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James brother of Jesus resurrection Paul the Apostle James brother of Jesus

Fifth fact (E): Enemies of Christ converted — specifically James the brother of Jesus and Paul the Apostle

Fifth point of the ALIVE acronym

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15 resurrection Paul the Apostle

Carrier teaches that in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul describes events that occurred in outer space — a cosmic/celestial resurrection rather than an earthly one

Carrier's interpretation of the Pauline resurrection kerygma

apostolos the Twelve New Testament

The word 'apostle' has two meanings in Scripture: one who walked with Jesus, and the broader sense of a sent-out missionary

Q&A — response to George Cook's question about which apostles met Jesus in person

1 Corinthians 15 James brother of Jesus Cephas/Peter 1 Corinthians 15 resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 is the earliest resurrection record — within five years of the crucifixion and agreed upon by over 90% of scholars

Q&A — response to George Cook's question about the earliest scriptural record of the resurrection

Hebrews authorship New Testament Paul the Apostle Pauline authorship

Question from 'Pine Creek Doug': do you accept the scholarly consensus that six of Paul's letters are forgeries? — Mike does not accept this

Q&A — atheist YouTuber Doug from 'Pine Creek' asks about Pauline authorship

Hebrews authorship Hebrews New Testament Paul the Apostle Hebrews authorship

Hebrews is not attributed to Paul by Mike; all other epistles he considers genuinely Pauline

Mike's personal view on Hebrews authorship within the Pauline authorship discussion

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 7:12 — is Paul's 'I, not the Lord' statement inspired Scripture?

Viewer question: Should we consider 1 Corinthians 7:12 inspired since Paul explicitly says it is his opinion, not the Lord's?

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7 marriage apostolic authority

apologetics Paul the Apostle historicity of Jesus

Introduction of the skeptical objection: Paul didn't know much about Jesus

Mike opens by framing the topic as a response to a common skeptical objection he hears when doing Christian apologetics.

Paul the Apostle epistles genre of epistles vs. gospels

Epistles are not biographies — they don't need to quote Jesus extensively

Before diving into scripture, Mike explains why Paul's letters don't contain extensive biography of Jesus and why that doesn't undermine their historical value.

Paul the Apostle Matt Dillahunty historicity of Jesus

Matt Dillahunty's claim: Paul only gives us death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

Mike cites a specific claim by Matt Dillahunty (paraphrased) that Paul's writings tell us virtually nothing about the historical Jesus other than death, burial, and resurrection.

Galatians 4:4 Galatians 4:4 incarnation Paul the Apostle

Galatians 4:4 — Paul affirms Jesus was a human being born of a woman, born under the Law (i.e., Jewish)

First in a series of scriptures Mike walks through to show what Paul knew about the historical Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 James (brother of Jesus) Paul the Apostle post-resurrection appearances resurrection creed

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 — the resurrection creed: appearances to Peter, the twelve, 500+, James, all apostles, and Paul

The full resurrection appearance list in 1 Corinthians 15 as evidence Paul knew the historical Jesus and the witnesses to his resurrection.

Paul the Apostle historical reliability independent attestation

Paul's letters predate the Gospels — his knowledge of Jesus is independent from them

Key methodological point: Paul's testimony cannot be derived from the Gospels since he wrote earlier.

Gamaliel Paul the Apostle Pharisees

Paul was a Pharisee trained in Jerusalem under Gamaliel and likely encountered Jesus personally

Mike addresses the claim that Paul never met Jesus, arguing circumstantial evidence strongly suggests they crossed paths.

Romans 14 James (brother of Jesus) Acts 21:17-26 circumcision Nazirite vow Romans 14

Acts 21:17-26 — Paul participates in a Nazirite vow to demonstrate continued Torah observance as a Jewish believer

Q&A: question about Paul's behavior in Acts 21 and what it tells us about his relationship to Torah.

Acts of the Apostles Paul the Apostle early Christian persecution Acts of the Apostles

The book of Acts as a sustained narrative of persecution — Paul's pre-conversion role as persecutor and post-conversion experience of being persecuted

Persecution is the central recurring theme of Acts

James the brother of Jesus Paul the Apostle apostle sincerity conspiracy hypothesis

Focus narrowed to Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and Paul as the three central resurrection eyewitnesses whose sincerity needs to be established

Transition from general persecution to specific apostolic martyrdoms

James the brother of Jesus scholarly consensus Paul the Apostle Gary Habermas

Gary Habermas's scholarly consensus claim: early data report the martyrdoms of Peter, James the brother of Jesus, and Paul; few scholars doubt this

Citing the scholarly consensus on apostolic martyrdoms

Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom Peter the Apostle

1 Clement 5 (c. 95-97 AD) — non-apologetic, community-memory reference to Peter and Paul both suffering and dying for their faith

First extra-biblical source for Peter's (and Paul's) martyrdom

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom apostle sincerity

2 Corinthians 11:24-28 — Paul's own catalog of sufferings as direct first-person evidence of his willingness to endure persecution for Christ

Paul's own testimony as evidence of sincerity

Philippians Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom apostle sincerity

Philippians — Paul's pastoral management of his congregation's grief over his suffering as evidence that his persecution was a given, publicly known reality

Paul's suffering was so consistent and well-known that he had to repeatedly address the pastoral fallout from it

2 Timothy 4:6-8 Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom 2 Timothy 4:6-8

2 Timothy 4:6-8 — Paul describes himself as being poured out as a drink offering, anticipating his imminent death

Pauline text indicating Paul's awareness of and preparation for his own martyrdom

