The Empty Tomb: Analyzing the Historical Evidence and Its Implications for Faith

Bradley Sliedrecht
Jan 3
3 min read

The story of the empty tomb stands at the heart of Christian faith and history. It is the one fact that some historians debate, yet it remains central to understanding the resurrection of Jesus. What makes this event so compelling is not just the claim itself but the historical details surrounding it. This post explores the evidence for the empty tomb, examines alternative explanations, and considers what it means for faith today.

Eye-level view of the entrance to an ancient rock-cut tomb with a large stone rolled aside

The Historical Facts About the Empty Tomb

Several key points stand out when examining the historical record of Jesus’ burial and the empty tomb:

Women were the first witnesses

In the Gospel accounts, women discover the empty tomb first. This detail is significant because, in the ancient world, women’s testimony was often considered unreliable. If the story were fabricated, it is unlikely the authors would choose women as the primary witnesses. This suggests the accounts aimed to report what actually happened, not create a convincing myth.

Jewish authorities never produced Jesus’ body

Instead of presenting the body to disprove the resurrection, Jewish leaders accused the disciples of stealing it. This accusation implies that the tomb was indeed empty, as they admitted the body was missing.

The burial site was well known

Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a respected public figure. This was not a secret or unknown location. The early Christian proclamation of the resurrection took place in Jerusalem, where the tomb’s location was common knowledge.

Theologian William Lane Craig highlights the importance of this fact: if Jesus had not been buried in a known tomb, the disciples could not have proclaimed the resurrection so soon after the crucifixion. The empty tomb was a public fact that everyone recognized.

Why Alternative Theories Fail to Explain the Facts

Over the centuries, skeptics have proposed several explanations for the empty tomb. Each falls short when tested against historical evidence:

The disciples stole the body

This theory assumes the disciples acted deceitfully. Yet, they faced persecution and death rather than gain from this claim. It is unlikely they would willingly suffer for a lie they knew was false.

Jesus didn’t really die (the swoon theory)

Some suggest Jesus only fainted and later revived. However, Roman soldiers were experts at execution, and the Gospel accounts describe Jesus’ death in detail. A swoon victim could not have rolled away the heavy stone or appeared alive in a way that convinced many.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are individual experiences and do not happen in groups. The early followers claimed to see Jesus alive in groups, sometimes with hundreds of witnesses.

Legend or myth

Legends take time to develop, often decades or centuries. The resurrection story appeared within three years of Jesus’ death, in a hostile environment where early Christians faced opposition.

Each alternative explanation struggles to account for the empty tomb and the rapid growth of the Christian movement.

The Impact of the Resurrection on History

The resurrection was not a private belief or a minor event. It transformed the Roman world and beyond:

It turned fearful followers into bold witnesses willing to die for their faith.
It launched a movement that spread across continents and lasted through centuries.
It challenged the prevailing views on death, hope, and forgiveness.

British scholar N.T. Wright emphasizes this point: early Christians did not invent the empty tomb or the appearances of the risen Jesus. Nobody expected such events, and no conversion experience would have created these claims.

What the Empty Tomb Means for Faith Today

If Jesus truly rose from the dead, His claim to be God carries historical weight, not just theological significance. The empty tomb offers more than a story; it offers hope: