What evidence is there for Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection?

The evidence for Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is based on several historical claims and scholarly consensus, which can be summarized as follows:

Jesus' Crucifixion and Death

• There is near-universal agreement among historians that Jesus was crucified and died. This fact is supported by both Christian and non-Christian sources, including the Roman historian Tacitus and the Jewish historian Josephus. Even skeptical scholars like Bart Ehrman acknowledge the historical veracity of Jesus' crucifixion and death145.

Jesus' Burial

• The majority of scholars agree that Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea. This is attested by multiple early and independent sources, including the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as letters by Paul (1 Corinthians 15:3-7). The burial account is part of Mark’s early source material, likely based on eyewitness testimony, and is also supported by other early Christian traditions. Historians like John A.T. Robinson and James Dunn consider Jesus' burial by Joseph of Arimathea to be one of the earliest and best-attested facts about Jesus45.

The Empty Tomb

• Most scholars concur that Jesus' tomb was found empty a few days after his burial. This is supported by the agreement among the Gospel accounts that women were the first to discover the empty tomb, which is considered a credible detail because it is unlikely that women would be invented as the primary witnesses in a patriarchal society. Additionally, scholars like John Granger Cook argue that Paul's mention of Jesus' burial and resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 presupposes an empty tomb145.

Post-Resurrection Appearances

• There is widespread agreement among scholars that Jesus' disciples claimed to have encountered him after his death. These appearances are described in the Gospels and in Paul's letters, particularly in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7. The accounts include tactile details, such as Jesus being touched and eating with his disciples, which suggest more than just visual apparitions. The limited number of witnesses and the specific details provided in these accounts distinguish them from cases of mass psychological hysteria145.

Scholarly Consensus

• Despite some disagreements on the details, the majority of scholars accept these four historical facts: Jesus' crucifixion and death, his burial in a tomb, the discovery of the empty tomb, and his post-mortem appearances. These facts form the core of the historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection145.

In summary, the evidence for Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection is grounded in multiple early sources, historical consensus, and the credibility of the accounts provided in the New Testament and other early Christian writings.