Program / Course 26: Comprehensive Assessment / Lesson 4.4
What you will learn
- Apply the method of source assessment to the resurrection, the reliability of the New Testament and the formation of the canon.
- State for each topic what is consensus, what is debated and what is interpretation.
- Present the strongest case on each side in terms its holders would accept.
- Rate your own work against criteria, with a suggested personal standard of 80 percent.
The big idea
Three topics give practice in historical apologetics: the resurrection of Jesus, the reliability of the New Testament documents and the formation of the canon. For each, the student lists the sources, states the main arguments for and against, sorts conclusions into consensus, debate and interpretation, and writes a short fair assessment. The aim is not to win but to say accurately what the evidence shows and where it ends. This is private work, rated by the student alone.
Key terms
- Apologetics
- The reasoned defense of the Christian faith. The word comes from the Greek for a defense or reply.
- Empty tomb
- The Gospel report that the tomb of Jesus was found empty. Scholars debate its historical weight.
- Appearance tradition
- The early reports that Jesus appeared alive to named persons and groups, as in 1 Corinthians 15.
- Canon
- The list of books received as Scripture. The word comes from a Greek word for a rule or measure.
- Naturalism
- The view that nature is all there is, so that events have natural explanations only.
- Legendary development
- The claim that stories about a figure grew over time beyond what happened.
Background
The resurrection is the central claim. Scholars broadly agree that Jesus was crucified, that his followers soon claimed that he had been raised, and that Paul wrote about the appearances within about twenty five years of the crucifixion. How to explain the belief is where they part. Wright argues that the best explanation is that Jesus was bodily raised. Others propose visions, hallucination, legend or another naturalistic account. The plan’s review notes caution that the claim that most historians, including many skeptics, accept the crucifixion and early belief in the resurrection is a common scholarly statement, and that the exact phrasing should be checked. A student should therefore state it with care.
On the reliability of the New Testament, scholars discuss authorship, dating, the use of sources and eyewitness testimony. Bruce and Bauckham argue for the reliability of the Gospels. Critical scholars such as Ehrman hold that the Gospels were written decades later and contain developments. Textual critics agree that the manuscripts are extensive and that the text is largely secure, with many small variants.
The canon of the New Testament took shape across several centuries. Most of the twenty seven books were widely used early, while a few, such as Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude and Revelation, were disputed in some places. Athanasius’s Festal Letter of 367 lists the twenty seven, and councils in the West in the late fourth century agreed. Metzger’s study describes the process. Catholics and Orthodox hold that the church recognized the canon under the Spirit. Protestants hold that the church recognized what was already Scripture. The Old Testament canon differs, as earlier lessons note.
Step-by-step explanation
Step 1: The resurrection exercise
List the sources: Paul’s letters, the four Gospels, Acts, and non-Christian references to Jesus’ death. Write the minimal claims that most scholars accept. Then set out two explanations of the early belief: one that Jesus was raised, one that it arose from visions, grief or legend. State the strengths and difficulties of each, and say what each requires one to believe.
Step 2: The reliability exercise
Take one question: were the Gospels written by or from eyewitnesses? List the arguments of Bauckham and of a critic. Summarize the manuscript evidence. State what is agreed (the Gospels were written within the first century, and the text is largely secure) and what is debated (the authors, the dates, the relations among the Gospels, the extent of legendary growth).
Step 3: The canon exercise
Write a one page account of how the New Testament canon took shape. Include early use, the pressure of Marcion and of other groups, the lists of the fourth century and the books once disputed. Add one paragraph on how Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches describe the church’s role in the canon.
Step 4: Rate the three assessments
For each, give a score from zero to five on accuracy, use of sources, separation of consensus, debate and interpretation, fairness to both sides, and honesty about limits. Total and compare with your personal standard. A suggested standard is 80 percent.
- What do scholars of different beliefs agree on about the death of Jesus?
- What explanations have been offered for the early belief in the resurrection?
- What is the strongest argument that the Gospels rest on eyewitness testimony, and what is the best reply?
- Which books of the New Testament were disputed, and why?
- How do the traditions describe the church’s role in forming the canon?
- Where does the history end and personal interpretation begin?
