Resurrection From the Viewpoint of Artificial Intelligence

[Scooter]

A friend of mine posted on FB a question he posed to ChatGPT about the most compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, I did the same and here is what I was given:

What is the most compelling evidence for the resurrection of Christ

ChatGPT said:​

Great question — and one that people have wrestled with for centuries. While there isn’t scientific proof of the resurrection (like video footage or forensic evidence), there are several lines of historical and circumstantial evidence that scholars and apologists point to as the most compelling in support of the resurrection claim.
Here are some of the most frequently cited pieces of evidence:

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1. The Empty Tomb​

• All four Gospels report that Jesus’ tomb was found empty just days after his burial.
• Counterpoint: Critics argue the empty tomb story could have been a later invention or symbolic.
• Why it's compelling to some: If the body had still been in the tomb, it would have been easy to disprove the resurrection claim. Also, the fact that women were reported as the first witnesses is seen as significant — because in that culture, women’s testimony had low legal standing, which suggests the writers weren’t trying to fabricate a convincing lie.

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2. Post-Resurrection Appearances​

• The New Testament records multiple appearances of Jesus to individuals and groups (e.g., Mary Magdalene, the disciples, 500+ people according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:6).
• Why it's compelling to some: The variety and number of appearances, plus the transformation in the behavior of the disciples (from fearful to bold), is hard to explain as hallucination or wishful thinking alone.

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3. The Transformation of the Disciples​

• Before the resurrection, the disciples were discouraged and in hiding. Afterward, they became bold preachers, many of whom died for their belief.
• Why it's compelling to some: People might die for a lie, but it’s rare to die for something you know is false. If the resurrection were made up, the disciples would’ve known, and it’s hard to imagine them enduring torture and death for it.

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4. The Explosion of the Early Church​

• Christianity spread rapidly, starting in Jerusalem — the very place where Jesus was crucified and buried.
• Why it's compelling to some: It would’ve been easy to squash the movement early on by producing Jesus’ body or discrediting the disciples if the resurrection had been a hoax.

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5. Paul’s Conversion​

• Paul (formerly Saul) was a fierce persecutor of Christians until he had an encounter with the risen Jesus (Acts 9).
• Why it's compelling to some: His turnaround was dramatic and sincere — he endured great suffering and eventually died for his faith. Critics argue hallucination is possible, but the impact of his transformation is seen as strong supporting evidence.

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6. James, the Brother of Jesus​

• James was skeptical during Jesus’ ministry (Mark 3:21, John 7:5) but later became a leader in the Jerusalem church and was martyred.
• Why it's compelling to some: The sudden change in belief and status of a skeptical family member suggests he believed he encountered the risen Jesus.

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In Summary:​

The most compelling evidence isn’t one “smoking gun,” but rather a convergence of multiple historical details — the empty tomb, post-resurrection appearances, changed lives, and the rise of Christianity. These don't "prove" the resurrection in a scientific way, but many argue they make it a historically reasonable belief.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

• All four Gospels report that Jesus’ tomb was found empty just days after his burial.
• Counterpoint: Critics argue the empty tomb story could have been a later invention or symbolic.
• Why it's compelling to some: If the body had still been in the tomb, it would have been easy to disprove the resurrection claim. Also, the fact that women were reported as the first witnesses is seen as significant — because in that culture, women’s testimony had low legal standing, which suggests the writers weren’t trying to fabricate a convincing lie.

Good points here. It's easy for the skeptic to just say that the only reason to believe there was an empty tomb is because the Bible says so. But I think the type of details, like the ones GPT brings up here, can help establish validity.

Why it's compelling to some: The variety and number of appearances, plus the transformation in the behavior of the disciples (from fearful to bold), is hard to explain as hallucination or wishful thinking alone.

Agreed. Jesus had group conversations. It's one thing for a group to all see a hallucination, but it's another when they are all able to understand and carry on a conversation. The latter would be impossible (having the same convo) to do if it was all in one person's mind. Unless telepathy is real!

Those are the top reasons out of your list! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Also, the fact that women were reported as the first witnesses is seen as significant — because in that culture, women’s testimony had low legal standing, which suggests the writers weren’t trying to fabricate a convincing lie.

similar to . . .

the crummier the alibi, the better!

 

[AgnosticBoy]

Also, the fact that women were reported as the first witnesses is seen as significant — because in that culture, women’s testimony had low legal standing, which suggests the writers weren’t trying to fabricate a convincing lie.

similar to . . .

the crummier the alibi, the better!

It is contrary to legendary hype that we'd expect from such stories. Almost as embarrassing as telling a story about Thor slaying all of these giants but then getting beaten up by midget