11-21-2012, 12:42 AM
It is far more widely accepted that the body was re-buried, or the empty tomb was mistaken for the one that Christ was actually buried in.
And once again I have to take issue with your characterization of the evidence involved. There are several possible versions of the body theft hypothesis. For example, necromancy/death rituals were commonly practised in the period, and grave robbing of new bodies is accounted for in Roman Law. It doesn't have to be the disciples involved, any number of people could have stolen the body for any number of reasons. Matthew's is the only account to say the tomb was guarded, and he is already mentioning the accusation by the Jews that the Disciples themselves stole the body. It is likely the body disappeared, but that they didn't know how. Mark is by far the earliest account, and it mentions no angels, but only a young man in the tomb when the women arrive. In John the story includes a sighting of Jesus at the tomb by Mary! Moreover, Mark does not mention Joseph of Arimathea being a follower of Jesus, this becomes an added detail in later versions. Joseph could have simply moved Jesus' body, after the Sabbath, but before the women came to visit the tomb. After all, the tomb was apparently near his home.
And frankly, the premise that the disciples were hypocritical manipulators (which is improbable) is still more reliable as a premise than God existing (and that he so happens to be the God of the nt).
A body being stolen from a grave is an unusual occurrence, but it is one that has been proven to happen. Miracles, on the other hand, are more than simply unlikely.
And once again I have to take issue with your characterization of the evidence involved. There are several possible versions of the body theft hypothesis. For example, necromancy/death rituals were commonly practised in the period, and grave robbing of new bodies is accounted for in Roman Law. It doesn't have to be the disciples involved, any number of people could have stolen the body for any number of reasons. Matthew's is the only account to say the tomb was guarded, and he is already mentioning the accusation by the Jews that the Disciples themselves stole the body. It is likely the body disappeared, but that they didn't know how. Mark is by far the earliest account, and it mentions no angels, but only a young man in the tomb when the women arrive. In John the story includes a sighting of Jesus at the tomb by Mary! Moreover, Mark does not mention Joseph of Arimathea being a follower of Jesus, this becomes an added detail in later versions. Joseph could have simply moved Jesus' body, after the Sabbath, but before the women came to visit the tomb. After all, the tomb was apparently near his home.
And frankly, the premise that the disciples were hypocritical manipulators (which is improbable) is still more reliable as a premise than God existing (and that he so happens to be the God of the nt).
A body being stolen from a grave is an unusual occurrence, but it is one that has been proven to happen. Miracles, on the other hand, are more than simply unlikely.