The Minimal Facts
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Dr. Gary R. Habermas has invested more than 50 years of his life examining the resurrection of Jesus. During his doctoral study, Habermas developed what he now terms the “minimal facts” approach to the resurrection.
Here is his top six “minimal facts”:
“Jesus died by crucifixion. Now, granted, that doesn’t help us with the resurrection. Everybody dies. But if Jesus wasn’t dead, He couldn’t be raised. So I start with the crucifixion.
And number two, the disciples had real experiences that they believed to be appearances of the risen Jesus. They had real experiences that they believed were appearances of the risen Jesus. So you’ve got these events, and you have to explain them, these experiences.
Number three, they were proclaimed very, very early (after the resurrection).
Fourth, the disciples’ lives were turned upside down by these events, to being willing to die.
Last two can be put together. Two skeptics who were unbelievers before and believers after, they thought they met the risen Jesus, namely Paul and James the brother of Jesus. They are two special cases that have to be included here as data for the resurrection, so that’s it.”
Dr. Habermas continues to write and lecture extensively on the resurrection of Jesus.
Our The Minimal Facts
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
Dr. Gary R. Habermas has invested more than 50 years of his life examining the resurrection of Jesus. During his doctoral study, Habermas developed what he now terms the “minimal facts” approach to the resurrection.
Here is his top six “minimal facts”:
“Jesus died by crucifixion. Now, granted, that doesn’t help us with the resurrection. Everybody dies. But if Jesus wasn’t dead, He couldn’t be raised. So I start with the crucifixion.
And number two, the disciples had real experiences that they believed to be appearances of the risen Jesus. They had real experiences that they believed were appearances of the risen Jesus. So you’ve got these events, and you have to explain them, these experiences.
Number three, they were proclaimed very, very early (after the resurrection).
Fourth, the disciples’ lives were turned upside down by these events, to being willing to die.
Last two can be put together. Two skeptics who were unbelievers before and believers after, they thought they met the risen Jesus, namely Paul and James the brother of Jesus. They are two special cases that have to be included here as data for the resurrection, so that’s it.”
Dr. Habermas continues to write and lecture extensively on the resurrection of Jesus.
Our faith is founded and grounded on the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the grave.
It is a historical fact.
Praise the Lord for His Resurrection that it is the fact that grounds our faith.
“The Gospels do not explain the Resurrection; the Resurrection explains the Gosples.” – John S. Whale
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'” Then they remembered his words.” – Luke 24:6-8faith is founded and grounded on the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the grave.
It is a historical fact.
Praise the Lord for His Resurrection that it is the fact that grounds our faith.
“The Gospels do not explain the Resurrection; the Resurrection explains the Gosples.” – John S. Whale
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'” Then they remembered his words.” – Luke 24:6-8