Alternative Naturalistic Theories #2: Swoon The
Swoon Theory This theory
states that Jesus did not die on the cross, but only swooned. When he was
placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, he was still alive, and in the
coolness and quiet he revived. Problems: 1. Scourging and crucifixion were efficient means to kill someone. The historian Josephus describes seeing three friends who were in the process of being crucified: “And when I was sent by Titus Caesar
with Cerealins, and a thousand horsemen, to a certain village called Thecoa, in
order to know whether it were a place fit for a camp, as I came back, I saw
many captives crucified, and remembered three of them as my former
acquaintance. I was very sorry at this in my mind, and went with tears in my
eyes to Titus, and told him of them; so he immediately commanded them to be
taken down, and to have the greatest care taken of them, in order to their
recovery; yet two of them died under the physician’s hand, while the third
recovered.” (Life 76) 2. Furthermore,
Jesus had a sword thrust in his side. 3. The
Romans were professionals and knew how to tell if someone were dead. 4. Even if
Jesus was alive when taken down from the cross, he was wrapped in about 75-100
pounds of gravecloths and spices, including over his face. 5. Near
death, Jesus would have had to unwrap the stuck-together gravecloths around
him, push the golel from the tomb, and walk out to make multiple appearances to
the eyewitnesses. Despite the severe stress of crucifixion etc. he would have
had to give the appearance as a conqueror of death rather than as someone who
was near death. |
