Why do so many atheist historians think that 1 Corinthians 15 is reliable history?

The author of the blog post highlights 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 as a crucial passage for Christians defending the historical reliability of the resurrection. This passage is presented as an early creed passed down from eyewitnesses like Peter and John, and even includes Paul’s own experience. The author argues that this tradition was received by Paul during his visit to Jerusalem, as mentioned in Galatians 1 and 2, and that it predates his own ministry.

The post explains that many New Testament scholars recognize that Paul is not the original author of this passage. The author outlines several non-Pauline features of the passage, such as specific grammatical structures and vocabulary, which suggest it was passed down from earlier Christian communities. These characteristics support the idea that the tradition dates back to within the first five years after Jesus’ death.

The author also references Dr. William Lane Craig and Gary Habermas, who engage with non-Christian scholars to assess their views on the resurrection. The blog post emphasizes that even some secular historians acknowledge the early and reliable nature of the resurrection accounts found in 1 Corinthians 15. This passage, the author argues, is central to the historical case for the resurrection of Jesus.

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