Source: “On the Resurrection: volume 1”: Evidences, 2024 by Gary Habermas Published by B&H Academic Brentwood, Tennessee.
The_Earliest_Christian_Message.mp4
Evidence Stratigraphy Earliest Gospel.pdf
11. Minimal Fact 3- The Earliest Proclamation of the Gospel.mp3
This topic argues for the exceptionally early proclamation of the Christian gospel, particularly focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus, and his divine identity. It outlines nine "layers" of evidence, beginning immediately after the crucifixion, such as the disciples' experiences, the initial "homologia" (agreed-upon core message), and early creedal traditions, some dating within one to six years of the events. The text emphasizes the consistency of this core message across various early sources, including Paul's own testimony and his crucial meetings with original apostles like Peter and James. Ultimately, the source contends that the earliness and eyewitness foundation of these reports make the Christian gospel's proclamation uniquely well-attested in ancient history, distinguishing it from mere speculation or legend.
It’s a common assumption that legends and myths, especially those surrounding ancient religious figures, take many decades or even generations to develop and solidify. The stories are told and retold, gradually embellished until the historical person is lost behind layers of legendary accretion.
But what if the historical data tells a different story for early Christianity? What if its core claims were established not over a century, but within just a handful of years after the events themselves?
Recent historical scholarship, drawing on the earliest available sources, reveals a timeline for the Christian message that is surprisingly and remarkably short. This post will explore four reinforcing layers of evidence that even skeptical scholars concede.
The central message of Christianity—the belief in the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus—was not a late development. Known to scholars as the homologia (the agreed-upon confession), this core teaching was being preached almost immediately after the crucifixion.
Historical data confirms this with at least five distinct layers of evidence, all dating to a maximum of six years after the crucifixion (c. 30 C.E.):