Scientific and historical-critical challenges, ethical living and the works of scholars: Practice Questions

• a.The Pharisees
• b.The poor
• c.The Sadducees
• d.The rich

• a.

  The claim that the resurrection was a purely subjective, spiritual vision without a physical empty tomb.

• b.

  The 'Swoon Theory' which suggests Jesus did not actually die on the cross.

• c.

  The psychological transformation of the disciples and the problem of the empty tomb.

• d.

  The argument that the Gospel accounts were written centuries later and are entirely fictional.

• a.He accepts it as the most plausible scientific explanation for the empty tomb narrative.
• b.He argues that the theory is irrelevant because the resurrection was a purely subjective psychological event.
• c.He rejects it, arguing that a physically broken man could not have inspired the disciples' radical transformation and belief in a risen Lord.
• d.He suggests that the Roman authorities purposefully staged a 'swoon' to avoid making Jesus a martyr.

• a.He claims that the Shroud of Turin is the only piece of evidence required to prove the resurrection.
• b.He explores alternative explanations while maintaining that the consistency of the empty tomb tradition across sources suggests a historical core.
• c.He argues that the 'Stolen Body' theory is the only scientifically viable explanation.
• d.He dismisses the empty tomb as a late mythological addition by the early Church.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.