The Resurrection Paradox: Evidence, Bias, and Tradition

In exploring the event of the resurrection, we encounter an astonishing blend of facts and prejudices that shaped the opinions of ancient people. The beginning of this account is filled with the energy of apostolic testimonies, as more than 500 witnesses observed an incredible event that sparked a tumultuous reaction. Paul confidently stated that the presence of living witnesses bolstered the evidential force of his words, for if his claims had been false, his opponents would have had the opportunity to refute them on the spot.

However, the main problem lay not so much in the facts themselves as in the cultural perceptions and biased attitudes towards certain groups of witnesses. The historical norms of that time often meant that the words of women and other individuals, whose testimonies were considered less authoritative, were met with skepticism. This mindset prevented society from acknowledging what might have seemed impossible, even in the face of logical arguments and the obviousness of real-life facts.

In conclusion, the combination of unconfirmed expectations and social stereotypes made it extremely difficult to accept even the most compelling testimonies. This historical dilemma remains an important lesson about the power of established norms to influence the perception of great events. The energy and confidence of the apostles, it would seem, clashed with the insurmountable barriers of tradition, demonstrating how hard it can be to change public consciousness even when strong evidence is available.

Why did the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection, confirmed by 500 people, fail to convince the ancient world?

The answer lies in a number of circumstances reflected in the cited sources. Although the apostle Paul refers to the resurrection event, which was witnessed by at least 500 people (as noted in the testimony "Paul speaks of the resurrection of Jesus as an event that took place in the presence of witnesses, not few in number, though not infinite in number – at least 500 people who saw Jesus" – source: 287_1431.txt), the ancient people did not accept this evidence for several reasons.

Firstly, a significant portion of the testimonies came from individuals whose accounts were viewed with skepticism. For example, one account states: "And they recalled His words. Returning from the tomb, they recounted all of this to the eleven apostles and everyone else. But they found these words absurd, and the women were not believed" (source: 1079_5391.txt). This reaction suggests that testimonies from certain groups could appear unreliable or implausible in the eyes of ancient listeners.

Secondly, the apostle Paul substantiated the resurrection by relying on the evidence of manifestations and the fact that many witnesses were still alive. As he noted, "If we suppose that he spoke untruth... what weapon would he have given to his opponents with such falsehood!" (source: 1245_6221.txt). This argument implies that if his assertions were false, his opponents would have been able to challenge them by citing living witnesses. Yet, despite this logical reasoning, cultural prejudices and rigid norms of that era significantly influenced the perception of miraculous events.

Thus, even with the testimony of a large number of witnesses, the ancient people were not convinced for several reasons: they dismissed the accounts of certain groups (for example, women) as unreliable, and the commonly held norms and expectations regarding miraculous events hindered the acceptance of such extraordinary occurrences. The blend of social prejudices and caution in perceiving the unusual rendered the evidence of the resurrection insufficiently compelling for their worldview.

Supporting citation(s):
"Paul speaks of the resurrection of Jesus as an event that took place in the presence of witnesses, not few in number, though not infinite in number – at least 500 people who saw Jesus." (source: 287_1431.txt)

"And they recalled His words. Returning from the tomb, they recounted all of this to the eleven apostles and everyone else. But they found these words absurd, and the women were not believed." (source: 1079_5391.txt)

"If we suppose that he spoke untruth... what weapon would he have given to his opponents with such falsehood!" (source: 1245_6221.txt)