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Body of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus and Why It Matters Today
"Straightforward and practical, Body of Proof examines the latest archaeological and textual findings and presents seven tangible, fresh proofs that Jesus really rose from the dead-and why it matters today. When you fully understand the implications of the resurrection, you will begin to understand the power of Christ in you. And it changes everything"--
176 pages, Hardcover
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 27, 2024
not exactly what i was expecting but an interesting overview of the resurrection. reads more like a literature review than an apologetic study. but all in all, i appreciated the reminder and the integration of the resurrection into daily life
April 21, 2023
Should be required reading for teens! Love how he doesn’t shy away from the arguments made against the resurrection and equips the reader to respond to such claims.
July 5, 2023
Dr. Johnston brings together current biblical scholarship with penetrating logic to lead us into a fresh appraisal of what early Christians preached about the resurrection of Jesus. His book is accessible to laypersons as well as specialists, adherents of any religion or no religion at all. Worthy of enthusiastic recommendation.
July 11, 2025
Johnston’s “Body of Proof” surveys seven evidences for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He does an excellent job introducing the various historical arguments for (and against) the resurrection. The work is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather is more of a summary of his other research.
The method Johnston uses to develop his argument for the resurrection is in the vein of a minimal facts. Those familiar with Habermas will find a lot of similar methodologies. It is not a true minimal facts, but he does largely approach the question of the resurrection with the facts most scholars would accept.
As a personal caveat, I think the minimal facts method leads to some issues—and these issues are present in the work. For one, there is a synoptic preference within the work since many scholars are skeptical of John (largely due to theories placed over the text than any archaeological or textual considerations). Harmonization is ignored as well since many scholars assume the Gospel writers felt free to adapt, even construct de novo, earlier traditions (this accounting for differences in the Gospels). I could say a lot more on the negative effects this can have (as well as the positives), but I believe it’s important to understand the book Johnston chose to write lest we become bogged down in methods rather than the book itself. I think regardless of one’s view of minimal facts there are things to be gleaned from this work.
The pros for this work include providing a summary of the array of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. His work with the 2nd century gospels is particularly helpful, especially since those hold a lot of sway with the popular imagination. He also does a good job of tying archaeological evidences into his reasons for belief, providing a separate objective ground to base confidence in the Gospels account of the resurrection.
The two issues I see in this work is that Johnston overstates and over-simplifies. For an example of the former, he calls Paul a “misanthrope” and “misogynistic” prior to his conversion. In example of the latter, he implies certain things are “the view” of scholarship when in reality there are several competing vantage points.
All in all, the cons do not detract from the overall argument: there is good historical basis to trust the reality of the bodily resurrection. While much of what he elaborates on will be familiar with those who study the resurrection, there are definitely things most everyone will be able to take away from his work—skeptic of Christianity or otherwise. Like any book, the reader will need to discern for themselves the strength of the argument while also keeping in mind it is only intended as a summary (it’s only 176 pages).
The method Johnston uses to develop his argument for the resurrection is in the vein of a minimal facts. Those familiar with Habermas will find a lot of similar methodologies. It is not a true minimal facts, but he does largely approach the question of the resurrection with the facts most scholars would accept.
As a personal caveat, I think the minimal facts method leads to some issues—and these issues are present in the work. For one, there is a synoptic preference within the work since many scholars are skeptical of John (largely due to theories placed over the text than any archaeological or textual considerations). Harmonization is ignored as well since many scholars assume the Gospel writers felt free to adapt, even construct de novo, earlier traditions (this accounting for differences in the Gospels). I could say a lot more on the negative effects this can have (as well as the positives), but I believe it’s important to understand the book Johnston chose to write lest we become bogged down in methods rather than the book itself. I think regardless of one’s view of minimal facts there are things to be gleaned from this work.
The pros for this work include providing a summary of the array of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. His work with the 2nd century gospels is particularly helpful, especially since those hold a lot of sway with the popular imagination. He also does a good job of tying archaeological evidences into his reasons for belief, providing a separate objective ground to base confidence in the Gospels account of the resurrection.
