Ancient texts state that Jesus of Nazareth, the center of Christian faith, did not die on the cross. The story is that he met with his disciples in Jerusalem and then traveled to other parts of the world, notably India. However, if Jesus survived crucifixion, the foundation of Christianity is missing and the hope of millions taken away.
The main refutation of this theory is the Christian scriptures, the Bible. Of course, it's to be assumed that this book of history and doctrine of the Christian religion should follow the 'death on the cross' story line. However, there are many reasons why the scriptures carry more weight than other ancient documents.
For one thing, the writings of the Jewish people (The Old Testament part of the Bible) and the early Christians (The New Testament) are older than those which deny Jesus's death and resurrection. While there are no 'autographs' - handwritten texts from disciples who knew him - there are copies from as early as 100 AD. The Jewish method of copying sacred documents was very exact; it involved counting the number of consonants to make sure not one word was omitted. If a mistake was found, the copy was destroyed.
The Gospels serve as eyewitness accounts, consistent enough to be taken as evidence in a court of law. John and Matthew were among the twelve named as apostles by Jesus. Luke and Mark, a Greek and a Jew, were contemporaries who wrote their accounts after the crucifixion. Although no 'autographs' or personal writings of these men have been recovered, the accounts that did survive are too consistent to be denied.
The plan of salvation, which ushers a Christian believer into eternal relationship with God, is founded on the crucifixion. It has been said that the Messiah was born to die. Paul writes of this in his epistles, saying that if Christ had not died and risen, Paul's preaching is in vain. Under Jewish (God's) law, only a blood sacrifice can atone for sin; Jesus's death on the cross paid for the sins of the whole world as the final atonement for all.
After all, it's not earthly life that counts with God, but the eternal life that Jesus's sacrifice obtained for those who believe that he was the Son of God and accept his payment for their sins and free gift of salvation. Only a perfect life - an unblemished lamb - could pay this price, and only a man both divine and human could live without sin.
This man said he was the Son of God and that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. Hundreds of years of prophecy foretold the coming of such a one to restore the covenant God made with Abraham. Prophet after prophet revealed truths that could only have come from God. There are no prophecies about a ministry for the Son of God on other continents and shared with other teachers.
The sufferings of anyone nailed - not bound - to a cross are horrific, but mere suffering does not qualify anyone to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. It is the resurrection that brings this assurance and the hope of eternal life to anyone who believes, accepts, submits, and follows.
The main refutation of this theory is the Christian scriptures, the Bible. Of course, it's to be assumed that this book of history and doctrine of the Christian religion should follow the 'death on the cross' story line. However, there are many reasons why the scriptures carry more weight than other ancient documents.
For one thing, the writings of the Jewish people (The Old Testament part of the Bible) and the early Christians (The New Testament) are older than those which deny Jesus's death and resurrection. While there are no 'autographs' - handwritten texts from disciples who knew him - there are copies from as early as 100 AD. The Jewish method of copying sacred documents was very exact; it involved counting the number of consonants to make sure not one word was omitted. If a mistake was found, the copy was destroyed.
The Gospels serve as eyewitness accounts, consistent enough to be taken as evidence in a court of law. John and Matthew were among the twelve named as apostles by Jesus. Luke and Mark, a Greek and a Jew, were contemporaries who wrote their accounts after the crucifixion. Although no 'autographs' or personal writings of these men have been recovered, the accounts that did survive are too consistent to be denied.
The plan of salvation, which ushers a Christian believer into eternal relationship with God, is founded on the crucifixion. It has been said that the Messiah was born to die. Paul writes of this in his epistles, saying that if Christ had not died and risen, Paul's preaching is in vain. Under Jewish (God's) law, only a blood sacrifice can atone for sin; Jesus's death on the cross paid for the sins of the whole world as the final atonement for all.
After all, it's not earthly life that counts with God, but the eternal life that Jesus's sacrifice obtained for those who believe that he was the Son of God and accept his payment for their sins and free gift of salvation. Only a perfect life - an unblemished lamb - could pay this price, and only a man both divine and human could live without sin.
This man said he was the Son of God and that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. Hundreds of years of prophecy foretold the coming of such a one to restore the covenant God made with Abraham. Prophet after prophet revealed truths that could only have come from God. There are no prophecies about a ministry for the Son of God on other continents and shared with other teachers.
The sufferings of anyone nailed - not bound - to a cross are horrific, but mere suffering does not qualify anyone to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. It is the resurrection that brings this assurance and the hope of eternal life to anyone who believes, accepts, submits, and follows.
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