The New Testament exists today as a reliable Historical narrative of true events. When we measure the New Testament by the same standards used to determined all valid historical events, we find that the texts of these 27 books, meets and exceeds these time tested standards.
If you have doubts that this is true, please read my essay: Is The New Testament A Valid Historical Narrative?
One of the great proofs for Jesus’ resurrection is seen in Saul of Tarsus. The book of Acts and the Epistles tell us he was born in Tarsus in Cilicia (Acts 22:3), a “Hebrew of the Hebrews” (2 Cor. 11:22; Phil. 3:5), the “son of a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6), and a Roman citizen (16:37; 22:25-28).
Saul was educated in Jerusalem by Gamaliel (22:3) and became a devoted Pharisee (26:4-5; Phil. 3:5). Measured by the law, his life was blameless (Phil. 3:6). Saul was one of the most promising young Pharisees in Jerusalem, well on his way to becoming a great leader for the Jewish faith (Gal. 1:14).
Saul’s zeal for the law was displayed in his persecution of the church (Gal. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:6). Then suddenly, on one day, Saul instantly changes from great adversary of the Christians and their Christ, to believer and chief advocate for Jesus and those who follow Him. Saul is instantly transformed from hater of Christians, to a believer that Jesus is the Messiah. He becomes the chief architect of the New Testament and writes nearly half of the New Testament, declaring in every text that Jesus is the true Messiah and He has been raised from the dead.
This Would Only Be Possible If Saul Really Saw The Risen Jesus
Ten times in the NT, the text states that Paul saw the risen Jesus with his own eyes (1 Corinthians 9:1). This could have happened, only if Saul really saw the risen Jesus. The proof is in the massive record he left for us in the historical record, preserved for us today by 24,593 surviving manuscript copies of the entire New Testament.
“Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes?”
Ten Places In The New Testament Where Saul Saw The Risen Jesus
1. The statement above: 1 Corinthians 9:1
2. On the road to Damascus: Acts 9:3-6.
3. Ananias said Paul saw Jesus: Acts 9:17
4. Barnabas said that Paul saw Jesus: Acts 9:27
5. At Corinth: 1 Corinthians 15:8
6. At Corinth: Acts 18:9-10.
7. At Jerusalem: Acts 22:6-10.
8. While praying at the Temple: Acts 22:12-21.
9. At the Roman barracks: Acts 23:11.
10. Before king Agrippa: Acts 26:12-18
The Following Are The Places Where Many People Saw The Risen Jesus
- Mary Magdalene, Jn 20:11-17
- Mary/Salome, Mt 28:9-10
- Peter: Lk 24:34
- Two Disciples: Lk 24:13-32
- 10 Apostles: Lk 24:33-49
- 11 Apostles: Jn 20:26-30
- 7 Apostles: Jn 21:1-14
- 12 Apostles: Mt 28:16-20
- 500 at one time: 1 Cor 15:6
- James: 1 Cor 15:7
- 11 Apostles: Acts 1:4-9
- Paul: 1 Cor 9:1, Acts 9:3-6, Acts 9:17, 1 Cor 15:8, Acts 18:9-10, Acts 22:12-21, Acts 23:11, Acts 26:12-18
I have written extensively on the subject of New Testament reliability and whether the writers described in these texts, actually saw Jesus themselves. You can find essays on these subjects in the following links, as well as my recently published book: “You Are My Witnesses: The Men Who Saw Jesus.”
The Importance Of New Testament Reliability
The reason that defending the Gospel of Christ is critically important to every Christian is due to the assertion of modern liberal New Testament scholars that the New Testament is not trustworthy. If liberal scholars can convince people that what we have in our New Testament is unreliable, people will not believe that Jesus is a true historical person who actually said and did the things that are written of Him in the Bible.
The following are the resources available at this site which contain evidence to prove each of these important issues:
- When Were The Gospels Written?
- Were The Gospels Written By Eyewitnesses?
- Did The Gospel Writers Borrow From Each Other?
- Has The Text Of The New Testament Been Changed?
- Is The New Testament Filled With Errors?
- Were The Four Gospels Written Anonymously?
- The Body Of New Testament Evidence
- Are There Sources For Jesus Outside The New Testament?
- Is The New Testament A Valid Historical Narrative?
- Did Jesus Really Claim To Be God?
Categories: "No proof for Jesus Resurrection", Empirical Evidence for the Resurrection, New Testament Criticism, Origin of the four Gospels, Resurrection Proven by Secular Sources, Robert Clifton Robinson, The Resurrection
Robert Clifton Robinson 
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