Examples
A fair statement on the resurrection
Historians widely accept that Jesus was crucified and that his followers soon proclaimed his resurrection. They differ over the explanation: some argue that bodily resurrection best accounts for the evidence, others propose natural explanations, and the choice depends partly on prior views about miracles. (A summary to be checked against sources.)
A fair statement on the Gospels
Scholars agree that the four Gospels were written in the first century and differ on authorship and sources. Some defend traditional authorship and eyewitness origin, while others hold that the authors were later writers using traditions. (A summary.)
A fair statement on the canon
A letter of Athanasius in 367 lists the twenty seven books of the New Testament as the canon. The church did not decide the matter at a single council, and the process was gradual. (A summary to be checked against Metzger.)
Different perspectives
Catholic
Catholic teaching holds that the resurrection is a historical event and the foundation of the faith, and that the Gospels faithfully hand on what Jesus said and did, while allowing that the evangelists shaped the material. It holds that the church discerned the canon.
Orthodox
Orthodox teaching holds that the resurrection is the center of the church’s life, celebrated in the liturgy at Easter, and receives the canon as part of the church’s tradition.
Protestant
Protestant scholars differ, with many evangelicals defending historical reliability and others using critical methods more freely, but all affirm that Christ rose. Protestants hold that the church recognized Scripture and did not make it.
Secular scholarly and Jewish
Scholars outside the faith treat the resurrection as a claim of the early church to be explained historically, and many look for natural or legendary explanations. Jewish scholars note that the idea of a single resurrected Messiah in the middle of history had no clear precedent, a point discussed in both directions.
Why it matters
These three topics are the most often raised in public debate about Christianity. A student who can state the evidence and the disagreements accurately can speak with confidence and without exaggeration, and can show respect to people who weigh the evidence differently.
Common misunderstandings
Misunderstanding: The canon was chosen by Constantine or by a single council.
Correction: The canon formed gradually. The lists of the fourth century reflect long use, and no single council settled the matter for the whole church at once.
Misunderstanding: Scholars agree that the resurrection happened, or that it did not.
Correction: They agree on some facts, such as the crucifixion and the early belief, and disagree on the explanation.
Misunderstanding: Textual variants make the New Testament unreliable.
Correction: Variants are mostly minor, and textual critics can usually identify the likely original. A few are significant and are noted in editions.
Knowledge check
What do historians broadly agree on about the resurrection, and where do they differ?
Broadly, that Jesus was crucified and that his followers soon proclaimed that he had been raised. They differ about why they believed it: some argue that a real resurrection best explains the evidence, others propose visions, grief or legend. The wording of any claim of consensus should be checked.
How did the New Testament canon form?
Gradually. Most books were used widely and early. A few were disputed in some regions. Lists of the fourth century, including Athanasius’s letter of 367, name the twenty seven books, and later councils confirmed them. There was no single decision by one council or emperor.
Why is separating consensus, debate and interpretation important?
It prevents overstatement. A student who calls a debated claim settled, or an interpretation a historical fact, misleads. Keeping the categories apart allows an honest report of how far the evidence goes and shows where a person’s wider beliefs enter.
How should a student treat arguments from authors with a stake in the answer?
Read them critically and alongside authors who disagree. Defenders such as Wright and Bauckham and critics such as Ehrman each have commitments. A fair assessment states each case in its strongest form and then notes where the evidence supports or does not support it.
Think it through
- Which of the three topics do you feel most certain about, and is that certainty earned?
- What would a thoughtful skeptic say to your account?
- What would a thoughtful believer say?
- Which part of your assessment depends on a belief about miracles?
Independent assignment
Three assessments
In your own notebook, write three assessments of about 250 words each on the resurrection, the reliability of the New Testament and the canon. Sort your conclusions into consensus, debate and interpretation. Rate each against the criteria and total your score, then note two points to study further. Do not send this to anyone or post it anywhere.
Further study
- N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God A major scholarly case on the resurrection. Read critically and alongside critics.
- Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses On eyewitness testimony in the Gospels.
- F. F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? On the reliability of the New Testament documents.
- Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament On the formation of the New Testament canon.
- Bruce M. Metzger and Bart D. Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration On the text and its variants.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 An early summary of the gospel including the resurrection and the appearances.
- Luke 24:36 A resurrection appearance narrative.