Date
1-16-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA)
Chair
Ben Shaw
Keywords
Resurrection, Jesus' Resurrection, Paul's Undisputed Letters, Historical Evidence, Theological Significance, Creedal statement
Disciplines
Christianity | Religion
Recommended Citation
Kham, Steven Cung Za, "Historical and Theological Evidence of Jesus' Resurrection in Paul's Undisputed Letters" (2025). Masters Theses. 1264.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1264
Abstract
This thesis investigates the historical authenticity and theological significance of Jesus’ resurrection as presented in the letters of Paul. The resurrection, central to the Christian faith, has sparked considerable scholarly interest as a foundational event offering humanity its greatest hope. Among early witnesses, the Apostle Paul stands out due to his transformative encounter with the risen Christ, which radically altered his life from a persecutor of Christians to an ardent advocate of the resurrection. His letters, written within a few decades of Jesus' death, provide key insights into what Paul and early Christians truly believe about the resurrection. The study begins with an exploration of the early Christian context, emphasizing the transformative belief in Jesus’ resurrection and the unwavering faith of early Christians amidst persecution. It then examines Paul’s personal testimony, focusing on his dramatic conversion and its implications for the resurrection’s historical reality. Key evidence is analyzed in Chapter Three through 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, an early creedal statement grounded in eyewitness testimony, supporting the resurrection's historical credibility. The final chapter delves into the theological significance of the resurrection in Paul’s writings, highlighting its centrality to Christian doctrine, its validation of Jesus’ divinity, assurance of victory over sin and death, and its guarantee of eternal life. This thesis argues that Paul’s testimony and letters provide compelling evidence for both the historical reliability and theological significance of Jesus’ resurrection. Through this investigation, this study contributes to the ongoing scholarly discourse on the resurrection’s enduring significance for faith, hope, and historicity.