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[Psycho]

Why could the body not have been stolen and the appearance have been a vision?

[jimwalton]

For the body to have been stolen we need a number of conditions: (1) the motive, (2) the means, and (3) the opportunity. So you need to give me a credible case of who had the motive to steal the body, complete with the means to do it given the situation of the burial, and to outline the opportunity.

The disciples had no motive to steal the body. The Bible says they were filled with fear, ran away, and went into hiding. The power of Rome was lethal, and the drive of the Jewish leaders was oppressively intimidating. In addition, the disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead, and were filled with terrifying grief at his execution. There is nothing in the biblical account that tells us they had any motivation to fabricate a resurrection by stealing the body.

I would be pleased to talk to you about this, but please think it through. It seems the possibilities are:

- Mary Magdelene
- A group of women
- Peter and John
- any or all of the other disciples
- Jesus' Jewish followers
- Jesus' Jewish enemies
- the Romans

Let's take a look.

- Mary? She fails on all three counts.
- The women? Little motive, no means, little opportunity
- Peter and John? Not expecting a resurrection, had been militarily intimidated in garden, know they are outnumbered and out-armed
- all the disciples? Same as above
- Jesus' Jewish followers? Had turned against him, were in hiding
- Jesus' Jewish enemies? Wanted him to stay dead.
- Romans? No motive.

There is substantial doubt beyond reason in all of these cases.

What's your best case for a body snatch?

And what would they have to gain from it?

- Fame? They had no idea that a new community would be formed. the respect that came from believers was unknown and unknowable at this time.
- Money?
- Governmental power?

The "vision" part is also problematic. People don't have group visions (Jn. 20.19); there is no such thing as a mass hallucination. You can't touch visions (Mt. 28.9; Lk. 24.39; Jn. 20.24-28). Visionary beings don't eat and drink with you (Lk. 24.41-43). In addition, the disciples went from there proclaiming, against ridicule, arrest, persecution, and death, that they had seen Jesus physically and in his body (1 Jn. 1.1; Acts 3.15, et al.).

I'd be glad to hear your case and discuss it with you.