Stephen T-B

Just recently I have been pointed to
http://bibletastic.com/

which reminded me of this passage in Matthew
Matthew 27:51-53 (New King James Version)
51 "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
52 "and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."

What does it take to believe the Bible records real events?

Joe Blowe

If they read these stories at all, they probably read them one word at a time, so that by the time they get to end of the sentence, they have already lost track of the context. They see no impossibilities or contradictions because they have no real understanding of what they are reading.

...and they say they "believe" it because that is what is expected of them.

Stephen T-B

So Christians believe in zombies?
(Silly question - a zombie is central to their belief...)

avi

Thank you for this link. The juxtaposition of Mark 15:33-41 with Matthew 27: 45-56, using red ink to highlight identical text in both gospels, is a really a special, and valuable instructional tool. Very classy.

How do we know that Mark was written first, rather than Matthew, i.e. how do we know that Mark did not redact some of Matthew's text, as opposed to our believing, (or at least, I do) that Matthew, writing months or years later, added text to Mark?

Self-Mutation

It says the exact number of 53. If one was making up a lie, you would make it an even number like 60 or 50 or 40, not 53.

If this event did not happen, then what was the writer thinking? Obviously he knew no such thing ever happened so why would he risk ridicule or even death lying about such matters? If it's so ridiculous, people would've been shouting, "What a loon! No saints got out of their graves and walked around! He's delusional! What a stupid religion!" and religion would've died out lightning quick.

Josephus wouldn't report this because it would be EVIDENCE for Christianity and Josephus was a Jew. Why would he want to prove a religion is right that he himself does not follow? He would've looked like a fool to the people. This is why most non-christian historians back then didn't write about Jesus or the miracles - because they knew it made them look bad and they had to cover it up.

Ask yourself if Hindu apologists would report Jesus miracles if it happened near them. Of course they wouldn't because it would make them look bad.

Jeffrey Gibson

Ummm ... are you are reading Stephanus' verse numbers as if they were an original part of the text of this passage.?

Jeffrey

funinspace

:rolling: Dude, 53 is the verse number. Don't you think you should slow down enough to make sure you understand your valuable God's word, before you start spouting apologies...too funny...

Self-Mutation

What a minor, yet HUGE error on my part!

But my point still stands.

semiopen

Can happen to anybody.

I'll remember to make the next number I lie about odd though.

Mageth

What point? Without the "exact number of 53", you don't have one.