Russell Stewart responded
>And what if they didn't know?
Bill: I think it rather implausible that the apostles wouldn't have known.
The
12 disciples knew Him personally, during His ministry in Palestine. Paul
Hmm correct me if I am wrong but I believe that there are still Branch
Davidians who believe in the resurrection of their leader and still
believe his claims. They knew him so well.
Bill: was confronted by Him after His resurrection. These were Jesus'
So he claims but that claim could be 1) a deception on his part 2) a
deception on Jesus's part (he did not die) 3) a deception by the writers
of the gospel
Bill: contemporaries, who knew Him personally and either witnessed his
death and resurrection or were informed of them within a short time be
eyewitnesses
witnessed his death ? Or resurrection ? They made such claims, that's all.
Bill: (Paul by Christ Himself, of course) Surely they of all people were
in a
position to know if the resurrection was a lie. Generally they were good
Jews who were going out on a limb theologically by acknowledging Him as
God. I think that alone would have eliminated most of them had the
Indeed, there might not have been a turning back without loss of face or
worse ?
Bill: resurrection been a lie. But later on when they faced execution, I
find it hard to believe they would die for a lie. But to reiterate: those
who were
Was there any way of avoiding their death by claiming that it had been a
lie ? Who would have believed this ?
Bill: close to Him in the first century surely were in a position to know
whether the accounts of His resurrection were true.
So one can assume but one can assume equally that they might have been
deceived or knew about it but decided to hide it out of 1) embarassment 2)
fear of losing life 3) fear of losing believers.