Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 68:1 (Mar 2025)
Article: Resurrection Misremembered? The Interpretative Options (Part One)
Author: David Graieg

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Resurrection Misremembered? The Interpretative Options (Part One)

David Graieg

David Graieg is a lecturer at Sheridan Institute for Higher Education, a sessional lecturer at Alphacrucis University College, an adjunct lecturer at the Australian College of Ministries, an adjunct lecturer at East Asia School of Theology Singapore, and an academic sessional at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: This two-part article considers the implications of a memory approach with respect to the various hypotheses relating to Jesus’s resurrection. A memory approach can be utilized in different ways, including to postulate the best explanation for what gave rise to the surviving memories. Part one lays out the five logically possible options concerning Jesus’s resurrection: (1) the no-experience hypothesis, (2) the intra-mental hypothesis, (3) the mistaken identity hypothesis, (4) the swoon theory, and (5) the resurrection hypothesis. Before examining the alternative hypotheses, it was determined that the nature of the sources is of a genre that aims to provide historical information. Further, these sources were in close temporal proximity to the events. There are no major text-critical issues. The sources contain a coherent account, and memory distortions do not impede their value. The first option, the no-experience hypothesis, states that the disciples falsely claimed that Jesus had risen. A memory approach indicates that it would be unlikely that all the conspirators would have accurately remembered their fabrication.

Key words: memory, resurrection of Jesus, logical options, no-experience hypothesis, genre.

What is the best explanation for what happened that Sunday morning in either 30 or 33 CE, which gave rise to the memories surrounding Jesus that were recorded in the New Testament? There are five logically possible options (each with subcategories) of Jesus’s resurrection: (1) the no-experience hypothesis, (2) the intra-mental hypothesis, (3) the mistaken identity hypothesis, (4) the swoon theory, and (5) the resurrection hypothesis.1 This article considers how a memory approach affects each of these views.2 First, assuming a hypothesis is true, a memory approach can be utilized to determine the probability that it was accurately remembered. Second, a memory approach can be employed to compare which alternatives

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are more memorable. Third, a memory approach can postulate the best explanation that gave rise to the surviving memories.3...