1. Minimal Fact +1 The Empty Tomb

2. Why do we call this the “+1” ? It does not meet the two criteria that we have established for the Minimal Facts approach. 75% Accept the empty tomb as historical fact

3. J.E.T. – The new mnemonic ! The Jerusalem Factor Enemy Attestation Testimony of Women.

4. The Jerusalem Factor J E T

5. Jesus died, was crucified, and buried in Jerusalem His first post-mortem appearances were in Jerusalem. The empty tomb was first proclaimed publicly there

6. The Jerusalem Factor Why not just display the crucified body? The body was too decayed, perhaps? Two Problems with this idea Arid Climate of Jerusalem Regardless of its condition there would have been benefit in producing the body.

7. Enemy Attestation J E T

8. Enemy attestation lacks bias. There is indirect evidence that the “enemy” proclaimed the empty tomb. Mathew 28:12-13 Justin Martyr, Trypho 108 Tertullian, De Spectaculis 30

9. Testimony of Women J E T

10. All four Gospels Men come later, and that is in only two Gospels. Why if concocting a story, use weak witnesses?

11. Testimony of Women – Jewish Perspective Sooner let the words of the Law be burnt than delivered to women. (Talmud, Sotah 19a) The world cannot exist without males and without females-happy is he whose children are males, and woe to him whose children are females. (Talmud, Kiddushin 82b)35 But let not the testimony of women be admitted, on account of the levity and boldness of their sex, nor let servants be admitted to give testimony on account of the ignobility of their soul; since it is probable that they may not speak truth, either out of hope of gain, or fear of punishment. (Josephus, Antiquities 4.8.15)3" Any evidence which a woman [gives] is not valid (to offer), also they are not valid to offer. This is equivalent to saying that one who is Rabbinically accounted a robber is qualified to give the same evidence as a woman. (Talmud, Rosh Hashannah 1.8)

12. Testimony of Women – Gentile Perspective Whereas men and women had hitherto always sat together, Augustus confined women to the back rows even at gladiatorial shows: the only ones exempt from this rule being the Vestal Virgins, for whom separate accommodation was provided, facing the praetor's tribunal. No women at all were allowed to witness the athletic contests; indeed, when the audience clamoured at the Games for a special boxing match to celebrate his appointment as Chief Priest, Augustus postponed this until early the next morning, and issued a proclamation to the effect that it was the Chief Priest's desire that women should not attend the Theatre before ten o'clock.3 – Suetonius on Caesar Augustus c.115 AD

13. Wrap-up

14. The Four Minimal Facts Jesus died by crucifixion The Apostles believed that they had seen the risen Christ Paul James +1…the empty tomb

15. Next Week… Encountering Opposing Theories