Paul the Apostle apostolic martyrdom Sean McDowell

Eight sources within the first and second centuries referencing Paul's martyrdom, per Sean McDowell; Polycarp references Paul's sufferings and those of all the Apostles

Summary of extra-biblical evidence for Paul's martyrdom

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 James the brother of Jesus Paul the Apostle 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Peter the Apostle

1 Corinthians 15 early creed: dating, content, and the list of resurrection witnesses including Peter, James, Paul, and the 500

Establishing the early creed as the foundational evidence for resurrection appearances

James the brother of Jesus argument from silence Paul the Apostle Justin Martyr

Absence of any recantation tradition for Peter, James, or Paul — an argument from silence that is evidentially significant given second-century apologetic engagement

The negative evidence: no source anywhere suggests any of these eyewitnesses recanted

James the brother of Jesus resurrection Paul the Apostle apostle sincerity

Conclusion: Peter, Paul, and James were sincerely convinced they had seen Jesus alive — the conspiracy/lying hypothesis is eliminated by the evidence

Summary conclusion of the main argument

James the brother of Jesus James's pre-resurrection unbelief resurrection Paul the Apostle criterion of embarrassment

Three embarrassing facts that authenticate the disciples' sincerity: Peter's denial, James's pre-resurrection unbelief, and Paul's role as persecutor of the church

The criterion of embarrassment applied to the three key witnesses

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Paul the Apostle Resurrection of Jesus

Twitter response 2: Eyewitness testimony from various continents, plus written testimony from Pilate or Sanhedrin

Second respondent's examples of extraordinary resurrection evidence.

Paul the Apostle Resurrection of Jesus Eyewitness testimony

Twitter response 7: Signed first-century testimony from Pilate — Paul is a better answer

Seventh respondent; Mike argues Paul's conversion is more powerful than any Pilate testimony could be.

James the brother of Jesus Paul the Apostle Resurrection of Jesus James the brother of Jesus

The cumulative case for the resurrection: what evidence we actually have

Mike assembles the positive evidence for the resurrection after dismantling the slogan's objections.

1 Corinthians James the brother of Jesus 1 Corinthians Paul the Apostle Resurrection of Jesus

Paul and James as enemy/skeptic witnesses to the resurrection — more powerful than Pilate would be

Mike argues we already have the category of evidence (non-follower witnesses) that skeptics demand.

Matthew 28 Paul the Apostle Gentiles Law of Moses

Three expectations if Jesus wanted obedience to Mosaic Law: (1) clear extension to Gentiles in his teaching, (2) Apostles teaching it to Gentiles in Acts, (3) Paul explicitly commanding it

Methodological framework for evaluating Acts

Acts 9:15 Acts 9:20 Paul the Apostle Acts 9:15 Acts 9:20

Acts 9: Saul is converted and called as the apostle to the Gentiles, but immediately begins preaching in synagogues to Jews -- the Gentile mission has not yet begun

Survey of Acts chapter 9, Paul's conversion

Acts 11:22-26 discipleship Barnabas Torah observance

Barnabas and Saul spend a full year discipling the Antioch church; disciples are first called Christians there. This extended discipleship with no mention of Torah observance is a key data point.

Survey of Acts 11:22-26, Antioch discipleship

Acts 13:14 Paul the Apostle fulfillment theology Acts 13:14

Paul preaches in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:14) -- his standard method is synagogue first, then the broader city. His message presents Jesus as fulfillment of the law and prophets.

Survey of Acts 13:14, Paul's first missionary journey

Acts 13:38-39 Paul the Apostle justification Law of Moses

Acts 13:38-39 -- Paul: forgiveness is proclaimed through Jesus, and through him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which they could not be freed through the law of Moses

Paul's synagogue sermon in Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:42-46 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Gentile mission

Acts 13:42-46 -- Paul invited back next Sabbath; nearly the whole city comes; jealous Jews contradict him; Paul and Barnabas declare they are turning to the Gentiles

Survey of Acts 13:42-46, rejection by Jews and turn to Gentiles

Acts 14:8-11 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Acts 14:8-11

Acts 14 -- Paul in Iconium and Lystra heals a lame man; Gentiles try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul corrects their polytheism but never mentions the Law of Moses.

Survey of Acts 14, Paul's ministry in Lystra

Acts 14:21-23 discipleship Barnabas Paul the Apostle

Paul appoints elders from Gentile churches (Acts 14:21-23) with no mention of Torah. These are advanced disciples who had Paul with them multiple times and a full year of discipleship.

Survey of Acts 14:21-23, appointment of elders

Acts 15:1-2 Barnabas false gospel Paul the Apostle

Acts 15:1 -- men from Judea teach that circumcision according to Moses is required for salvation, triggering the Jerusalem Council

Survey of Acts 15:1-2, the Judaizers

Acts 16:1-3 Timothy Paul the Apostle circumcision

Acts 16:1-3 -- Timothy is circumcised by Paul, despite delivering the decree that Gentiles need not be circumcised. His circumcision is for missionary effectiveness among Jews.

Survey of Acts 16, Timothy's circumcision

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Timothy Paul the Apostle law of Christ

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 -- Paul becomes as a Jew to win Jews, as under the law to win those under the law, as without law to win those without law. Timothy's circumcision fits this pattern.

Cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 9 to explain Timothy's circumcision

Acts 18:13 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Survey of Acts 18:13

1 Corinthians 9 Acts 18:18 Nazirite vow Paul the Apostle 1 Corinthians 9

Acts 18:18 -- Paul keeps a Nazirite vow (hair cut) years after the resurrection. Consistent with Jewish believers continuing optional Torah practices.

Survey of Acts 18:18, Paul's Nazirite vow