produce a universe that resembles our own is much greater than the precision that would be required to hit one proton if the universe were a dartboard!
2- Origins, Beginning of Life
Origins of the Universe, Life, Mind, and Information are big Mysteries for skeptics because their worldview cannot explain them logically. Logic itself requires an explanation.
According to scientists from two western universities (Brussels and John Hopkins) , the probability of life arriving by chance, and randomness doesn’t exists when is calculated at 10^79 trillions (power)
In Science all probabilities over 10^50 are considered irrational.
3- Evidence for Jesus Christ:
We have:
– Multiple, early, eyewitnesses, independent sources
– Early 10+ multiple sources of evidence in 30-100 years, 22 in 150 years
– Archaeological evidente Claudius Cesar decree
– Multiple eyewitnesses Paul personal interviews the apostles…
– Multiple forms of evidence
– Enemy testimony Tacitus, Josephus, Gospels Thomas, and Peter…
– Embarasing evidence
– Book: Mike Licona Evidence for Resurrection of Jesus
– 4+ group appearances women’s, 2x- apostles, 500+ people
– 1 Corinthians 15, early creed within months of the cross Experts Hurtado, Bochum agree
– EMPTY Tomb
– 20 + reasons to believe
– Reported by women all 4 Gospels, different sources,
Acts 13, Gospels record empty tomb, Very early Creed 1Cor. 15…
You should amend your title to “Evidence Christianity is true”. “Evidence for Christianity” is unnecessary as we know it exists.
Also, your entire point 3 can be discarded. There’s no contemporary evidence for jesus of Nazareth and no reliable accounts in the 1st century.
If you think you have some you’ll need to present it.
If you’re using cause and effect, what caused god?
Science will only point out something that is observable like the sky being blue, and then pass it off as evidence against God’s existence. Paul states on Romans that we can come to know God by what He created, so yes.
“The fact that we have a universe tells us that we need a creator. The universe has a beginning and, therefore, requires a cause. The energy in the universe has a beginning and, therefore, requires a cause. Then people say, ok well if God made the universe, then who made God? But you see, God is eternal. God doesn’t have a beginning and, therefore, doesn’t require a cause. That may be a little hard to grasp, but there is nothing irrational about an eternal being. There is something irrational about something popping into existence from nothing. Because, that violates causality.” – Dr. Jason Lisle Ph.D. Astrophysics
To delve deeper, the concept of a beginning, comes from God. He created time, space, and matter. And is, therefore, outside of them; neither is He bound by His creation or its laws. To say who created God, is to assume that time existed before God. But that is circular reasoning. God created time, and being outside of time, makes Him eternal.
Erhman about Jesus:
https://youtu.be/43mDuIN5-ww
Historicity of Jesus Christ
Contents
• Sources
• Overview
• Holy Gospels
• Pauline Epistles
• Ancient Creeds
• Early Church Fathers
• Pseudo-Christian Sources
• Greco-Roman Sources
• Josephus
• Tacitus
• Suetonius
• Thallus
• (lost) Acts of Pilate
• Jewish records
• Proponents of the Myth argument
• Atheists and the denial that Jesus existed
• Atheists and selective use of academic consensus
• John Lennox’s discussion with New Atheist Richard Dawkins
• Notes
https://www.conservapedia.com/Historicity_of_Jesus
The 12 Minimal Facts about the resurrection
The facts:
1. Jesus died by Roman Crucifixion.
2. He was buried, most likely in a private tomb of Joseph of Arimathea
3. Soon afterwards, the disciples were discouraged, bereaved, and despondent having lost hope.
4. Jesus’ tomb was found empty very soon after his burial
5. The disciples had experiences which they believed were actual appearances of the risen Jesus.
6. Due to these experiences, the disciple’s lives were thoroughly transformed, to the point of being willing to die for this belief.
7. The resurrection message was the center of preaching in the early church.
8. This message was especially proclaimed in Jerusalem, where Jesus died and was buried shortly before.
9. As a result of this preaching, the church was born and grew.
10. Sunday became the primary day of worship.
11. James, who had been a skeptic, was converted to the faith when he believed he saw the resurrected Jesus.
12. A few years later, Paul became a Christian believer due to an experience which he believed was an appearance of the risen Jesus
Nazareth decrees is a response to resurrection of Jesus by the emperor Claudius:
Almost all the following statements about Jesus, which are asserted in the New Testament, are corroborated or confirmed by the relevant passages in Tacitus and Josephus. These independent historical sources—one a non-Christian Roman and the other Jewish—confirm what we are told in the Gospels:31
1. He existed as a man. The historian Josephus grew up in a priestly family in first-century Palestine and wrote only decades after Jesus’ death. Jesus’ known associates, such as Jesus’ brother James, were his contemporaries. The historical and cultural context was second nature to Josephus. “If any Jewish writer were ever in a position to know about the non-existence of Jesus, it would have been Josephus. His implicit affirmation of the existence of Jesus has been, and still is, the most significant obstacle for those who argue that the extra-Biblical evidence is not probative on this point,” Robert Van Voorst observes.32 And Tacitus was careful enough not to report real executions of nonexistent people.
