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Continuing a summary of Gary Habermas’ defense of the resurrection based on a minimal facts approach, today, I look at the transformation of the disciples. I have already discussed how almost all critical scholars admit the historicity of the death of Jesus of Nazareth by crucifixion, as well as the experiences of the disciples which they thought were actual appearances of the risen Jesus.

That the disciples were transformed by these resurrection appearances is universally attested by scholars. The entire New Testament testifies to this fact. According to Habermas:

Prior to Jesus’s death, they abandoned him and went into hiding. But seeing Jesus again thoroughly modified the rest of their lives, making them willing to die for their message. Accordingly, many of them were killed. The earliest Christian writings testify that what the apostles taught and how they behaved were forever altered by Jesus’s resurrection.

- The Risen Jesus & Future Hope - (p 27)

The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of the New Testament contain many references to the transformation of the disciples by Christ’s resurrection. I will not enumerate them here. Non-biblical sources also confirm this transformation, both Christian and non-Christian. That the apostles were willing to die is reported in many places. Clement of Rome speaks of the martyrdom of Peter and Paul. Josephus and Hegesippus both speak of Jesus’ Brother, James, martyrdom. Eusebius also contains the martyrdom of James (John’s brother), Peter and Paul.

It is true that people may be transformed by a belief or an experience which is not true, but it goes almost uncontested that if someone is willing to die, that belief is strongly and genuinely held. In the case of the disciples of Christ, it is not just a belief, but it is an experience that transformed their lives to the point of matyrdom, namely, the resurrection appearances of Jesus.

Ben Meyer, in The Aims of Jesus, states:

That it was the Easter experiences which affected [the disciples] transformation is beyond reasonable doubt.

Hugo Staudinger, in Resurrection of Jesus Christ, claims:

Only the appearances of Jesus brought about a new change of mood in them.

Next, the fourth of the six minimal facts needed to argue convincingly for the resurrection: The early proclamation of the resurrection.