The Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus examines the historical evidence for Christianity's central claim through modern historiographical methods. Licona applies the same analytical tools used by secular historians to evaluate the New Testament accounts and other ancient sources. The book begins by establishing a methodology for investigating ancient historical claims, drawing from current academic standards and practices. This framework is then used to systematically analyze the available evidence regarding Jesus' reported resurrection, including both Christian and non-Christian sources from the first century. Licona assesses multiple competing theories that attempt to explain the origins of early Christian beliefs and traditions. The work includes extensive discussion of cultural context, textual criticism, and archaeological findings relevant to the historical investigation. This scholarly examination demonstrates the intersection of faith-based beliefs with historical and academic inquiry. The book contributes to ongoing discussions about the relationship between religious claims and historical methodology.

Readers value the book's academic rigor and methodical examination of historical evidence. Multiple reviewers note Licona's thorough analysis of ancient sources and his clear explanations of historical methodology. Positive reviews highlight: - Detailed responses to skeptical arguments - Fair treatment of opposing viewpoints - Comprehensive footnotes and citations Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Length and repetition in certain sections - Technical language can be challenging for casual readers Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.6/5 (168 reviews) Goodreads: 4.3/5 (163 reviews) Sample reader comment: "Licona meticulously builds his case brick by brick. Not light reading, but worth the effort." - Amazon reviewer Critical comment: "The academic jargon and methodology sections could have been streamlined without losing substance." - Goodreads reviewer Some readers recommend starting with more accessible works on the topic before tackling this scholarly treatment.

The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas, Michael Licona This book examines historical evidence and scholarly methods for investigating the resurrection claims using a minimal facts approach.

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham The work analyzes the reliability of eyewitness testimony in the Gospels through examination of ancient historical methods and textual evidence.

The Death of the Messiah by Raymond E. Brown This two-volume study provides historical and textual analysis of Jesus's death narrative across all four Gospels.

The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright The book presents historical investigation into first-century beliefs about resurrection and examines the origins of Christian claims.

How God Became Jesus by Michael Bird This work explores the historical development of early Christian beliefs about Jesus's divine status through examination of ancient texts and cultural context.

🔹 Michael Licona started researching and writing this book while battling a rare inner ear disease, which caused him extreme dizziness and left him bedridden for months. 🔹 The book analyzes over 3,400 pages of literature on the resurrection, spanning Greek, Latin, and English sources across two millennia of scholarship. 🔹 Despite being raised in a Christian home, Licona went through a period of agnosticism in college and approached his research from a position of historical skepticism rather than faith. 🔹 The methodology used in the book was heavily influenced by techniques used by modern Holocaust historians who must deal with conflicting testimonies and biased sources. 🔹 The work caused controversy in evangelical circles because Licona suggested that certain passages in Matthew's Gospel might be metaphorical rather than literal historical accounts.