(1.) Agreements; very important.
(2.) Mutual explanations; very numerous.
(3.) Signs of early date; very interesting.
Conclusion, the narratives appear to be thoroughly trustworthy.
We decided in the previous chapters that the Four Gospels, and also the Acts of the Apostles, were genuine; that is to say, they were written by the persons to whom they are commonly ascribed. And to these may be added the four great Epistles of St. Paul, and the Revelation of St. John, which, as before said, are admitted to be genuine by critics of all schools. We have thus direct testimony as to the life of Christ, that is to say, the testimony of contemporaries, some of whom must have known Him well. St. Matthew and St. John were two of His Apostles; St. Mark and St. Luke had exceptionally good means of knowing the truth, and may perhaps have had some slight knowledge of Christ themselves, as had also St. Paul.[268] We have now to examine the value of this testimony, more especially as to the Resurrection of Christ. So in the present chapter we will consider the importance of the Resurrection, and the narratives we have of it; both as to their difficulties, and their truthfulness; and in the next the various alternative theories.
[268] 2 Cor. 5. 16.
(A.) Its Importance.
In the first place, we cannot overestimate the importance of the Resurrection, for this fact, either real or supposed, was the foundation of Christianity. This is plain not only from the Gospels, but still more from the Acts, where we have numerous short speeches by the Apostles, given under various circumstances, and to various audiences, including Jewish Councillors, Greek philosophers, and Roman governors. And in nearly all of them the Resurrection of Christ is not only positively asserted, but is emphasised as a fact established by indisputable evidence and as being the foundation of Christianity.[269] It is even said that it was the special duty of an apostle to bear witness to it; and St. Paul seems to have been aware of this, since, when claiming to be an apostle, he is careful to show that he was thus qualified. And for himself he makes it the basis of all his teaching, if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain.[270] It is certain, then, that the first preachers of Christianity preached the Resurrection of Christ.
[269] Acts 2. 24; 4. 10; 5. 30; 10. 40; 13. 30; 17. 31; 26. 23.
[270] Acts 1. 22; 1 Cor. 9. 1; 15. 14-17.