2. His personal name was Jesus, as Josephus informs us.
3. He was called Christos in Greek, which is a translation of the Hebrew word Messiah, both of which mean “anointed” or “(the) anointed one,” as Josephus states and Tacitus implies, unaware, by reporting, as Romans thought, that his name was Christus.
4. He had a brother named James (Jacob), as Josephus reports.
5. He won over both Jews and “Greeks” (i.e., Gentiles of Hellenistic culture), according to Josephus, although it is anachronistic to say that they were “many” at the end of his life. Large growth
in the number of Jesus’ actual followers came only after his death.
6. Jewish leaders of the day expressed unfavorable opinions about him, at least according to some versions of the Testimonium Flavianum.
7. Pilate rendered the decision that he should be executed, as both Tacitus and Josephus state.
8. His execution was specifically by crucifixion, according to Josephus.
9. He was executed during Pontius Pilate’s governorship over Judea (26–36 C.E.), as Josephus implies and Tacitus states, adding that it was during Tiberius’s reign.
TACITUS CONFIRMATION. Roman historian Tacitus’s last major work, Annals, mentions a “Christus” who was executed by Pontius Pilate and from whom the Christians derived their name. Tacitus’s brief reference corroborates historical details of Jesus’ death from the New Testament.
Josephus about Jesus:
Being therefore this kind of person [i.e., a heartless Sadducee], Ananus, thinking that he had a favorable opportunity because Festus had died and Albinus was still on his way, called a meeting [literally, “sanhedrin”] of judges and brought into it the brother of Jesus-who-is-called-Messiah … James by name, and some others. He made the accusation that they had transgressed the law, and he handed them over to be stoned.
Around this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man.21 For he was one who did surprising deeds, and a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who in the first place came to love him did not give up their affection for him, for on the third day, he appeared to them restored to life. The prophets of God had prophesied this and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, have still to this day not died out.
All surviving manuscripts of the Testimonium Flavianum that are in Greek, like the original, contain the same version of this passage, with no significant differences.
The earthquake and darkness during crucifixion are mentioned independently by Thallus:
”On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun.”
Jesus resurrection evidence:
https://youtu.be/JmEFiXguwkg
More evidence about Jesus and Christianity:
https://chab123.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/what-can-we-know-about-jesus-resources-on-the-historical-jesus-and-historicity-of-the-new-testament/
Gospels and the eyewitnesses
https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/rapid-response-i-dont-believe-the-gospels-were-written-by-eyewitnesses/
http://epicarchaeology.org/archaeology-and-the-new-testament/is-the-jesus-of-history-the-jesus-of-faith/
There is consensus among biblical scholars that the gospels were anonymous, not eye witness accounts, and were written from about 70AD -110AD. The evidence is perfectly clear.
“I don’t know who the Gospel writers were and nor does anyone else.”
—NT Wright, New Testament scholar
Conservative Christian NT scholar, Richard Bauckham:
“The argument that the texts of our Gospels are close to the eyewitness reports of the words and deeds of Jesus–runs counter to almost all recent scholarship”
The evangelist has put together various oral and possibly written sources—miracle stories, parables, sayings, stories of controversies, and the passion—so as to speak of the crucified Messiah for Mark’s own day.
Traditionally, the gospel is said to have been written shortly before A.D. 70 in Rome, at a time of impending persecution and when destruction loomed over Jerusalem. Its audience seems to have been Gentile, unfamiliar with Jewish customs (hence Mk 7:3–4, 11). The book aimed to equip such Christians to stand faithful in the face of persecution (Mk 13:9–13), while going on with the proclamation of the gospel begun in Galilee (Mk 13:10; 14:9). Modern research often proposes as the author an unknown Hellenistic Jewish Christian, possibly in Syria, and perhaps shortly after the year 70.
Oxford Annotated Bible
Neither the evangelists nor their first readers engaged in historical analysis. Their aim was to confirm Christian faith (Lk. 1.4; Jn. 20.31). Scholars generally agree that the Gospels were written forty to sixty years after the death of Jesus. They thus do not present eyewitness or contemporary accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings.
Mark Pierson, Adjunct Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Concordia University, Irvine (Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod), co-author of “Making the Case for Christianity”:
“The current consensus in the academy [of NT scholars]…suggests that only those who shut their eyes and ears to the facts can maintain traditional beliefs about Jesus.”
And the consensus goes on and on. Please counterpoint these statements by biblical scholars?
