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24 chapters
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The present treatise is intended to give what the author has often felt the need of—a compact and thoroughly reliable statement of the principal historical facts to the authenticity and integrity of the New Testament writings concerning our Lord, and the presumptions from them which establish his claims as our Divine Redeemer and Saviour. The question of his Resurrection from the dead is selected as the pivot, because everything hinges upon it. This question, whichever way it is determined, is d
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THE PROOFS OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.
THE PROOFS OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.
It is a characteristic of all who deny this and all other miracles, that they beg the whole question to begin with. They assume as an axiom that a miracle is impossible, or impossible to be proved by human testimony. Or, to put it more mildly, in the language of one of their number (Renan [1] ), “neither men of the people nor men of the world are competent to prove it. Great precaution and a long habit of scientific research are requisite.” If these are sound axioms, it should be a matter of ind
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THE BEST EVIDENCE.
THE BEST EVIDENCE.
The best evidence of which the subject admits, is all that is required in courts; and it is sufficient in matters of the highest concern, even in cases of life and death, that a fact be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The best evidence to Christ’s disciples of his resurrection, was that of their own senses. This evidence we cannot have. We are in the position, in some respects, of jurors, who must decide not from their own knowledge, but upon the testimony of others. We have not, however, the
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LOST TRIBUTARIES.
LOST TRIBUTARIES.
One hundred years from the crucifixion, churches had been established in all the cities and in many of the villages of the Roman Empire, from Cappadocia and Pontus on the east, to Gaul on the west, and Christians were very numerous. Tacitus describes those at Rome at the time of Nero’s barbarity, as “a great multitude,” and Pliny, in his letter to Trajan, cir. A.D. 110, affirms that the heathen temples were almost deserted, so that the sacred victims scarcely found any purchasers, and that the “
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CHAPTER II. ADMISSIONS AND PRESUMPTIONS.
CHAPTER II. ADMISSIONS AND PRESUMPTIONS.
With the somewhat scanty and inconclusive evidence from writings of the first one hundred years from the crucifixion, are there any facts that are conceded, and any presumptions from them? There are concessions, and from what motives is immaterial, since there is no doubt of the existence of the facts that are admitted even by those who deny the authenticity of the Gospels. Says Renan [1] : “Not the slightest doubt has been raised by serious criticism against the authenticity of the Epistle to t
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CHAPTER III. PAPIAS AND JUSTIN MARTYR.
CHAPTER III. PAPIAS AND JUSTIN MARTYR.
The fact of the early reception, by the churches, of Memoirs of Christ deemed authentic, probable in itself without any proof, is conclusively proved by writings and to which reference has been made, particularly those of Papias and Justin Martyr. Papias was bishop of Hierapolis, in Phrygia, in the first part of the second century of the Christian era. Though of moderate capacity, and entertaining extravagant ideas of the millennium, he was entirely honest, and there is no reason to question his
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CHAPTER IV. THE MEMOIRS INTENDED BY JUSTIN MARTYR.[1]
CHAPTER IV. THE MEMOIRS INTENDED BY JUSTIN MARTYR.[1]
Great importance attaches to them in connection with other facts. The date of Justin’s birth is uncertain, being placed as early as A.D. 85, and as late as A.D. 114; Rev. Mr. Wright says about A.D. 100. His martyrdom was about A.D. 165. His father and grandfather were probably of Roman origin. Before his conversion to Christianity, he studied in the schools of the philosophers, but after that he became an Evangelist, and a vigorous writer in defence of the Christian faith. It is probable that he
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CHAPTER V. QUOTATIONS AND CITATIONS.
CHAPTER V. QUOTATIONS AND CITATIONS.
The apparent or seeming use of our Gospels by Justin and his contemporaries is a fact of great weight in determining whether they are the “Memoirs” referred to by him. According to the Indexes of Texts by the learned editors of the Ante-Nicene Christian Library, John’s Gospel is quoted or cited, twice in Barnabas, once in Diognetus, twice in Hermas, once by Justin, and once by Papias. Mark is quoted or cited, once in Barnabas, twice by Clement, three times by Justin, and once by Polycarp: Acts i
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CHAPTER VI. JUSTIN’S USE OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL.
