“I Tried To DISPROVE Jesus” - Ex-Atheist REVEALS Resurrection Evidence That Changed His Mind

Key Concepts

• Historical Apologetics: The use of historical, legal, and journalistic methods to verify the truth claims of Christianity.
• The Resurrection: The central event argued as the proof of Jesus’ divinity.
• The "Four E’s" Framework: A mnemonic device used to categorize historical evidence for the resurrection (Execution, Early accounts, Empty tomb, Eyewitnesses).
• Creedal Statements: Early, formalized summaries of faith that predate the written Gospels.
• Corroboration: The process of using multiple independent sources to verify historical facts.

1. The Investigative Methodology

Lee Strobel, a former legal editor for the Chicago Tribune and Yale Law School graduate, approached the question of Christianity’s validity through the lens of investigative journalism and legal scrutiny. His methodology involved:

• Evidence-Based Inquiry: Treating the resurrection as a legal case, seeking corroboration from historical data, microfilm, and scholarly interviews.
• The "Jury" Standard: Applying the principle that a "good juror reaches a verdict" based on the weight of the evidence, rather than personal bias.
• Duration: The investigation spanned two years (1979–1981), conducted in an era before the internet, requiring inter-library loans and physical research in archives.

2. The "Four E’s" Framework

Strobel presents four pillars of historical evidence to support the resurrection:

• Execution: Jesus’ death is considered an indisputable historical fact. Strobel cites the Journal of the American Medical Association, which concluded that the medical evidence confirms Jesus was dead before the spear wound was inflicted. He notes that even skeptical historians, such as Garrett Ludemann, accept this as fact.
• Early Accounts: Contrary to the "legend" theory (which suggests myths take centuries to develop), Strobel points to a creedal statement found in the New Testament. Historians like James D.G. Dunn date this creed to within months of the crucifixion. A.N. Sherwin-White of Oxford/Cambridge argued that two generations are insufficient for legend to replace historical truth.
• Empty Tomb: Strobel argues that the tomb’s emptiness was conceded by Jesus’ enemies. Their counter-argument—that the disciples stole the body—implicitly acknowledges that the tomb was indeed empty.
• Eyewitnesses: Strobel identifies nine ancient sources (both biblical and extra-biblical) that corroborate the disciples' conviction that they encountered the risen Jesus.

3. Notable Case Study: Sir Lionel Luckhoo

Strobel highlights Sir Lionel Luckhoo, a world-record-holding defense attorney (245 consecutive murder trial acquittals). Luckhoo, initially a skeptic, applied his legal expertise to the historical record of the resurrection. His conclusion:

"I say unequivocally that the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt."

4. Supporting Evidence and Sources

Strobel emphasizes the volume of historical data compared to other ancient figures:

• Ancient Standards: He notes that for figures like Alexander the Great, historians often rely on only one or two sources. For the resurrection, he cites nine sources, including:
  • The Creed: Dated to within months of the event.
  • Paul the Apostle: A former persecutor who claimed a personal encounter.
  • Clement: Ordained by Peter; wrote of the apostles' conviction.
  • Polycarp: Appointed by John; referenced the resurrection multiple times in his writings.

5. Personal Testimony

Strobel’s conversion was prompted by his wife’s conversion to Christianity. Initially viewing her faith as a threat to their marriage and a "cult," he set out to disprove the resurrection to "rescue" her. His two-year investigation led him to a personal verdict on November 8, 1981, shifting him from atheism to faith.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The core argument presented is that the resurrection of Jesus is not merely a matter of religious faith, but a historical event supported by an "avalanche" of evidence. By applying the rigorous standards of legal and investigative journalism, Strobel concludes that the historical data—specifically the execution, early creedal reports, the empty tomb, and the testimony of eyewitnesses—provides a compelling case that Jesus was who he claimed to be. The takeaway is that the evidence is sufficient to move a skeptic to a verdict of belief if they are willing to follow the data wherever it leads.