We have good reasons to accept Jesus
https://www.facebook.com/1791605217726202/posts/2125972067622847/?d=n
Gospels and eyewitnesses https://chab123.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/jesus-and-the-eyewitnesses-the-gospels-as-eyewitness-testimony/
Erhman against Erhman
https://www.facebook.com/129180040445254/posts/3412677145428844/
Biblical scholarly consensus is based on evidence and the texts themselves. The gospels don’t claim to be write witness accounts. That’s obvious. You don’t seem to understand or have read any research on this. The internal biblical and external evidence does not show any evidence for jesus of Nazareth in the first century. The only claims made about him after that are in relation to the mythos contained gospels. Gospels are not eye witness accounts by their own admission.
NT & Gospels historical evidence:
Gospels are early accounts
Dead Sea Scrolls Cave 7. Jose Callahan discovered a fragment of the Gospel of Mark and dated it to have been written in A.D. 50. He also discovered fragments of Acts and other epistles and dated them to have been written slightly after A.D. 50.{4}
https://probe.org/the-historical-reliability-of-the-gospels/
Cumulative Historical and
Geographical detailed evidence, early and local.
Geography
The Gospels are meticulously accurate with respect to these details. The authors, for example, mention twenty-six towns — many of which were small and insignificant
https://isjesusalive.com/were-the-gospel-writers-really-geographically-inept/
Mark was writing the account from Peter (Eusebius)
Polycarp Born 69AD quotes NT:
SO WHAT NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS DOES POLYCARP QUOTE?
• Matthew (4 times)
• Mark (once)
• Luke (once)
• Acts (twice)
• Romans (once)
• 1st Corinthians (4 times)
• 2nd Corinthians (4 times)
• Galatians (3 times)
• Ephesians (4 times)
• Philippians (3 times)
• 1st Thessalonians (once)
• 2nd Thessalonians (once)
• 1st Timothy (3 times)
• 2nd Timothy (3 times)
• Hebrews (twice)
• 1st Peter (9 times)
• 1st John (once)
• 3rd John (once)
The Muratorian fragment 180AD affirms 22 of the 27 books of the New Testament. These include the four Gospels, Acts, all 13 epistles of Paul, Jude, 1 John, 2 John (and possibly 3rd John), and Revelation.
Gospels are historically accurate
https://www.namb.net/apologetics-blog/the-historical-reliability-of-the-gospels-1/
https://bible.org/article/historical-reliability-gospels
How Do we Know the Gospels are Historical?
scholars consider several factors: 1) authorship and date of composition,
2) intention and genre,
3) gospel sources and oral tradition, 4)
textual criticism,
5) historical authenticity of specific sayings and narrative events.
How do we know who wrote the Gospels
How Do We Know Who Wrote the Gospels? Timothy Paul Jones
12 lines of evidence:
https://www.namb.net/apologetics-blog/the-historical-reliability-of-the-gospels-1/
https://strangenotions.com/how-do-we-know-the-gospels-are-historical/
Gospels were written early
https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/why-i-know-the-gospels-were-written-early-free-bible-insert/
John accuracy
https://www.str.org/blog/evidence-demonstrates-john-reliable-historical-source
https://www.michaeljkruger.com/is-the-gospel-of-john-history-or-theology/
59 Confirmed or Historically Probable Facts in the Gospel of John
Acts accurately
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_804.cfm
https://chab123.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/84-confirmed-facts-in-the-last-16-chapters-of-the-book-of-acts/
84 Confirmed Facts in the Last 16 Chapters of the Book of Acts
Luke accuracy
http://www.ichthus.info/Luke/intro.html
Archeological evidence for NT:
https://www.bethinking.org/is-the-bible-reliable/archaeology-and-the-historical-reliability-of-the-new-testamen
NT reliability from archeology
https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2012/february/closer-look-historical-reliability-of-new-testament.html
Archeology is supporting the Gospels. An archaeological review of the evidence under the following three categories:
• Culture – Beliefs and Practices
• Places – Urban centers and individual buildings
• People – Titles, Names and Relationships
https://www.bethinking.org/is-the-bible-reliable/archaeology-and-the-historical-reliability-of-the-new-testament
Archeology has 25k artifacts confirming the Bible over 100k indirect confirmation in Archeology History or Ancient Literature
No demonstrated contradictions found
Acts 80 historical facts confirmed by historian Coleen J Hammer book: Acts and Hellenistic studies
30 people confirmed in NT
60 details confirmed in
John https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YcB-4DpOlAM&feature=share
could someone, older Apologetic (seasoned already) please…. teach us how to do apologetic to unbeliever/atheist.. lot of comments already ( im reading all of this ) i joined this group so that i can grow in my faith in Christ, able to depend and present is to unbelievers (extremely to atheist). teach us how to do it….
the Lord’s resurrection is the best evidence for Christianity! no one can deny that. even Paul stated:
“and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:14 NASB
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