Jesus Seminar: a Response (CLM 448)

Thu, 9 Oct 1997

Rowland Croucher wrote: > > Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 448 > > A Response to the Jesus Seminar and the Search for the Historic Jesus > > By The Revd Grant S. Carey > Canon Precentor > Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento, California > ....... > > The centerpiece of Paul's teaching was the crucifixion and the > resurrection of Jesus. In a letter that predates any of the four > Gospels, he writes: "...If Christ had not been raised, your faith is > futile ... then those who have died in Christ have perished. If for > this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to > be pitied." (I Cor 12) > > For Paul, the fact of Jesus' resurrection did not depend on historic > evidence so much as it did on faith. First, the correct quotation is I Cor. 15, not 12. Second, when Paul in this passages argues for the reality of the resurrection, he does not mention faith as a basis for this doctrine; he does name witnesses, people who did see Jesus alive after the cruxifiction (I Cor. 15.3-11). Historical evidence is the basis for Christian faith. With the possible exception of one disciple (John 20.8), all of Jesus' first followers believed only after seeing Jesus himself. This includes Paul, who did not believe until the risen Jesus appeared to him. Paul believed that Jesus was raised, not by faith, but by first-hand experience; he encouraged the Corinthians to believe, not by faith, but by his (and other's) testimony. ><> Ron Troup Ron & Lee Troup ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact. A PastorNET ministry: manager@pastornet.net.au

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