The two issues I see in this work is that Johnston overstates and over-simplifies. For an example of the former, he calls Paul a “misanthrope” and “misogynistic” prior to his conversion. In example of the latter, he implies certain things are “the view” of scholarship when in reality there are several competing vantage points.
All in all, the cons do not detract from the overall argument: there is good historical basis to trust the reality of the bodily resurrection. While much of what he elaborates on will be familiar with those who study the resurrection, there are definitely things most everyone will be able to take away from his work—skeptic of Christianity or otherwise. Like any book, the reader will need to discern for themselves the strength of the argument while also keeping in mind it is only intended as a summary (it’s only 176 pages).
May 25, 2023
I think this is a GREAT place to start for people who have not read anything before in the areas of historical apologetics for the resurrection of Jesus - this is a great popular level treatment of the material.
The last 2 chapters are arguments I've never personally heard of before, and they are great additions to my apologetic arsenal.
The last 2 chapters are arguments I've never personally heard of before, and they are great additions to my apologetic arsenal.
July 8, 2025
4/5 ⭐️
I loved all of the detail put into this book! The author wrote his dissertation on the resurrection, and this book was a glimpse into his 95 pages of writing. It was a quick read, and I will definitely reference this one again in the future!!
I loved all of the detail put into this book! The author wrote his dissertation on the resurrection, and this book was a glimpse into his 95 pages of writing. It was a quick read, and I will definitely reference this one again in the future!!
May 12, 2025
Excellent work of apologetic research defending the veracity of Jesus’s resurrection. This book is well written and easy to follow. I was especially interested in the last two chapters which feature Dr. Johnston’s latest research, although I had hoped that would include his recent work around the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. This is a great resource for skeptics and believers alike.
December 25, 2024
Very interesting book about the history of Jesus the man and how it proves he lived died and was resurrected.
April 21, 2024
I read this for a book club and while the premise of this book is great, the delivery just left so much to be desired. Lots of arguments that the author failed to follow up with support and a very scattered organization of ideas. Unfortunately disappointing.
April 12, 2023
Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is vital for Christians. Paul wrote that if it did not happen, our faith is useless. (1 Cor. 15:17) How can we be certain the resurrection did, in fact, happen?
Johnston wants believers to be sure of their belief in the resurrection. He explores theories critical of it and then approaches reasons for belief in it. Most of his reasons require we believe in the historical accuracy and validity of the biblical accounts. While he does go into some textual evidence for the Bible representing true historical events, it might not be convincing to those outside the faith. He does admit there are differences in the gospel resurrection accounts, some of which are not so easily reconciled. (151)
The proof that may appeal to non-Christians is the influence Christianity has had on the world. The selfless humanitarian work done by Christians is evidence of the power of the resurrection in their lives. There is also the evidence of early Christians being willing to die for their belief in the resurrection. Johnston also argues that there is no reason for the disciples to fabricate the resurrection story.
This is a good book for Bible believing Christians but there is nothing new here to convince skeptics.
While I was invited by the publisher to review this book, I never received a copy from them. I was able to read this book through my local public library and complete the review. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Johnston wants believers to be sure of their belief in the resurrection. He explores theories critical of it and then approaches reasons for belief in it. Most of his reasons require we believe in the historical accuracy and validity of the biblical accounts. While he does go into some textual evidence for the Bible representing true historical events, it might not be convincing to those outside the faith. He does admit there are differences in the gospel resurrection accounts, some of which are not so easily reconciled. (151)
The proof that may appeal to non-Christians is the influence Christianity has had on the world. The selfless humanitarian work done by Christians is evidence of the power of the resurrection in their lives. There is also the evidence of early Christians being willing to die for their belief in the resurrection. Johnston also argues that there is no reason for the disciples to fabricate the resurrection story.
This is a good book for Bible believing Christians but there is nothing new here to convince skeptics.
While I was invited by the publisher to review this book, I never received a copy from them. I was able to read this book through my local public library and complete the review. My comments are an independent and honest review.
December 1, 2024
Dead Body
A critical review of J. J. Johnston, Body of Proof (2023)
I must begin by confessing a certain feeling against the argument of this book even before beginning it. My main work concerns China from about the third century BCE to the second century CE; that is, mostly the two Han dynasties and the abortive Xin interregnum that took place very close to the lifetime of Jesus. I have always wondered how Christians reconciled their doctrine of the Good News with the fact that this news would not even be delivered to a large part of the human world for some seven centuries, and would then arrive in such a way that it could be and was ignored for centuries after that. When the gospel of Jesus finally got a broad hearing in China, its chief result was to inspire a bloody conflict, the Taiping Rebellion, which became the most lethal war of the nineteenth century with perhaps thirty million dead. Not exactly a good advertisement for the Prince of Peace!
This has made me curious about how the Jesus business got started. Body of Proof was written not only to explain it, but to convince readers of its truth and importance. For me, it has done neither. The arguments of the book are so clumsy and unconvincing that they could only convince the already committed. I found myself relieved, in a way. It doesn’t seem that Asia, and the two-thirds of the world that has remained non-Christian, have missed much.
Part of it is due to the author’s habit of making ridiculous claims. In Chapter 2, for instance, he lists four “facts” about Jesus’ life that “historians readily concede.” The first two are no problem; Jesus did live, and he attracted attention by his preaching, becoming politically suspect and eventually being executed. Unfortunate, and unfair, but unexceptional: the Romans had a habit of being quite abrupt with those they saw as potential rebels. The third, that his followers proclaimed that he had been resurrected after his execution, is also largely unproblematic, at least in general terms.
However, the fourth point is laughable. “Believers and unbelievers can agree on the historical fact that the disciples had experiences of seeing Jesus after his death.” With respect, no. We can agree that the disciples claimed they had seen various improbable things, including Jesus himself, but they were interested parties, to put it mildly, and as the author himself admits, the tales probably went through a period of oral transmission before being committed to writing (Chapter 3). He seems to be entirely innocent of any idea of what can happen to the details of an oral tale over a few weeks of transmission, let alone a few years. Two or three hours playing Telephone would do him a world of good.
This is not the only time the author slips us a list that begins well but ends with some very dodgy material. There’s another, also in Chapter 3. That Jesus thought he had a close relationship with God and had been chosen by God to usher in God’s kingdom – which didn’t actually happen, incidentally – are unprovable but at least fairly possible. (We have NO idea how accurate the account in the orthodox gospels is to what Jesus actually said). The third point is “Jesus believed himself to be a miracle worker and exorcist” – which again is quite possible – “and he did deeds to back up his claims” – which is highly dubious and rests on no reliable testimony. (If you are going to trust a man’s disciples for a level and impartial account of the miracles he performed, I have a bridge to sell you.) He notes that Jesus is alleged to have promised to resurrect to prove his point – again, there is no independent proof that he managed that feat. But it does provide a clear incentive to his disciples to pretend that he did, and for the credulous to believe them.
The final sentence of the second chapter is another illustration of the author’s method: “….mainstream scholars accept the historical authenticity of Jesus, and so should we.” This has more packed into it than appears at first sight. We accept the “historical authenticity” of Muhammad as well, but non-Muslims do not consider him the Prophet of God. We accept the “historical authenticity” of Siddhartha Gautama, but non-Buddhists do not believe he became enlightened and achieved nirvana. Historical authenticity and truthful testimony are two very different things. The author is using the first as cover to attempt to smuggle Jesus past our critical sense, and I am not impressed.
Unfortunately, the whole book is on this level. The rest of it is composed of seven reasons to believe in the resurrection, and two supplementary chapters.
The topic of Chapter 4 is “Society is Transformed Everywhere Christianity is Introduced and Embraced.” Even if this were true, it would have no connection with the truth of Christianity or of the resurrection. “Barbarian Europe was transformed into the greatest, most technologically and educationally advanced society on the planet, leaping past the older near eastern and far eastern civilizations.” Early Christian Europe was little more than a zit on the rump of Eurasia; the “transformation” of which the author speaks only began after the position of the church came under attack, and has culminated with the European church in ruins. It is simply weird and a little sad to attribute the presence of smartphones and the internet to the resurrection of Jesus, or to declare the entire non-Christian world “hell on earth.”
