Was the Tomb Empty?: A Lawyer Weighs the Evidence for the Resurrection

by Graeme Smith

A lawyer uses stringent legal principles to assess the credibility of Jesus' resurrection Was the Tomb Empty? is a careful, critical attempt, by a highly qualified British lawyer and judge, to examine the evidence concerning the resurrection from the dead of Jesus of Nazareth. After a review of the basic legal principles involved regarding the use of evidence (What standard of proof is acceptable? Are we dealing with history or myth? What are our preconceptions?), this succinct but powerful document considers the testimony of individuals involved (Paul, James, Peter); the various resurrection accounts, their inconsistencies, and their value as evidence; possible sites for Jesus’ tomb; sources from outside the gospels, such as Josephus, Tacitus and Pliny; logical alternatives to the resurrection; and the opinions of experts in the fields of history, literary history, paleography, and law. Could this most improbable story be, at heart, true? What are the implications?

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

Reviews

[This is V! · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short interesting read

[Mabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thought provoking book which goes to places where many Christian writersdare not go, being open about the faith we hold so dear yet there are so many things which call for searching one's own heart. This book did it for me, it convinced me that as a believer I have the ability to convince those who do not have a faith. A must read book to all those who are seeking to explore theirfaith deeper.