If the resurrection was physical, why does Paul’s Account Lack Physical Detail?
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Skeptical scholars sometimes argue that the resurrection accounts arose from grief-induced hallucinations, or that one apostle had a visionary experience that later spread through cognitive dissonance. On this view, the tradition develops over time: the earliest Gospel, Mark, does not describe a physical appearance of Jesus, while later Gospels like Matthew, Luke, and John portray increasingly physical encounters—Jesus being touched, eating with the disciples, and emphasizing that he is not a ghost.
A point raised against the resurrection is this: if it was truly physical from the beginning, why doesn’t St. Paul—writing earlier than the Gospels—describe it that way? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul lists appearances of the risen Jesus, but he does not mention any physical interaction such as touching or eating. His own experience also seems more visionary or revelatory in nature rather than clearly bodily.
Asked by Connor Jones
(251 rep)
Apr 17, 2026, 10:22 PM