Oddest of all is the staunch declaration that “Christianity is also the only faith that holds the view that God himself has purchased our redemption.” This is utter gibberish. Christianity is supposed to be monotheistic. Whom did God purchase it from, himself? And why does a supposedly omnipotent God have to purchase anything, like a peasant woman buying turnips in a market?
In retrospect, it’s not surprising that one messiah took off when so many tried. (The author has a useful list of some others who didn’t manage to establish a lasting presence.) The promoters of the Jesus brand simply found the right mix for the market, which was composed of people who would normally be interested in mystery religions, but who were not allowed into those religions because of lack of money, social snobbery, or misogyny. The early Christians, Paul in particular, came to the same conclusion that Henry Ford did about cars: better to sell a basic product to a mass of people than to keep prices high and access restricted. They promised the miserable bliss in heaven, and for some reason – I can’t imagine what it might have been – no one who died ever came back and demanded a refund. (The dismal fate of Communism was entirely due to the error of promising results that people could actually check. Christianity did not make that error; they put the confirmation that they were lying out of human reach.)
Finally, the mystery religions never had enough followers to gather in mobs and murder their opponents. The Christians did, and it was of material assistance in helping them attain a majority position. The author even has the brass to make the same promise today as was made to those mobs then: “Once a person comes to know Jesus Christ through an act of faith, receiving the forgiveness of sin he so bountifully offers, there’s not one sin a believer can commit that will keep him or her out of heaven” (Chapter 10: 120). I thought that “unto the pure all things are pure” had gone out of fashion, but apparently, not.
Body of Proof is a paper mausoleum for a decomposing corpse, past all hope of resurrection, without even much energy in the worms that occasionally wriggle out of it. Its arguments are self-satisfied and simplistic, grounded in a world where the West was the only reality, a world that is gone and will never return. Remaining believers may find it a comfort in the growing darkness, but this flaccid flapping will never re-ignite the fire of a false faith.
A critical review of J. J. Johnston, Body of Proof (2023)
I must begin by confessing a certain feeling against the argument of this book even before beginning it. My main work concerns China from about the third century BCE to the second century CE; that is, mostly the two Han dynasties and the abortive Xin interregnum that took place very close to the lifetime of Jesus. I have always wondered how Christians reconciled their doctrine of the Good News with the fact that this news would not even be delivered to a large part of the human world for some seven centuries, and would then arrive in such a way that it could be and was ignored for centuries after that. When the gospel of Jesus finally got a broad hearing in China, its chief result was to inspire a bloody conflict, the Taiping Rebellion, which became the most lethal war of the nineteenth century with perhaps thirty million dead. Not exactly a good advertisement for the Prince of Peace!
This has made me curious about how the Jesus business got started. Body of Proof was written not only to explain it, but to convince readers of its truth and importance. For me, it has done neither. The arguments of the book are so clumsy and unconvincing that they could only convince the already committed. I found myself relieved, in a way. It doesn’t seem that Asia, and the two-thirds of the world that has remained non-Christian, have missed much.
Part of it is due to the author’s habit of making ridiculous claims. In Chapter 2, for instance, he lists four “facts” about Jesus’ life that “historians readily concede.” The first two are no problem; Jesus did live, and he attracted attention by his preaching, becoming politically suspect and eventually being executed. Unfortunate, and unfair, but unexceptional: the Romans had a habit of being quite abrupt with those they saw as potential rebels. The third, that his followers proclaimed that he had been resurrected after his execution, is also largely unproblematic, at least in general terms.
However, the fourth point is laughable. “Believers and unbelievers can agree on the historical fact that the disciples had experiences of seeing Jesus after his death.” With respect, no. We can agree that the disciples claimed they had seen various improbable things, including Jesus himself, but they were interested parties, to put it mildly, and as the author himself admits, the tales probably went through a period of oral transmission before being committed to writing (Chapter 3). He seems to be entirely innocent of any idea of what can happen to the details of an oral tale over a few weeks of transmission, let alone a few years. Two or three hours playing Telephone would do him a world of good.
This is not the only time the author slips us a list that begins well but ends with some very dodgy material. There’s another, also in Chapter 3. That Jesus thought he had a close relationship with God and had been chosen by God to usher in God’s kingdom – which didn’t actually happen, incidentally – are unprovable but at least fairly possible. (We have NO idea how accurate the account in the orthodox gospels is to what Jesus actually said). The third point is “Jesus believed himself to be a miracle worker and exorcist” – which again is quite possible – “and he did deeds to back up his claims” – which is highly dubious and rests on no reliable testimony. (If you are going to trust a man’s disciples for a level and impartial account of the miracles he performed, I have a bridge to sell you.) He notes that Jesus is alleged to have promised to resurrect to prove his point – again, there is no independent proof that he managed that feat. But it does provide a clear incentive to his disciples to pretend that he did, and for the credulous to believe them.
The final sentence of the second chapter is another illustration of the author’s method: “….mainstream scholars accept the historical authenticity of Jesus, and so should we.” This has more packed into it than appears at first sight. We accept the “historical authenticity” of Muhammad as well, but non-Muslims do not consider him the Prophet of God. We accept the “historical authenticity” of Siddhartha Gautama, but non-Buddhists do not believe he became enlightened and achieved nirvana. Historical authenticity and truthful testimony are two very different things. The author is using the first as cover to attempt to smuggle Jesus past our critical sense, and I am not impressed.
Unfortunately, the whole book is on this level. The rest of it is composed of seven reasons to believe in the resurrection, and two supplementary chapters.
The topic of Chapter 4 is “Society is Transformed Everywhere Christianity is Introduced and Embraced.” Even if this were true, it would have no connection with the truth of Christianity or of the resurrection. “Barbarian Europe was transformed into the greatest, most technologically and educationally advanced society on the planet, leaping past the older near eastern and far eastern civilizations.” Early Christian Europe was little more than a zit on the rump of Eurasia; the “transformation” of which the author speaks only began after the position of the church came under attack, and has culminated with the European church in ruins. It is simply weird and a little sad to attribute the presence of smartphones and the internet to the resurrection of Jesus, or to declare the entire non-Christian world “hell on earth.”
Oddest of all is the staunch declaration that “Christianity is also the only faith that holds the view that God himself has purchased our redemption.” This is utter gibberish. Christianity is supposed to be monotheistic. Whom did God purchase it from, himself? And why does a supposedly omnipotent God have to purchase anything, like a peasant woman buying turnips in a market?
In retrospect, it’s not surprising that one messiah took off when so many tried. (The author has a useful list of some others who didn’t manage to establish a lasting presence.) The promoters of the Jesus brand simply found the right mix for the market, which was composed of people who would normally be interested in mystery religions, but who were not allowed into those religions because of lack of money, social snobbery, or misogyny. The early Christians, Paul in particular, came to the same conclusion that Henry Ford did about cars: better to sell a basic product to a mass of people than to keep prices high and access restricted. They promised the miserable bliss in heaven, and for some reason – I can’t imagine what it might have been – no one who died ever came back and demanded a refund. (The dismal fate of Communism was entirely due to the error of promising results that people could actually check. Christianity did not make that error; they put the confirmation that they were lying out of human reach.)
Finally, the mystery religions never had enough followers to gather in mobs and murder their opponents. The Christians did, and it was of material assistance in helping them attain a majority position. The author even has the brass to make the same promise today as was made to those mobs then: “Once a person comes to know Jesus Christ through an act of faith, receiving the forgiveness of sin he so bountifully offers, there’s not one sin a believer can commit that will keep him or her out of heaven” (Chapter 10: 120). I thought that “unto the pure all things are pure” had gone out of fashion, but apparently, not.
Body of Proof is a paper mausoleum for a decomposing corpse, past all hope of resurrection, without even much energy in the worms that occasionally wriggle out of it. Its arguments are self-satisfied and simplistic, grounded in a world where the West was the only reality, a world that is gone and will never return. Remaining believers may find it a comfort in the growing darkness, but this flaccid flapping will never re-ignite the fire of a false faith.
May 6, 2023
3.75 Stars⭐️ I don’t know if I’ve ever made such a specific star rating, but it felt right. I felt like this book fell just short of 4 stars for me. While I appreciate the short and concise chapters and there were sections that I really enjoyed reading, I had a hard time focusing on the content. I also felt like some of the arguments weren’t constructed well (he included lengthily quotations from his own previous books), and I wished he’d gone a little more in depth. There was nothing “wrong” with this book, but I’m just not sure it’s the best. If you looking for an apologetics book about Jesus’ existence, crucifixion, and resurrection, I would recommend something by J. Warner Wallace or Lee Strobel over this book.
May 3, 2023
Body of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus and Why it Matters Today was an excellent, practical, and well-organized book that brought forward one of the most crucial themes of Christianity: the resurrection of Jesus. I appreciated how Dr. Johnston was honest and did not avoid the difficult issues relating to this subject. Additionally, I was reminded of the importance of the reality of the resurrection. Without Jesus' resurrection, our faith is groundless, without foundation, and without hope. I was reminded of this passage below, which shows how critical this historic fact is to our entire lives and faith.
1 Corinthians 15: 12-19 (NKJV) 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." ~Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.~
In Body of Proof Dr. Johnston not only brings out excellent arguments and proofs of the resurrection, but he also give the Christian a greater assurance and confidence in the truth that the world tries to hide: Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead and ever lives above! Dr. Johnston gives readers of this work the encouragement and proof to see the power of Christianity. I appreciated the thoroughness with which Dr. Johnston brought up arguments on both sides of the debate and laid out many good arguments and proofs. Body of Proof was well-organized, had a logical development of thoughts and arguments, as well as helpful and clear points.
There are many chapters and specific points that Dr. Johnston made in Body of Proof, but I was struck by two chapters in particular. Chapter 2, "The Case Against Jesus' Resurrection" which focused on the views and theories of those opposed to Jesus' resurrection (Johnston, 2023, Chapter Two). This section in the book was especially helpful to me to be able to see the focus of those opposed to the truth of the resurrection and the motives behind them. Chapter 6, "Reason #3 Jesus Demonstrated Resurrection Power" was another outstanding chapter in this book (Johnston, 2023, Chapter Six). I particularly was intrigued by the way that Dr. Johnston clarified between resurrection and resuscitation, "The resurrected body is un-dieable... Resuscitation involves a miracle where a person is brought back to life from the dead but will experience death again" (Johnston, 2023, p. 78). Overall, I was impressed by the deep thought that Dr. Johnston brought to this subject without making any of the arguments difficult to be understood. I truly appreciated this work and Dr. Johnston's dealing with a sometimes assumed or overlooked topic. If you are looking for a straight-forward, practical approach to a solid Christian topic, than Body of Proof is the book for you. I highly recommend this book and hope that you have the opportunity to read and glean from it as I definitely have. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Bethany House graciously provided me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.
References
Johnston, J. (2023) Body of proof: The 7 best reasons to believe in the resurrection of jesus--and why it matters today. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Radmacher, Earl D., et al. The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version. T. Nelson Publishers, 1997.
1 Corinthians 15: 12-19 (NKJV) 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." ~Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.~
In Body of Proof Dr. Johnston not only brings out excellent arguments and proofs of the resurrection, but he also give the Christian a greater assurance and confidence in the truth that the world tries to hide: Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead and ever lives above! Dr. Johnston gives readers of this work the encouragement and proof to see the power of Christianity. I appreciated the thoroughness with which Dr. Johnston brought up arguments on both sides of the debate and laid out many good arguments and proofs. Body of Proof was well-organized, had a logical development of thoughts and arguments, as well as helpful and clear points.
