Evidence · Case 02 · Resurrection of Christ

Legend that grew over time

One exhibit from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.

The claim here is that resurrection belief was not there at the start but built up slowly as the story was retold over the years. The strongest form of this view is that stories do tend to grow with retelling. The list of named witnesses is fixed in a summary that traces to within a few years of the crucifixion, which is far too early for legend to explain the core claim. That short timeline removes the room a growing legend would need.

Sources

Habermas and Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregel, 2004); (opens in a new tab)
Habermas and Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregel, 2004); -

Objections & responses

Legends can form in days. Look how fast stories spread about Elvis being alive or about miracles at modern shrines. Why assume legends need generations?: Rumors can form quickly; that is granted. What does not form quickly is a fixed, formal creed listing named witnesses, received by a former persecutor from the leaders in Jerusalem, and preached in the face of death by people in a position to know better. Elvis sightings were never endorsed by his family or his manager, none of whom suffered for them, and the rumors faded. The resurrection tradition was affirmed by Jesus’s own brother and by the people who had buried him, and it did not fade under persecution. The comparison shows how different the two cases are.

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