The Resurrection Factor: Compelling Evidence Which Proves the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

by Josh McDowell

Presents compelling evidence which proves the resurrection beyond reasonable doubt. If Jesus Christ didn't rise from the dead, Christianity is worthless! Can the resurrection be proved beyond any reasonable doubt? Josh McDowell has extensively researched the historical evidence concerning the resurrection. Here in his comprehensive study you will What authenticates the truth of any historical event? The extreme security precautions taken at the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth? How to answer the theories advanced by sceptics to explain the empty tomb? The incredible implications of the resurrection to life today?

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Josh McDowell is a bestselling Christian apologist, evangelist, and author of over 150 books, including Evidence That Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter. Once an agnostic, he converted to Christianity while investigating its historical claims. He went on to earn degrees from Wheaton College and Talbot Theological Seminary. For decades, McDowell has been a prominent speaker with Campus Crusade for Christ, addressing issues of faith, character, and youth culture worldwide. His work emphasizes historical and legal evidence for Christianity and tackles challenges posed by skepticism and non-Christian beliefs. He lives in California with his wife, Dottie, and is the father of four children, including fellow apologist Sean McDowell.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is probably the most deceptive book I've ever read. The author starts with a collection of quotes from historians and others who share his faith and a few (often repeated) claims that there is a whole lot of evidence for the resurrection. This serves to trick readers into believing that this book is based on historical research. But look closer at the footnotes and you'll see that when he's talking about 'historical facts' he's often actually quoting the Bible or it's simply not clear what his sources are.
If you want to prove a story or myth, you can't use one part of that story, assume that it's true, and then use logic to show that the rest of the story must also be true. This should be obvious. But McDowell does it all the time.
At some points he refers to some Roman and Hebrew sources that some other author has used, but fails to tell us what these sources actually say.
The only thing that this book shows is that a few major parts of the resurrection myth do not contradict each other.

[Garic Gymro · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a preposterous collection of disingenuous nonsense, poor arguments, and logical fallacies. For that reason, I suppose it has a certain value as entertainment. It tells us, for example, that five hundred people are supposed to have seen the resurrected Jesus, and that this can't be made up because there were five hundred people to tell us so. Really? People take this kind of argument seriously? Apparently. I also enjoyed the bit claiming that the number of copies of the Bible in existence is some kind of evidence for its veracity. Or the appendix from a retired judge telling us that we can reduce the question to one of whether we think the apostles were good or bad people. And when I say "enjoyed" I mean it. It was enjoyable to read this book and be shaken, not by the realisation that the resurrection took place, but by my utter bafflement that intelligent people have read this book and thought it good.

[Giju Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh McDowell is definitely one of the best writers and speakers in terms of making a case for the authenticity of Christ and his message. In this book, Josh clearly lists out the reasons why the resurrection is true and why we should believe it. He also takes into account the various theories around the resurrection and clearly points out why they are not true. He uses a mix of science and history to lay down evidence that will help one come to a conclusion about the resurrection of Jesus. I wholly recommend this book both to the believer and skeptic.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought McDowell did an excellent job explaining the basis for belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Recommended.

[Jan Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also das war ein Genuss.

Dieses Buch ist für mich von den bis jetzt gelesenen Büchern mindestens das Zweitbeste. Ich finds richtig hammer und es hat mir super Spaß gemacht zu lesen. Hochinteressant!

Der Titel ist hier Programm. J. McDowell hat das Thema der Auferstehung intensiv studiert und historische Nachforschungen bzgl. der Authentizität dieses Ereignisses (und somit auch der Bibel/ des NT) angestellt.

Er selbst war früher jemand, der die Auferstehung und den Glauben an Gott generell für Quatsch hielt. Wie schon viele andere ist er auf der genauen Gegenseite von seinem Ziel angekommen. Als er versuchte das Christentum zu widerlegen, machte er Beobachtungen, die ihn zwangsweise vom Gegenteil überzeugten, wodurch er Christ wurde.

Heute ist er das Gegenteil von dem, was er einmal war: Vom Skeptiker und Kritiker ist er zum bekennenden Christen und Apologeten geworden, der auf der ganzen Welt herumreist und v.a. an Universitäten Vorträge zum Thema der Zuverlässigkeit der Bibel und zur Echtheit der Auferstehung hält.

In dem Buch begründet er wissenschaftlich, strukturiert, nachvollziehbar und logisch, wieso kein Zweifel an der Auferstehung Jesu besteht und wieso dieses Ereignis ein historisches Ereignis ist.

McDowell zeigt die Authentizität der Auferstehung auf, die sich u.a. in bemerkenswert exakter Textübermittlung, in einer hohen Anzahl von Manuskripten (24.633), mit denen er die Echtheit des NT belegt, in den zahlreichen Augenzeugen, was Wissen/ Beweise aus erster Hand darstellt (wohlgemerkt auch feindselige Augenzeugen und Eingeständnisse des leeren Grabs, was die stärkste Art historischer Zeugnisse darstellt), in der kurzen Zeitspanne zwischen Geschehnissen und schriftlicher Fixierung, in der Archäologie und neben historischen auch in juristischen und literarischen Belegen begründet.

Ich fand es echt spannend mal so richtig in die Auferstehung einzutauchen und dieses „akribische Detektiv-Spiel“ mitzumachen.

Ich denke, dass das Buch gerade für Menschen, die mit Zweifeln zu kämpfen haben, oder aber auch für Leute, die meinen dass sie intellektuell zu gesegnet wären, um Christ zu sein, sehr geeignet ist.

[Faith Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The case is closed, as far as I am concerned. Josh Mcdowell's book, The Resurrection Factor, proves beyond any doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.

Mcdowell logically runs through all the objections that people hold up against the Resurrection really happening, e.i., the witnesses there--the hostile ones, too, and
what history reports. I think he knocks the proof out of the park.

It is also very readable. The chapters are short--just like I like it. Everyone can read and enjoy it.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting read. It is a tad shallow of you are looking for something more academic. Plus quoting of references could be improved.
However for somebody new to the whole area it is a great starting point.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Menschen von Jesus überzeugen wollen und dann als Quelle die bibel benutzen. Das ist alles was ich dazu sagen werde

[Tim Derksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Für meinen Geschmack manchmal zu kleinschrittig, dafür aber sehr schön und genau recherchiert mit nicht wenigen Quellenverweisen für so ein kurzes Buch.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was a book very similar to the more contemporary "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. McDowell looks at the historical evidence aruond the resurrection and makes a case for why it is the most coherent and rational set of events based on the eye witness testimony, the circumstantial evidence and even his own life changes 2000 years after the event. While it seemed that a couple of his points were repetitive in the book, overall he makes a clear case for why a Christian can truly believe that the tomb was empty on that first Easter and why the Christian religion started off so strongly in Jerusalem amidst such a difficult environment. Worth the read and I also enjoyed some of the backup material that he included in the version tht I read...so look for the version with the supplemental information in the back.

[Jeff Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic.