Hugo Grotius · 38 of 132

SECT. VII. The objection drawn from the seeming impossibility of a resurrection, answered.

INDEED, nobody can withstand the credibility of so many and so great testimonies, without saying, that a thing of this nature is impossible to be, such as we say all things that imply a contradiction are. But this cannot be said of it. It might indeed, if any one should affirm, that the same person was alive and dead at the same time: but that a dead man should be restored to life, by the power of him who first gave life to man, there is no reason why this should be thought impossible. Neither did wise men believe it to be impossible: for Plato relates it of Er the Armenian; Heraclides Ponticus, of a certain woman; Herodotus, of Aristæus; and Plutarch, of another: which, whether they were true or false, shews the opinion of learned men, concerning the possibility of the thing.

The truth of Jesus’s doctrine proved from his resurrection.

IF it be not impossible that Christ should return to life again, and if it be proved from sufficient testimonies, such as convinced Bechai, a teacher of the Jews, so far as to acknowledge the truth of it; and Christ himself (as both his own disciples and strangers confess) declared a new doctrine, as by a divine command, it will certainly follow, that this doctrine is true; because it is repugnant to the justice and wisdom of God to bestow such endowments upon him who had been guilty of a falsity, in a matter of so great moment. Especially when he had, before his death, declared to his disciples that he should die, and what manner of death; and also that he should return to life again; and that these things should therefore come to pass, that they might confirm the truth of his doctrine.