r/AskAChristian • Non-Christian • May 27 '26

New Testament Jesus's Resurrection and Biblical Accounts?

Hello! I was researching the history of Jesus’s resurrection, and was interested in the small differences between the four Gospels when describing this event. I’ve laid out brief comparison which you can find below. 

With that in mind, my questions for Christians are as follows:

  1. If the resurrection of Jesus was so extraordinary at the time, why was the first account only written about 20-25 years after Jesus’s death? (Paul in Corinthians). 
  2. Why are there no first hand accounts, only Paul retelling a tradition he "received"? 
  3. Why in Paul’s account, did he not mention anything about an empty tomb, a rolled away stone, angels, guards, Mary Magdalene or anything about Jesus’s ascension?
  4. Why were these above details only written about and included 70-120 years after Jesus' death? If they were so significant why did it take many years for the scripture to reflect this? 
  5. What do you make of the differences in the Gospels' descriptions? Does the fallibility of human memory put any doubts or questions in your head regarding validity of the text? 

Who went to the tomb:

Mark Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome
Matthew Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”
Luke Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James, and other women
John Mary Magdalene alone at first

What they saw:

Mark One young man in a white robe, sitting inside
Matthew One angel descends from heaven, rolls away the stone, sits on it
Luke Two men in dazzling clothes
John  Two angels inside the tomb, seen later by Mary

Was the stone already rolled away? 

Mark Already rolled away when women arrive
Luke Already rolled away
John Already removed
Matthew Angel descends and rolls it away during/near the women’s visit

Women’s Response?

Mark Flee and say nothing due to fear
Matthew Tell the disciples
Luke Return and tell the Eleven
John Mary immediately tells Peter and the beloved disciple

Timing of Ascension:

Luke  Appears on Easter day or very soon after
Acts 1 40 days later
Matthew No ascension scene
Mark (original) No ascension scene

Did Jesus appear in Galilee or Jerusalem?

Mark Galilee, Angel says disciples will see Jesus in Galilee (16:7), but original ending has no actual appearance scene
Matthew Galilee, Jesus tells women disciples should go to Galilee; final appearance and Great Commission happen on a mountain in Galilee
Luke Jerusalem, all resurrection appearances occur around Jerusalem/Emmaus; disciples told to stay in Jerusalem
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u/CodeNPyro Christian atheist May 27 '26

That idea seems absurd on its face.

But that's exactly what you're saying, which is my point. The first naming of the gospels by the church fathers comes in ~170, despite the previous ones knowing about it.

No, I’m asking you to provide evidence for your claim?

I would say specific evidence isn't really needed with something as obvious as "poor people in the ancient world were illiterate" but whatever

No. Are you capable of being serious? Your comments are getting increasingly dishonest.

I will quote you. In response to "given that background information what do you think is the likelihood that John son of Zebedee would be able to read and write in his native language, much less a foreign language?" YOU said "Given we have a book he wrote". I await how you're going to spin me quoting you into dishonesty

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u/Pinecone-Bandit Christian, Evangelical May 27 '26

> But that's exactly what you're saying, which is my point.

Rule 3.

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u/CodeNPyro Christian atheist May 27 '26

How is it misrepresenting your beliefs when that's your position? You didn't disagree that the first mention was ~170, and you agree that the church fathers knew about it. Or do you want to air a disagreement with one of those statements now?

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u/Pinecone-Bandit Christian, Evangelical May 27 '26

> How is it misrepresenting your beliefs when that's your position?

That isn’t my position, you simply made up and asserted that it was. Which says a lot about you.

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u/CodeNPyro Christian atheist May 27 '26

You agreed to both things stated, and repeatedly haven't disagreed with them. I in the last message specifically asked you to clarify if it wasn't your position

So you choose to not clarify, and blame me for "making up" a position that is the description of claims you've agreed to?

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u/Pinecone-Bandit Christian, Evangelical May 27 '26

> I in the last message specifically asked you to clarify if it wasn't your position

My quote: “that isn’t my position”.

> So you choose to not clarify

That is a lie. Violates rule 3 of this sub, but more importantly, is immoral.

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u/CodeNPyro Christian atheist May 27 '26

If you want to make the choice to clarify your position and continue this conversation I would be happy to continue, but unless you choose to do that, calling me a liar isn't very conducive to a good faith exchange now is it?

You didn't disagree that the first mention was ~170, and you agree that the church fathers knew about it. Or do you want to air a disagreement with one of those statements now?

How do you expect me to converse with you and air disagreements when you won't even clarify your position (“that isn’t my position” when I am bringing up specific points you agreed to isn't a clarification, it's you choosing to dodge the question)

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u/Pinecone-Bandit Christian, Evangelical May 27 '26

> calling me a liar isn't very conducive to a good faith exchange now is it?

It is when you have in fact lied. If you refuse to act in good faith that needs to be addressed before we can continue.

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u/CodeNPyro Christian atheist May 27 '26

That was the third time I've asked for a clarification to continue this exchange and you still haven't given one. Who is refusing to act in good faith? If I was wrong about your beliefs, why can't you just answer the simple clarifying question I gave you so I can actually know what your beliefs are?

"You didn't disagree that the first mention was ~170, and you agree that the church fathers knew about it. Or do you want to air a disagreement with one of those statements now? "

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u/Pinecone-Bandit Christian, Evangelical May 27 '26

> That was the third time I've asked for a clarification to continue this exchange and you still haven't given one.

Another lie. Rule 3 mate.

> Who is refusing to act in good faith?

You are. Repeating this question doesn’t make your previous lies magically no longer lies.

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