If They Discovered the Body. . .

jimmyjimmy

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If the body of Christ were discovered, if the very central tenet of Christianity were found to be untrue, if He weren't raised, but simply died and was buried, what would be your response? How would the news change your life, if at all?

***This is a hypothetical question. We are assuming both that Christ's body is found, and that it can be proven His, for the sake of discussion only.***
 
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Anguspure

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If the body of Christ were discovered, if He weren't raised, but simply died and was buried, what would be your response as a Christian? How would the news change your life, if at all?
Eat drink and make merry. I'd probably still try and look after my immediate family but if Christ was not raised from the dead I've wasted a whole lotta years on this Christian game and I'd very definitely be looking to get 'em back before I drop dead.
 
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I'm_Sorry

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If the body of Christ were discovered, if He weren't raised, but simply died and was buried, what would be your response as a Christian? How would the news change your life, if at all?

The message would have never reached this far and this long throughout history if He did not raise.

The world would be an entirely different place.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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Eat drink and make merry. I'd probably still try and look after my immediate family but if Christ was not raised from the dead I've wasted a whole lotta years on this Christian game and I'd very definitely be looking to get 'em back before I drop dead.

I agree.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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The message would have never reached this far and this long throughout history if He did not raise.

The world would be an entirely different place.

There is a very important word in the OP: "If"
 
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brinny

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If the body of Christ were discovered, if He weren't raised, but simply died and was buried, what would be your response as a Christian? How would the news change your life, if at all?

Would you believe that?
 
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Sarah G

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If claims were made that the physical dead body of Lord Jesus Christ had been found I would know it was utter nonsense being spread to lead people to darkness. I don't really understand how these questions are useful to spiritual growth. It seems a childish way to go about disturbing people.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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Would you believe that?

This is obviously a hypothetical question. It assumes that there were irrefutable proof.

The OP is asking a "what if" question, so we must assume the "what if" in order to answer.
 
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I'm_Sorry

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There is a very important word in the OP: "If"

My thinking: "if" He was not raised the message would have never gone so far in the first place. So hearing the news of a body of a man who died 2000 years ago wouldn't affect anyone.

In other words its impossible.

Its too impactful on History for it to be a fable, for it to not spread like it did.

Let alone the entire NT and claims made in the NT would be a lie and would have no lasting effect on the consciousness of man.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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If claims were made that the physical dead body of Lord Jesus Christ had been found I would know it was utter nonsense being spread to lead people to darkness. I don't really understand how these questions are useful to spiritual growth. It seems a childish way to go about disturbing people.

This question is actually raised in the Bible, so apparently worthy of discussion, but your participation is voluntary, of course.
 
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jimmyjimmy

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My thinking: "if" He was not raised the message would have never gone so far in the first place. So hearing the news of a body of a man who died 2000 years ago wouldn't affect anyone.

In other words its impossible.

Its too impactful on History for it to be a fable, for it to not spread like it did.

Let alone the entire NT and claims made in the NT would be a lie and would have no lasting effect on the consciousness of man.

I don't think you understand how the, "what if" game works, but thanks for trying.
 
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brinny

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This is obviously a hypothetical question. It assumes that there were irrefutable proof.

The OP is asking a "what if" question, so we must assume the "what if" in order to answer.

yet the sureness of what Jesus Himself said refutes any "irrefutable proofs" that would claim that Jesus Christ never rose from the dead.

In that regard, there are no "what if's".

Are there?
 
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Anguspure

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If claims were made that the physical dead body of Lord Jesus Christ had been found I would know it was utter nonsense being spread to lead people to darkness. I don't really understand how these questions are useful to spiritual growth. It seems a childish way to go about disturbing people.
Its curious how such an important little word, a word that may be invoked in order to discuss the imaginary result or effect of something that did not happen or that is or was not true, is so completely missed by so many people, so often.
Fpr example Paul uses the word in the following way: But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
and: If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
and: if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
and then finally: If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die .”
So, yes we know all the reasons why people can trust in what tbey beleive but that is not the question of the OP. So why the problem with entertaining the hypothetical scenario?
 
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Sarah G

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Its curious how such an important little word, a word that may be invoked in order to discuss the imaginary result or effect of something that did not happen or that is or was not true, is so completely missed by so many people, so often.
Fpr example Paul uses the word in the following way: But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
and: If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
and: if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
and then finally: If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die .”
So, yes we know all the reasons why people can trust in what tbey beleive but that is not the question of the OP. So why the problem with entertaining the hypothetical scenario?
Thank you for clearing this up for me. The answer to my not understanding the spiritual benefit of entertaining hypothetical scenario is thus that it is in fact beneficial to entertain hypothetical scenarios as it is a tradition we see reflected in the Bible. Now I understand the purpose of it, thank you.

Edit: Having looked at the verses more closely and in another translation I see that Paul does not use the word 'if' in a questioning way. There are no question marks used. I conclude that Paul is not speculating a hypothetical scenario. I accept that the OP is asking hypothetically. I also agree with another post saying that being able to respond to challenging questions is important. If a truth seeker enquiring about my faith asked this question I would suggest that they avoid such mental speculation as very rarely does a person find God through mere mental speculation.
 
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brinny

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Followup question:

Would living as a Christian, e.g., loving enemies and giving to the poor make sense if Christianity were found to be untrue because Christ was not risen?

For me, yes.
 
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Lucian Hodoboc

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This is obviously a hypothetical question. It assumes that there were irrefutable proof.
What would constitute 'irrefutable proof'? Finding a grave with the name Yashua Christus written there would not be enough proof for me. We don't have Jesus' DNA, so how could they prove whose skeleton it was? Or, do you mean, His preserved uncorrupted corpse?
 
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brinny

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What would constitute 'irrefutable proof'? Finding a grave with the name Yashua Christus written there would not be enough proof for me. We don't have Jesus' DNA, so how could they prove whose skeleton it was? Or, do you mean, His preserved uncorrupted corpse?

good questions.
 
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