CHAPTER VI. JUSTIN’S USE OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL.
Christ’s pre-existence, not declared in the other Gospels, is frequently referred to by Justin. [1] John alone calls Jesus the Word; Justin often refers to him as such. Justin regards the elevation of the brazen serpent in the wilderness as typical [2] of the crucifixion. He says it denoted salvation to those who flee for refuge to him who sent his crucified son into the world; the idea of God’s sending his Son into the world is peculiar to John. The descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a d
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CHAPTER VII. NO OTHERS PROVED.
CHAPTER VII. NO OTHERS PROVED.
The latest work in this country which denies the genuineness of our Gospels, is “The History of the Christian religion to the year two hundred.” (Chicago, 1881.) The author says it is the result of an investigation extending through several years, two of which were spent in the library of congress, “which is peculiarly rich in the department of biblical literature.” He claims that his volume “will be found to be the most complete record of the events connected with the Christian religion during
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CHAPTER VIII. PRESUMPTION OF PERMANENCY.
CHAPTER VIII. PRESUMPTION OF PERMANENCY.
In general, says Mr. Phillips, [1] there is a presumption in favor of the continuance of what is once proved to have existed. It is a familiar principle of law, says Chief Justice Parker, that a state of things once shown to exist is presumed to continue until something is shown to rebut the presumption. And this position, says Professor Greenleaf, is founded “on the experienced continuance or permanency of longer or shorter duration in human affairs. When, therefore, the existence of a person,
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CHAPTER IX. THE MEMOIRS OF THE YEAR ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY.
CHAPTER IX. THE MEMOIRS OF THE YEAR ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY.
There is undoubted proof that within forty years from the time Justin wrote his First Apology, our Four Gospels (and no others) with the Book of Acts, were universally received in the church, as we now receive them. It comes from the writings of Agrippa Castor, Apollinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis, Apelles, Athenagoras, Basilides, Celsus, Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius, Heracleon, Irenæus, Jerome, Marcion, Melito, Bishop of Sardis, Origen, Pantænus, Polycarp, Serapion, Tatian, Theophilus, Tertulli
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CHAPTER X. ASCENDING THE STREAM.
CHAPTER X. ASCENDING THE STREAM.
Now consider the tremendous force of the proved fact that, within forty years of the time when Justin wrote his First Apology, we reach a period when it is no longer a debatable question whether our Gospels are “the Memoirs” of Christ which were read with the Prophets in city and country. The presumption of continuance attaches. It has before been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that, in the year one hundred and forty, there were accepted “Memoirs” of our Lord, which were read with the Prophets
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CHAPTER XI. STILL ASCENDING THE STREAM.
CHAPTER XI. STILL ASCENDING THE STREAM.
The evidence thus far has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that at the writing of Justin’s First Apology, the Canonical Gospels were read with the Prophets in city and country, on “the day called Sunday,” as authentic Memoirs of our Lord. Assuming the date [1] of this Apology to have been A.D. 138 or 139, the time was a little over one hundred years from the Crucifixion, and less than eighty years from the death of Mark and Luke, and all the Apostles other than John, and only forty years from hi
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CHAPTER XII. IN THEIR PROPER REPOSITORIES.
CHAPTER XII. IN THEIR PROPER REPOSITORIES.
Certain propositions have been established by facts and arguments that cannot be successfully controverted: ( a ) The advent of Christ and its stupendous results. ( b ) The formation of numerous churches which by the end of the first century were in all parts of the Roman Empire, with presbyters or bishops and elders in every church, and many thousands of communicants. ( c ) They regarded him with the greatest reverence and affection, obeying his commands as their Lord and Master, paying him div
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CHAPTER XIII. INTEGRITY OF THE GOSPELS.
CHAPTER XIII. INTEGRITY OF THE GOSPELS.
As stated in former chapters, this is to be presumed till the contrary is shown. There is, however, strong confirmation from many sources. First. —The writings of the Apostolic Fathers present to our view the Christ of the Gospels, in his advent and life, ministry and teaching, death and resurrection. In particular, his resurrection from the dead is cited by Clement (A.D. 97) as an earnest of that of his followers, and as a proof that he came forth from God. The greatest of miracles, and the cen
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CHAPTER XIV. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE EVANGELISTS.
