| Author: | James Orr | ISBN: | 1230001933055 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications | Publication: | September 25, 2017 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | James Orr |
| ISBN: | 1230001933055 |
| Publisher: | CrossReach Publications |
| Publication: | September 25, 2017 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
A Restatement of the grounds of belief in the great fact of the Lord’s Resurrection seems called for in view of the changed forms of assault on this article of the Christian faith in recent years. It is difficult, indeed, to isolate this particular fact, outstanding as it is, from its context in the Gospel history taken as a whole, every point in which is made subject to a like minute and searching criticism. On the other hand, the consideration of the evidence for the Resurrection may furnish a vantage ground for forming a better estimate of the value of the methods by which much of the hostile criticism of the Gospels is at present carried on.
As preliminary to the inquiry, it is desirable that a survey should be taken of the changed lights in which the question appears in past and in contemporary thought.
Time was, not so far removed, when the Resurrection of Jesus was regarded as an immovable corner-stone of Christianity. A scholar and historian like the late Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, summea up a general belief when he wrote: “I have been used for many years to study the history of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them; and I know of no fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God has given us, that Christ died and rose again from the dead.” It will be recognized by any one familiar with the signs of the times that this language could not be employed about the state of belief to-day.
A Restatement of the grounds of belief in the great fact of the Lord’s Resurrection seems called for in view of the changed forms of assault on this article of the Christian faith in recent years. It is difficult, indeed, to isolate this particular fact, outstanding as it is, from its context in the Gospel history taken as a whole, every point in which is made subject to a like minute and searching criticism. On the other hand, the consideration of the evidence for the Resurrection may furnish a vantage ground for forming a better estimate of the value of the methods by which much of the hostile criticism of the Gospels is at present carried on.
As preliminary to the inquiry, it is desirable that a survey should be taken of the changed lights in which the question appears in past and in contemporary thought.
Time was, not so far removed, when the Resurrection of Jesus was regarded as an immovable corner-stone of Christianity. A scholar and historian like the late Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, summea up a general belief when he wrote: “I have been used for many years to study the history of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them; and I know of no fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God has given us, that Christ died and rose again from the dead.” It will be recognized by any one familiar with the signs of the times that this language could not be employed about the state of belief to-day.
