Can We Believe the Gospels?

The truth of the Resurrection stands or falls on the truth of the witnesses. Are they reliable? There are six witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, including the apostles Peter and Paul. These witnesses have left us historical documents in the form of the New Testament writings, which give us their testimony concerning the Resurrection.

Honesty

The writers of these documents, including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and Peter, exhibit high moral and ethical teaching in their writings. Their writings reflect a dedication to truthfulness and integrity. They portray Jesus as a teacher who abhorred lying and deception. Additionally, these witnesses were committed disciples of Jesus themselves and were well aware of the requirements of their own Jewish law that witnesses be truthful. The logical inference is that they were honest men who were concerned for the truth and not deceitful.

Furthermore, if these witnesses were dishonest and conspiratorial men, it would have been impossible for them to create such a sublime character in Jesus Christ through a piece of fiction. The moral character they have created in Jesus surpasses anything found in the literature of the world. The testimony of these witnesses is not considered deliberately false by any intelligent critic today.

Ability

The witnesses to the Resurrection demonstrated their ability through their writings. They wrote in Greek, showing some level of literacy even though they were Hebrews. Their writings display intelligence and ability. For example, Luke has been shown through careful research to be an historian of high rank.

Critics argue that these witnesses testified from a position of bias due to their ardent discipleship of Jesus. However, their writings do not exhibit fanaticism or prejudice. They include incidents that show their own weaknesses, mistakes, and stupidities, which is not characteristic of calculating and subjective individuals. This willingness to include material that puts them in a bad light suggests their honesty and desire for accuracy.

These witnesses were also in a position to witness the events they testified about. They were either eyewitnesses themselves or obtained information from other eyewitnesses and reliable sources. Their testimony rests on the best testimony of all—eyewitness testimony.

Number of Witnesses

The credibility of a witness is greatly improved if their testimony is corroborated by other witnesses who say substantially the same thing. The witnesses to the Resurrection, including the Gospel writers, corroborate each other on the major issues, such as Jesus being crucified, dead, buried, and risen from the dead. While there may be discrepancies in some details, these discrepancies actually give integrity and authenticity to their story.

The discrepancies indicate that the witnesses did not put their heads together and independently recorded what they had witnessed. Additionally, the different audiences and purposes of the Gospel writers explain some of the discrepancies. The overall corroboration between the four accounts is significant and supports the proposition that these men were recording the facts of history with minute accuracy.

Human Experience

The Gospel narratives include reports of miracles performed by Jesus, including altering or suspending the laws of nature and restoring life to the dead. Miracles are not part of most people's experience, leading to skepticism about their authenticity.

However, if we accept the explanation that the world was brought into being by an Almighty God who has power over nature, then miracles become possible and even expected. The miracles attributed to Jesus give authenticity to His claims of being the Divine Son of God and serve His purposes in demonstrating His unique relationship with God.

While miracles may be outside our personal experience, they are not incompatible with a worldview that includes an all-powerful God who created and governs the universe.

Coincidence of Witnesses

The testimony of witnesses should coincide with collateral and contemporaneous facts and circumstances. The Gospel writers provide details that coincide with those described by secular writers of their time. For example, they mention Pontius Pilate as the governor of Judea, which is corroborated by Josephus and Tacitus.

The inclusion of these details and the overall copiousness of the witnesses' testimonies support their credibility. They demonstrate a willingness to answer questions and provide a natural and unrestrained account of the events they witnessed.

Why This Matters

The reliability of the Gospels is crucial in determining the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. If we can trust the witnesses and their testimonies, it strengthens our faith and affirms the central event in Christianity. Understanding the credibility of these witnesses can help us engage with skeptics and defend our beliefs.

Think About It

Consider the importance of honesty, ability, corroboration, human experience, and coincidence of witnesses in evaluating any historical event. Reflect on how these criteria can be applied to other areas of history and how they impact our understanding and trust in different accounts.