CHAPTER XIV. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE EVANGELISTS.
The question of their credibility is before that of their inspiration. If uninspired, they may have given us everything essential to the determination of Christ’s resurrection. If inspired, inspiration may have been bestowed in such a manner as to leave them subject to some of the limitations of human testimony. If reliable accounts of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection, of our Lord, were to be published to the world, it was of the last importance that they should not carry upon their
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CHAPTER XV. THE APOCALYPSE AND THE FOUR EPISTLES.
CHAPTER XV. THE APOCALYPSE AND THE FOUR EPISTLES.
While all Infidels, from Celsus before the year 180 to Waite, in 1881, have agreed that “either Jesus was not really dead, or he did not really rise again,” some [1] of them have assumed the one, and some the other alternative. Strauss, with Celsus, doubts the reality of the resurrection, rather than the death. Schleiermacher, on the other hand, held that Jesus returned again to life from a state of lethargy; and this view, although not the position generally taken by skeptics, is still held by
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CHAPTER XVI. HIS PREDICTIONS CONCERNING HIMSELF.
CHAPTER XVI. HIS PREDICTIONS CONCERNING HIMSELF.
In the account of Christ’s crucifixion by Matthew and Mark, it is recorded that they which passed by railed on him, saying,—“Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself”; and that witnesses had testified to the same accusation, but did not agree. The disagreement seems to have been, that some (Mark xiv. 58) testified that he said,—“I will destroy this temple that is made with hands and in three days I will build another made without hands,” and the others (Matthew
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CHAPTER XVII. ORDER OF EVENTS.
CHAPTER XVII. ORDER OF EVENTS.
Whatever difficulties may exist as to minor points, all the facts necessary to a correct decision of the question of the Resurrection may be ascertained with reasonable certainty, and the order of their occurrence. [A] That Jesus Christ was crucified under Pontius Pilate is the testimony of all history. That his crucifixion was the day before the Jewish Sabbath is proved by all the Evangelists, and the constant observance of the First Day of the week as the Lord’s Day. Having been condemned to d
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PROOF IS POSSIBLE.
PROOF IS POSSIBLE.
The event may have occurred. By this is meant that it cannot be said that its occurrence is, in the nature of things, an impossibility. The existence of the Lord God Almighty, the Jehovah of the Scriptures, may be real, as accepted by the reason and conscience of most men in civilized nations. It may have been within his power to raise his Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead; and there may have been sufficient reasons for the exercise of this power. He may have been able to do this, without violati
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WHAT ARE THE PROOFS?
WHAT ARE THE PROOFS?
The fact of Christ’s resurrection was proclaimed by his Apostles and disciples from the beginning of their ministry, commencing on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the crucifixion. This fact was, as expressed by Paul, that Christ “died,” and was “buried,” and was “raised on the third day;” and by Luke that “he showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs,” appearing unto the Apostles whom he had chosen [4] , for forty days, “and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God;”
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CHAPTER XIX. SUFFICIENCY OF THE PROOFS (AFFIRMATIVE EVIDENCE).
CHAPTER XIX. SUFFICIENCY OF THE PROOFS (AFFIRMATIVE EVIDENCE).
Holding, then, the objectors to the historical record, and keeping in mind that the question is narrowed down to the hypothesis of visions on the one hand, or to a true resurrection on the other, what evidence had the Apostles and immediate disciples that they were not deceived ? First and foremost, they had the empty tomb. They knew [1] that the body was neither left on the cross, in violation of the Jewish law, nor thrown to the “dust-heap,” in violation of the Roman law which required a deliv
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CHAPTER XX. LOGICAL RESULTS.
CHAPTER XX. LOGICAL RESULTS.
Of these we mention only the following: First. —Since the proofs of Christ’s Resurrection are incomparably greater than those of any other miracle, and its consequences are beyond conception more glorious, it is the part of wisdom to force the issue upon it. The decisive battle of the world in respect to the miraculous in Christianity is to be fought right here, and all other engagements are mere skirmishes. It is well it is so. Christ’s Resurrection is our Gibraltar. If we cannot hold this posi
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