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Did Jesus Rise From The Dead?
DID JESUS RISE FROM THE DEAD? OR IS IT THE HOAX OF THE AGES?
Seems reasonable . . . perhaps Jesus was comatose. Or perhaps his body was stolen. Or maybe the women arrived at the wrong tomb . . . they were grieving, after all; it would have been an honest mistake. There are any number of explanations.
Dr. William Lane Craig uses well-documented historical facts to explore the evidence that surrounds the days following Jesus’ crucifixion. Without assuming “the Bible says so,” Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? presents positive religious, cultural, and historical evidence for the reality of the resurrection while breaking down the six most common hypotheses used to explain the unusual events that unfolded from the moment Christ breathed his last.
Thoroughly researched, yet deftly digestible, Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? belongs in the library of any apologist, skeptic, or seeker.
Seems reasonable . . . perhaps Jesus was comatose. Or perhaps his body was stolen. Or maybe the women arrived at the wrong tomb . . . they were grieving, after all; it would have been an honest mistake. There are any number of explanations.
Dr. William Lane Craig uses well-documented historical facts to explore the evidence that surrounds the days following Jesus’ crucifixion. Without assuming “the Bible says so,” Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? presents positive religious, cultural, and historical evidence for the reality of the resurrection while breaking down the six most common hypotheses used to explain the unusual events that unfolded from the moment Christ breathed his last.
Thoroughly researched, yet deftly digestible, Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? belongs in the library of any apologist, skeptic, or seeker.
89 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2014
About the author
William Lane Craig
140 books863 followersWilliam Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He and his wife Jan have two grown children.
At the age of sixteen as a junior in high school, he first heard the message of the Christian gospel and yielded his life to Christ. Dr. Craig pursued his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971) and graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A. 1974; M.A. 1975), the University of Birmingham (England) (Ph.D. 1977), and the University of Munich (Germany) (D.Theol. 1984). From 1980-86 he taught Philosophy of Religion at Trinity, during which time he and Jan started their family. In 1987 they moved to Brussels, Belgium, where Dr. Craig pursued research at the University of Louvain until assuming his position at Talbot in 1994.
He has authored or edited over thirty books, including The Kalam Cosmological Argument; Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus; Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom; Theism, Atheism and Big Bang Cosmology; and God, Time and Eternity, as well as over a hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology, including The Journal of Philosophy, New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, American Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy, and British Journal for Philosophy of Science.
At the age of sixteen as a junior in high school, he first heard the message of the Christian gospel and yielded his life to Christ. Dr. Craig pursued his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971) and graduate studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A. 1974; M.A. 1975), the University of Birmingham (England) (Ph.D. 1977), and the University of Munich (Germany) (D.Theol. 1984). From 1980-86 he taught Philosophy of Religion at Trinity, during which time he and Jan started their family. In 1987 they moved to Brussels, Belgium, where Dr. Craig pursued research at the University of Louvain until assuming his position at Talbot in 1994.
He has authored or edited over thirty books, including The Kalam Cosmological Argument; Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus; Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom; Theism, Atheism and Big Bang Cosmology; and God, Time and Eternity, as well as over a hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology, including The Journal of Philosophy, New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, American Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy, and British Journal for Philosophy of Science.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 10, 2015
I really love William Lane Craig's style of writing and his manner of presenting his case. He presents his evidence and his reasoning in a very clear-cut manner, straight to the point, in a manner that is cumulative and precise. He provides all the information relevant to his case, makes disclaimers, and explains his evidence and his reasons in a way that is easy to understand.
He approaches the topic from a historical and philosophical standpoint rather than a theological one, applying criticism and specific criteria to the event in question (the supposed resurrection of Jesus) just as historians and critics would apply to any other historical event.
He compares his hypothesis with alternative hypotheses that attempt to explain the facts accepted by even hardened skeptics, using the criticism and criteria in the same way to all of the hypotheses.
Craig is systematic and persuasive in his presentation, with evidence and sound reasoning to back it all up.
Overall, he makes a compelling case for the resurrection hypothesis.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the topic. This is a good introduction to it, as it is short and easy to read, while still having core facts and evidence that is easy to follow and remember.
He approaches the topic from a historical and philosophical standpoint rather than a theological one, applying criticism and specific criteria to the event in question (the supposed resurrection of Jesus) just as historians and critics would apply to any other historical event.
He compares his hypothesis with alternative hypotheses that attempt to explain the facts accepted by even hardened skeptics, using the criticism and criteria in the same way to all of the hypotheses.
Craig is systematic and persuasive in his presentation, with evidence and sound reasoning to back it all up.
Overall, he makes a compelling case for the resurrection hypothesis.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the topic. This is a good introduction to it, as it is short and easy to read, while still having core facts and evidence that is easy to follow and remember.
