The Early Proclamation: Why the Resurrection Couldn’t Be a Legend

Introduction: The Problem with the Legend Hypothesis

Skeptics sometimes claim that Jesus’ resurrection was a legend that developed over time. However, legends require time to evolve—typically decades or centuries—yet the resurrection was proclaimed immediately after Jesus’ death.

• Paul’s letters, written within 20–25 years of the crucifixion, already assume the resurrection as a core belief.¹
• The early creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 dates within five years of the event, making legendary development historically impossible.²
• The Gospels contain multiple independent sources, further confirming that belief in the resurrection was not a later myth but an original proclamation.³

As historian James D.G. Dunn affirms:

“The resurrection proclamation began immediately after Jesus’ death—there was no time for legend to grow.”⁴

1. The 1 Corinthians 15 Creed: A Pre-Pauline Tradition

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (c. AD 54-57) contains a creed that most scholars agree he received from earlier sources:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).

This passage is one of the earliest records of Christian belief and dates to within five years of Jesus’ death:

• Paul states that he “received” this tradition—a term used for oral teachings passed down before being written.⁵
• The Semitic structure and parallelism suggest an early Aramaic formulation, likely from the Jerusalem church.⁶
• Named eyewitnesses (Peter, James, and the Twelve) indicate that this creed was circulating while they were still alive—making it impossible for legend to replace truth.

New Testament scholar Larry Hurtado states:

“The 1 Corinthians 15 creed is of undisputedly early origin and provides a direct link to eyewitness testimony.”⁷

2. The Gospels: Independent, Early Sources

Even critical scholars acknowledge that the Gospel accounts of the resurrection contain early, independent traditions:

• Mark’s Passion Narrative (c. AD 50s-60s) is considered one of the earliest traditions.⁸
• Matthew and Luke use sources independent of Mark, suggesting multiple streams of early resurrection traditions.
• John (c. AD 90-95) includes details not found in the Synoptics, indicating further independent testimony.

Since the Gospels contain multiple independent attestations of the resurrection, the legend hypothesis fails—legends do not appear in multiple, early, independent sources within a single generation.

New Testament scholar Richard Bauckham affirms:

“The Gospel accounts are based on eyewitness testimony and circulated too early for legendary development.”⁹

3. The Explosive Growth of Christianity: A Problem for the Legend Hypothesis

If the resurrection was a later legend, why did Christianity grow immediately and rapidly?

• Thousands converted in Jerusalem within weeks (Acts 2:41, Acts 4:4).
• Paul’s letters confirm that belief in the resurrection was already widespread by the early 50s AD.
• Christianity expanded despite persecution, which is highly unusual for a movement based on a fabricated or evolving myth.

Historian N.T. Wright states:

“The rise of Christianity is inexplicable unless Jesus’ disciples truly believed He was resurrected.”¹⁰

4. The Nazareth Inscription: Possible Evidence of an Early Response

A mysterious Greek inscription, known as the Nazareth Inscription, was discovered in the 19th century. It outlaws grave robbing and carries an imperial decree, dating to the early first century. Some scholars believe it may be a response to the early Christian proclamation of Jesus’ empty tomb.¹¹

While its connection to Christianity remains debated, it demonstrates that concerns over grave tampering were being addressed by Roman authorities very early—perhaps even as a reaction to the resurrection claim.

5. Why Did Jewish and Roman Authorities Fail to Stop the Resurrection Claim?

If the resurrection were a legend, Jewish and Roman leaders had ample opportunity to expose it as a fraud.

• The location of Jesus’ tomb was known. If the body remained there, they could have simply produced the corpse to end the movement.
• The early church grew in Jerusalem, where opponents could easily investigate the claims.
• No ancient source records an alternative explanation from Jesus’ enemies, aside from admitting the tomb was empty (Matthew 28:11-15).

As historian E.P. Sanders notes:

“If Jesus’ body had been in the tomb, someone would have produced it. That no one did is strong evidencethat it was, in fact, empty.”¹²

6. Probability Assessment: The Resurrection vs. Legendary Development

Factor	Does the Legend Hypothesis Explain It?	Does the Resurrection Explain It?
1 Corinthians 15 Creed (5 years after Jesus’ death)	❌ No	✅ Yes
Early Gospel sources (50s-90s AD)	❌ No	✅ Yes
Eyewitnesses still alive	❌ No	✅ Yes
Explosive growth of Christianity	❌ No	✅ Yes
Failure of opponents to refute the claim	❌ No	✅ Yes

Odds Ratio (Bayes Factor): Resurrection vs. legend hypothesis = 50:1 (Strong Evidence for Resurrection)

Conclusion: The Resurrection Was Proclaimed Immediately—Not a Later Legend

• The 1 Corinthians 15 creed dates within 5 years of Jesus’ death—far too early for legendary development.
• The Gospels contain independent, early sources, confirming a widespread belief in the resurrection.
• The rapid spread of Christianity is historically inexplicable unless the resurrection was truly believed.
• Opponents could not refute the claim or produce Jesus’ body.

Thus, the legend hypothesis collapses, and the resurrection remains the best explanation.

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Footnotes:

¹ Bart D. Ehrman, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012).
² James D.G. Dunn, Jesus Remembered (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).
³ Craig Blomberg, The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2007).
⁴ James D.G. Dunn, Beginning from Jerusalem (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009).
⁵ C.H. Dodd, The Apostolic Preaching and Its Developments (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1936).
⁶ Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006).
⁷ Larry Hurtado, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).
⁸ Martin Hengel, The Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ (London: SCM Press, 2000).
⁹ Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses.
¹⁰ N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003).
¹¹ Clyde E. Billington, “The Nazareth Inscription: Proof of the Resurrection of Christ?” Artifax 17, no. 4 (2002).
¹² E.P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus (London: Penguin Books, 1993).

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