The Apostles’ Creed—one of the earliest summaries of the Christian faith—states simply: “On the third day he rose again from the dead.” That same creed affirms not only Jesus’ resurrection but the future resurrection of all people. Christians have always believed that Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose again—literally, bodily, historically—and is alive today.
But many people challenge that belief. A scholar once wrote, “The tales of entombment and resurrection were latter-day wishful thinking. Instead, Jesus’ corpse went the way of all abandoned criminals' bodies: it was probably barely covered with dirt, vulnerable to the wild dogs that roamed the wasteland of the execution grounds.”
So, is the resurrection just a myth, or is it the foundation of our hope? It’s a simple question with a life-changing answer.
Let’s start plainly: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Is he still alive?
Yes. And yes.
Christianity stands or falls on that answer. And the Bible, especially 1 Corinthians 15, makes clear that the resurrection is not a spiritual metaphor or hopeful myth—it’s a historical fact on which everything hinges.
The Resurrection Is Not a Metaphor
In 1 Corinthians 15:1–6, Paul reminds the church that the resurrection is just as literal as Jesus’ death and burial. He doesn’t offer it as a symbol or spiritual image but as something he and hundreds of others witnessed.
Paul names names: Jesus appeared to Peter, to the twelve, to over 500 people at once (many still alive when Paul wrote), to James, and to Paul himself. He invites his readers to go verify it. This is not how you write myths. This is how you record history.
If Jesus didn’t rise, Paul says, then our faith is futile, our preaching is useless, and our hope is empty. Christianity becomes just another feel-good religion built on false promises. But if he did rise, then everything changes.
Objections: Hallucination or Wishful Thinking?
Some claim the resurrection was a hallucination. But consider the scale: multiple appearances, to groups ranging from individuals to 500 people, over a span of time, all sharing the same basic testimony. That stretches psychological credibility beyond reason.
Others say it was a myth made up later. But the resurrection is not mentioned in just one place. It’s taught in all four Gospels. It’s affirmed by Paul, Peter, John, the author of Hebrews, and more. And nearly every one of those witnesses died refusing to deny it.
People don’t suffer martyrdom for what they know is a lie.
As one author put it, “Many people die for something they believe to be true but isn’t. No one dies for something they know is false.” The apostles were eyewitnesses. They didn’t just believe the resurrection—they saw the risen Christ.
“He Lives Within My Heart”?
Modern Christian culture often speaks about Jesus’ resurrection as a feeling: “You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.” While there’s some truth to that—Jesus does indwell believers by his Spirit (Titus 3:5–6)—our faith isn’t based on inner emotion. Every religion makes similar claims.
What sets Christianity apart is that it’s grounded in history. God became man, was born of a virgin, lived among us, died on a Roman cross, and rose again—seen by eyewitnesses.
We don’t just feel Jesus lives. We believe it because he was raised bodily—and history testifies to it.
Why the Modern World Doubts It
The rise of modernism in the 19th century led many to reinterpret Christianity. Miracles became embarrassing. So Jesus’ birth, miracles, and resurrection were reimagined as spiritual metaphors. The virgin birth? Just a symbol of new creation. The resurrection? A poetic image of inner renewal.
But that’s not Christianity. That’s just spiritualized skepticism.
Christianity rests on real events—on truth that can be verified, not merely internalized. As Paul insisted: If Christ is not raised, your faith is worthless.
Some Corinthian Christians doubted whether there would be a future resurrection. Paul says: Look at Jesus. He is the firstfruits—the first harvest. And where there are firstfruits, there’s more to come. In other words, because Jesus rose, you will too. The resurrection is not just about history—it’s about hope.
At the end of the day, the resurrection of Jesus is not a footnote—it’s the foundation. If Jesus is alive, then death is defeated. Sin is paid for. New creation has begun. And eternity with God is a promise we can cling to.
If you’re skeptical, don’t settle for surface-level answers or spiritual clichés. Go to the sources. Read the eyewitness accounts. Test the claims.
And if you’re searching for real hope, know this: Jesus rose from the dead, and he’s still alive.
Footnotes
Richard N. Ostling, “Jesus Christ, Plain and Simple,” Time, January 10, 1994, from the Time website, archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20010620004204/https://www.time.com/time/magazine/archive/1994/940110/940110.religion.html.