November 5, 2014
Very short and simple to read, but powerful arguments and reasons why it's still right to believe in Jesus. Hard to have doubts after reading this book. Craig confronts all the crap out there in pop-culture claiming that Jesus didn't really die, or that the Jews stole the body of Jesus to make it appear that he rose from the dead. All preposterous claims when held up against historic evidence, context, and reasonable thinking. I recommend this very short book to anyone who wants to understand why so many people choose Jesus among other gods. It should be confronted at least once in your lifetime. After that, if you are not satisfied, there are hundreds of other books that delve heavily into apologetics, belief in God, Jesus, the validity of the Christian faith, etc.
April 26, 2014
While a little dry, Did Jesus Rise From the Dead makes a compelling argument for the empty tomb and resurrection. I particularly enjoyed the comparison of the Resurrection Hypothesis against other secular explanations.
A good book for anyone interested in apologetics. It's a short read, but also free on Kindle.
A good book for anyone interested in apologetics. It's a short read, but also free on Kindle.
March 2, 2015
A short book intended to give the highlights of the reason behind trusting the veracity of Christ's resurrection from the dead. This book by Dr. Craig interacts briefly but effectively with the various theories that seek to debunk this central event in Christianity. Very accessible, and will hopefully whet your appetite for deeper treatments on the subject.
August 7, 2014
I enjoyed this book as a good philosophical/theological work. The tenants are clearly stated and the logic applied is well stated and scholarly. This would be a good quick read for a pastor to reference prior to debate or even teaching upon the resurrection and the modern arguments against it.
May 4, 2014
Evidently yes
December 29, 2019
Solid Introduction To The Arguments. This short and easy to read book is a solid introduction to the various arguments on the issue at hand. The only way it is lacking is in that many of these arguments probably need a lot more discussion of their various points and counterpoints and nuances, but that doesn't seem to be the intent of this particular book. Instead, this book seems more geared to those that are looking for the basics, and is written in exactly that tone - scholarly, yet more of a "fireside chat" and not the hyper dry prose normally reserved for works aimed at fellow academics and particularly those in the same field. Very much recommended.
April 5, 2023
A nice, short book that covers the main highlights of the Resurrection. Starting with the preaching of the disciples and testimony of the Gospels it also covers the burial of Jesus. It then moves to the empty tomb, the witnesses, and finally the unlikely unbelievers of those like James and Paul. Craig does off some supporting evidence, and a few citations are also helpful. The ending covers explanations for the facts presented including hallucination, swoon theory, and Resurrection.
This isn't going to be a book where you're going to read the back and forth of scholars but it does provide the biggest arguments from the minimal facts perspective. The item that could have been brushed up on a bit more is the early creed of 1 Corinthians 15 and how early and important it was. It is there but it gets lost in the chapter it's presented in. A good reference book for expanded study.
Final Grade - B+
This isn't going to be a book where you're going to read the back and forth of scholars but it does provide the biggest arguments from the minimal facts perspective. The item that could have been brushed up on a bit more is the early creed of 1 Corinthians 15 and how early and important it was. It is there but it gets lost in the chapter it's presented in. A good reference book for expanded study.
Final Grade - B+
April 17, 2020
Looking at the texts concerning the resurrection, this short book examines some of the reasoning as to why alternative explanations for Jesus rising from the dead fall short. It's a good, quick study that teaches you to read critically, but I wish it had been more thorough and involved more sources.
October 3, 2023
Fine apologetic but far to short.
February 2, 2016
So I finished the book by Dr. Craig. I admit, I had a hard time getting into it. I blame this mostly on the post holiday adjustment. You know, coming off the high of twinkle lights, chocolate, and wrapping paper. When I finally focused, I enjoyed the book. I, obviously, have no issues accepting the resurrection, but it was refreshing to see the logical reasoning laid out. He very clearly explains alternate theories and the problems of those theories then applies the same criteria to the resurrection. This book does not require previous knowledge or familiarity with apologetics or philosophy.
May 2, 2016
Solid Little Book
Craig's book lays out clearly and simply the standard apologetically argument for the resurrection of Jesus. There is nothing new here's, but as a primer it is a useful book. N. T. Wright's work in this area is more interesting, albeit more complex.
Craig's book lays out clearly and simply the standard apologetically argument for the resurrection of Jesus. There is nothing new here's, but as a primer it is a useful book. N. T. Wright's work in this area is more interesting, albeit more complex.
July 14, 2014
Convincing argument
For readers of the Bible, here is well researched
arguments supporting the belief that Jesus was
crucified, raised from the dead, and appeared to
many before his ascent to heaven.
For readers of the Bible, here is well researched
arguments supporting the belief that Jesus was
crucified, raised from the dead, and appeared to
many before his ascent to heaven.
November 4, 2015
This book is not even nonsense on stilts. As an atheist who is familiar with Craig's more academically rigorous work this left me completely and utterly underwhelmed by his case for the bodily resurrection.
April 18, 2014
Great read on the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus.
April 24, 2014
Short, accessible and clear. Very readable and easy to understand, but still academically robust. Great book on the resurrection and gives a good apologetic framework.
April 25, 2014
Very concise and easy to understand. Great book!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews