What Really Happened After the Crucifixion?

Episode Outline:
0:00 Easter questions about Jesus’ death and resurrection
2:07 Bart on the challenge of doing public scholarship well
4:37 Could anyone really have seen the temple curtain tear?
6:25 Darkness, earthquakes, raised saints, and whether any of it has historical attestation
8:00 Did Jesus rise on Sunday, and what does Matthew mean by the raised dead?
11:05 Reimarus, stolen-body theories, and whether the resurrection could have been fabricated
14:06 The ascension, the assumption, and how resurrection traditions compare to other ancient figures
18:30 Bart’s Easter message inside BSA
20:28 Paul, burial language, glorified bodies, swoon theory, Gnostics, and resurrection in Mark 12

Episode Description

As Easter approaches, and millions reflect on the resurrection of Jesus, Megan Lewis and Bart Ehrman dedicate Episode 180 to exploring the facts, myths, and theological interpretations of this central event in Christian history.

The episode opens with brief personal updates before launching into a rapid-fire Q&A session fueled by listener-submitted questions. The inquiries range from the literal tearing of the temple curtain at Jesus’ death, to the solar eclipses, earthquakes, and the resurrection of saints described in the gospel accounts. Bart Ehrman brings his expertise to clarify which events are considered historical, which are metaphorical, and how these stories served theological purposes.

Listeners are guided through the particulars of each gospel’s account of the resurrection, the ascension, and the differing views in early Christianity—especially between Paul’s epistles and later gospel writers like Luke and John. The episode also scrutinizes alternative theories and scholarly ideas: Did the apostles fake the resurrection? Could Jesus have survived the crucifixion? How did Gnostic Christians interpret the resurrection?

Historical parallels from Jewish, Greek, and Roman traditions provide context: Was Jesus unique in being believed to have been resurrected? What about figures like Apollonius of Tyana or the king Romulus? How does the story of Jesus resonate or diverge from other ancient traditions of divine beings and heroes?

The episode even includes an invitation to Bart Ehrman’s upcoming live Easter message—targeted to those looking for an honest yet meaningful reflection, regardless of belief.

Three Key Takeaways
- Historical vs. Metaphorical Events: Many dramatic events described in the gospel accounts around Jesus’ crucifixion—like the temple curtain tearing, earthquakes, and resurrection of saints—are likely to be theological metaphors rather than historical facts. Bart Ehrman emphasizes the importance of distinguishing literary storytelling from actual history.
- Variety of Views on Resurrection: Early Christian beliefs about resurrection differed markedly. Paul and the gospels agree Jesus was bodily raised, but disagree on the nature of the resurrected body, with Paul emphasizing a glorified, immortal body and gospel writers emphasizing continuity with Jesus’ earthly physicality.
- Unique and Shared Traditions: While Jesus’ resurrection forms the cornerstone of Christianity, belief in heavenly ascension, divine birth, and postmortem appearances is not totally unique to Jesus—similar stories abound in Greco-Roman and Jewish literature, further complicating the notion of novelty.

Also watch these episodes:
What Happened to Jesus' Body? Was He Buried on the Day of His Crucifixion?
What Happened to Jesus' Body? Was He Buried on the Day of His Crucifixion?

Night of the Living Dead: Matthew's Forgotten Resurrection
Night of the Living Dead: Matthew's Forgotten Resurrection

Am I Going to Hell? What the New Testament Says About Death and the Afterlife
Am I Going to Hell? What the New Testament Says About Death and the Afterlife