But In Fact Christ Has Been Raised From The Dead

Paul is very explicit in 1 Corinthians 15:13–14 (ESV):

“¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

This supports the thesis that Christianity is an evidence-based faith.  It disputes the notion that Christianity is a blind leap into a dark, unknown abyss.  It disputes the notion that Christianity and science are at polar opposites and you either have one or the other. 

Several reputable scholars have coined the phrase: The Minimal Facts Approach.  Dr. Gary Habermas originally and then with a co-author Dr. Michael Licona have developed this Approach in their book: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus.  Habermas did his doctoral thesis on the topic from Liberty University.  Minimal facts are those that are accepted by most New Testament Scholars, even skeptical ones.  The idea is that while some of these scholars may deny the resurrection happened, they do agree on this list of facts and events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.  

What are those Minimal Facts?

Gary Habermas has identified 12 such facts after combing through some three thousand articles penned by professional historians:

1. Jesus died by crucifixion.

2. He was buried. 
3. His death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope. 
4. The tomb was empty (the most contested). 
5. The disciples had experiences which they believed were literal appearances of the risen Jesus (the most important proof). 
6. The disciples were transformed from doubters to bold proclaimers. 
7. The resurrection was the central message. 
8. They preached the message of Jesus’ resurrection in Jerusalem. 
9. The Church was born and grew. 
10. Orthodox Jews who believed in Christ made Sunday their primary day of worship. 
11. James was converted to the faith when he saw the resurrected Jesus (James was a family skeptic). 
12. Paul was converted to the faith (Paul was an outsider skeptic).

Habermas explains that the Minimal Facts method “considers only those data that are so strongly attested historically that they are granted by nearly every scholar who studies the subject, even the rather skeptical ones”.   Gary Habermas has documented over 100 cases of scholarly work done from 1975 to 2000. His finding is that most scholars believe: (1) something really happened, (2) these were real experiences of the disciples, (3) they believe they saw the risen Jesus, and most importantly, (4) scholars believe the disciples really saw something. At the very least, critic after critic accept Paul’s eyewitness accounts.

The task of skeptics is not to casually say, "I don't believe in the Resurrection."  The task of opponents to this view must produce proof/evidence that it DID NOT occur.

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–23, ESV)