The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Given its significance, it’s no surprise that over the centuries, many have attempted to challenge, reinterpret, or deny the resurrection event. Alongside sincere questions have arisen numerous myths, misunderstandings, or misrepresentations about what happened that first Easter morning. In this article, we’ll see and debunk 5 major myths about Jesus’ resurrection.
Myth 1: The Disciples Stole the Body
One of the oldest theories regarding the empty tomb is that Jesus’ disciples stole his body to perpetrate a hoax. This explanation, known as the stolen body theory, dates all the way back to the first century. In fact, according to Matthew 28:12-15, the chief priests bribed the Roman guards to spread the story that Jesus’ disciples came by night and stole the body while the guards slept.
After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were terrified, disillusioned, and in hiding. They had just seen their leader brutally executed by Roman authority at the order of the Jewish leaders. To suggest that these same men, paralyzed by fear, could suddenly muster the courage to confront armed guards, roll away a massive stone, and steal the body is simply not possible.
The disciples gained no advantage by proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection. Instead, they faced imprisonment, torture, and death. History records that many of them were brutally executed for their testimony. People may lie for personal gain, but it’s not reasonable to believe that they would suffer and die for something they knew was a lie.
Moreover, the tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers, highly trained professionals, under penalty of death for falling asleep on duty. The idea that a group of scared fishermen could overpower them is unreasonable. Thus the theory that states that the disciples stole the body is debunked.
Myth 2: Jesus Didn’t Really Die; He Just Fainted
Another popular theory among skeptics is the “swoon theory,” which suggests that Jesus didn’t actually die on the cross. Instead, He fainted from exhaustion and blood loss, was mistaken for dead, and later revived in the coolness of the tomb. However, historical and medical evidence debunk this theory.
The Romans were experts in execution. Crucifixion was a brutal, meticulously practiced form of capital punishment designed to ensure death. Roman soldiers were responsible for making sure that their victims died, and failure to do so could cost them their own lives. When the soldiers came to break the legs of those crucified, they found Jesus already dead. To confirm, they pierced His side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out, a medically significant detail that indicates death.
Before the crucifixion, Jesus was scourged, a horrific form of whipping that often left victims near death. The loss of blood and the trauma would have been devastating. Then came the crucifixion itself: nails driven through the wrists and feet, prolonged hanging, asphyxiation, and eventual heart failure. It is impossible that a man in such a state could survive three days without medical attention, roll away a massive stone, overcome Roman guards, and present Himself as the risen Lord.
If Jesus had somehow survived and appeared to His disciples beaten, bloody, and barely alive, it is improbable that they would think He had triumphed over death. They would have looked for medical help, not worshipped Him as the glorified, victorious Son of God.
Myth 3: The Resurrection Is Just a Legend
Some skeptics claim that the story of Jesus’ resurrection is a legend that developed over decades or even centuries after His death, a myth that grew larger with time, like folklore. However, this myth also crumbles under the weight of the historical evidence.
The resurrection was not a later invention; it was proclaimed immediately after the events themselves. One of the earliest Christian creeds, recorded by Paul in Corinthians 15:3-8, affirms the resurrection and can be traced to within 3-5 years of Jesus’ death.
Paul lists many eyewitnesses to the resurrection, including Peter, James, all the apostles, and over 500 individuals at once, many of whom were still alive at the time of his writing. This meant that his readers could verify the claims by speaking to those witnesses themselves.
Legends tend to embellish heroes and avoid embarrassing facts. Yet the Gospels record awkward, inconvenient details; for example, the first witnesses to the resurrection were women, whose testimony in first-century Jewish culture was considered unreliable. If the story were fabricated, the writers would have chosen credible male witnesses to bolster their claims.
Myth 4: The Resurrection Was a Hallucination
Another popular theory says that the disciples didn’t really see a risen Jesus; they simply hallucinated Him due to grief and psychological stress. While at first glance this might seem possible, many critical issues debunk it.
Modern psychology tells us that hallucinations are individual, subjective experiences. They are not shared events. For example, if one person hallucinates seeing a loved one, others around them do not see the same thing unless they are hallucinating independently.
Yet the New Testament records group appearances. Jesus appeared to multiple individuals and even to over 500 people at once. Mass hallucinations of the same thing at the same time are medically impossible.
Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances involved physical contact. Thomas was invited to touch Jesus’ wounds. In another instance, Jesus ate fish with his disciples. These are not experiences typical of hallucinations.
The resurrection transformed the disciples from fearful deserters into bold proclaimers of the Gospel. They traveled the world, enduring suffering and death because they were convinced they had seen the risen Lord. Hallucinations, even if they occurred, could not have inspired such radical, lasting change. Thus, the hallucination theory does not hold up under psychological, historical, or logical analysis.
Myth 5: The Resurrection Accounts Are Full of Contradictions
Some argue that the Gospel accounts of the resurrection are unreliable because they supposedly contradict each other. They point to differences in details: who visited the tomb, what time it was, what the angels said, and so forth. Based on these variations, some skeptics claim that the resurrection story is fabricated. However, a closer look reveals that this myth too can be debunked.
The variations among the Gospels are not contradictions but complementary perspectives. Different witnesses naturally emphasize different details, much like reporters covering the same news event. Minor variations actually affirm the authenticity of the accounts: if all the Gospel writers reported the exact same things, in the exact same words, we would suspect that the story was fabricated.
Despite minor variations in details, the core message is identical across all four Gospels: Jesus died, He was buried, the tomb was found empty, and then Jesus appeared alive to many witnesses. This provides strong corroboration, not contradiction.
In the ancient world, the style of writing history was less focused on strict chronology and details and more on thematic and theological emphasis. Gospel writers were not writing modern journalistic reports; they were telling true historical events in a style appropriate to their time, focusing on significance.
Conclusion: The Resurrection Stands Firm
The resurrection of Jesus is not a convenient myth fabricated by desperate followers. It is not the result of a stolen body, a slow-growing legend, or hallucinations. Instead, it is a well-supported historical event that changed the course of history. The evidence is pretty clear. The tomb was empty, eyewitnesses testified to seeing the risen Christ, the disciples’ lives changed dramatically, and finally the early church exploded across the Roman Empire, founded on the unshakeable belief in Jesus’ victory over death.
Ultimately, the resurrection invites every person not merely to intellectual agreement but to personal transformation, to encounter the living Christ for themselves. The question remains: What will you do with the evidence?
Do you want to learn more about Jesus and His teachings? You can read: Difficult Teachings: The 40 Most Challenging Teachings of Jesus.
Read also: How Should a Christian Husband Be?
