The latest article by Dr. Paul L. Maier— “The Mystery of the Missing Body”(April)—hits the doctrinal nail on the head. We Christians know of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead by faith, so that no amount of fallacious arguments or outlandish theories to the contrary will impress or sway us.
We should not be shocked or surprised at the efforts of James D. Tabor and others to disprove the Resurrection. They are not new in their undertakings. Witness this statement of the ante-Nicene church father, Athenagoras, about A.D. 177: “By the side of every opinion and doctrine which agrees with the truth of things, there springs up some falsehood; and it does so, not because it takes its rise naturally from some fundamental principle, or from some cause peculiar to the matter in hand, but because it is invented on purpose by men who set a value on the spurious seed, for its tendency to corrupt the truth” (“The Resurrection of the Dead”).
From the beginnings of Christianity these benighted souls have been striving, and failing, to deny the Resurrection. By now they should know better.
Rev. Giles Zimmer, Emeritus
Waseca, Minn.
I want to compliment you on the two recent articles by Dr. Paul L. Maier—“The Mystery of the Missing Body” and “The Judge Who Changed History.”
I found both articles interesting and easy to read. I hope you print more articles by Dr. Maier. He makes history fun to read.
Carolyn Copeland
Sun City, Ariz.
Kudos to Paul L. Maier for writing a good, solid article in defense of the Ressurection.
Ever since I read the classic book Who Moved The Stone? by Albert Henry Ross (a.k.a. Frank Morison) I’ve been intrigued by the historical evidence of the empty tomb. I first learned about this book from the pastor of my church. Interestingly enough, Ross had intended to write a book that “once and for all disproved” the Ressurection but, instead, as he was doing his research, he concluded that the only possible answer was that Jesus HAD risen.
After reading Maier’s article, I’d say the skeptics have alot to answer to. Perhaps Maier’s writings will help others to come to the same conclusion and resulting confession of the risen Christ that Ross came to. He is risen indeed!
Brice Fischer
Prior Lake, MN.
PAUL MAIER : THE MYTH BUSTER
COMMERCIAL TELEVISON HAS ITS OWN SYNDICATED “MYTHBUSTERS” SERIES. WE ARE BLESSED WITH PAUL MAIER. IN THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING BODY, PAUL ILLUSTRATES THAT THERE WAS A DEAD BODY OF JESUS AND THEN THERE REALLY WAS A LIVE BODY ON EASTER. PERHAPS THE MOST LUDICROUS MYTH MAIER ELUCIDATES IS THE SWOON THEORY. JESUS’ PHYSICAL DEATH WAS IMMINENT SINCE GETHSEMANE. WHATEVER AORTIC CHALLENGE OCCURRED TO MAKE BLOOD APPEAR AS SWEAT WAS POIGNANTLY FOLLOWED BY MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS AND THE INVASIVE TRAUMA OF 39 SCOURGINGS AND NIGHT-LONG BEATINGS.
THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WAS SUFFOCATION AND SPEARING ON THE CROSS. WITH THE ALMOST IMMEDIATE STAPHYLOCOCCUS INFECTION DUE TO THE SCOURGINGS AND BROKEN WRISTS AND ANKLES FROM ROMAN SPIKES, JESUS WOULD HAVE DIED. HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNWRAP HIMSELF FROM THE BURIAL CLOTHES, WALK OUT OF THE TOMB, OR EVEN ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE STONE.
JUST THINK HOW CHARISMATIC THAT “UNSWOONED’ JESUS WOULD HAVE BEEN TO THE DISCIPLES. THE APPEARANCE TO THEM OF AN ‘UNSWOONED’ BUT BEDRAGGLED AND CRIPPLED JESUS WOULD HAVE CAUSED REVULSION NOT A NEW RELIGION. KUDOS FOR MAIER!!!!
DR. LESLIE JACK FYANS JR.
SPRINGFIELD, IL
I thoroughly enjoyed the reading of the April edition of The Lutheran Witness—especially the article by Dr. Paul Meier about the non-biblical evidence which is consistent with the resurrection of our Lord. I also found his Christmas articles which used historical evidence that coincided with the Biblical narrative informative. Thank you for your good work.
John K Raess
Albuquerque, NM
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