There are many chapters and specific points that Dr. Johnston made in Body of Proof, but I was struck by two chapters in particular. Chapter 2, "The Case Against Jesus' Resurrection" which focused on the views and theories of those opposed to Jesus' resurrection (Johnston, 2023, Chapter Two). This section in the book was especially helpful to me to be able to see the focus of those opposed to the truth of the resurrection and the motives behind them. Chapter 6, "Reason #3 Jesus Demonstrated Resurrection Power" was another outstanding chapter in this book (Johnston, 2023, Chapter Six). I particularly was intrigued by the way that Dr. Johnston clarified between resurrection and resuscitation, "The resurrected body is un-dieable... Resuscitation involves a miracle where a person is brought back to life from the dead but will experience death again" (Johnston, 2023, p. 78). Overall, I was impressed by the deep thought that Dr. Johnston brought to this subject without making any of the arguments difficult to be understood. I truly appreciated this work and Dr. Johnston's dealing with a sometimes assumed or overlooked topic. If you are looking for a straight-forward, practical approach to a solid Christian topic, than Body of Proof is the book for you. I highly recommend this book and hope that you have the opportunity to read and glean from it as I definitely have. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Bethany House graciously provided me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.
References
Johnston, J. (2023) Body of proof: The 7 best reasons to believe in the resurrection of jesus--and why it matters today. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Radmacher, Earl D., et al. The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version. T. Nelson Publishers, 1997.
May 23, 2023
Resurrection Relevance and Reality
Certainly, for Christians, and even for nonbelievers, the most important event in history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians it is crucial because, as even the Apostle Paul observed, without the resurrection our faith is in vain to the point of us needing great pity (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). It is essential and central to our faith. Without the reality of the resurrection our faith is meaningless. For non-Christians, not only is it the turning point of history and therefore influential on everything that has shaped present-day realities, but it also has vast relevance to their own futures because, if true, on it balances the key to eternal salvation or damnation for all, including the denier. Yet few, even among professing Christians, have given its reality the consideration that its relevance demands.
In “Body of Proof”, Jeremiah Johnston compiles much of the most significant of the available scholarship on this critical matter. His approach is logical, accessible and focused on the most essential. He grounds his analysis in historical evidence and convincingly argues that the facts best point to the reality of the resurrection. He considers the arguments against the resurrection and counters them effectively and fairly. He relies on all historical sources available, Christian, pagan, and antagonistic. His approach is thorough yet highly readable. It’s an excellent addition to the academic work on the resurrection in a format understandable by all, regardless of prior familiarity with the subject.
While much of the material in fact may be familiar to those who have read broadly on the topic, Johnston both encapsulates it well and adds perspectives. To the specific edification of this reviewer, for example, he showed how the controversial second century non-canonical writings (especially the so-called Gospel of Peter and Acts of Pilate) exhibit numerous instances of embellishing or reconstructing the Gospel record to overcome criticisms of testimony deemed awkward (e.g., the prominence of women’s witness to the empty tomb or the equivocation of the Apostles after Jesus’ arrest and before His resurrection appearances). As Johnston points out, these later, non-eyewitness counterfeits, while possibly intended to strengthen the arguments for the faith, actually exhibit all the characteristics of legend/myth-making that are absent from the canonical Gospels and writings, thus establishing even more persuasively the authenticity and reliability of the New Testament. It is ironic how so many contemporary critics of Christianity point to the non-canonical writings as evidence for biased exclusion of important records, when actually they are evidence of the superior veracity of the canon.
I recommend “Body of Proof” to the familiar and unfamiliar, the believer and nonbeliever, the nominal and the devout. It will give you much to consider on an essential topic for all.
Certainly, for Christians, and even for nonbelievers, the most important event in history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians it is crucial because, as even the Apostle Paul observed, without the resurrection our faith is in vain to the point of us needing great pity (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). It is essential and central to our faith. Without the reality of the resurrection our faith is meaningless. For non-Christians, not only is it the turning point of history and therefore influential on everything that has shaped present-day realities, but it also has vast relevance to their own futures because, if true, on it balances the key to eternal salvation or damnation for all, including the denier. Yet few, even among professing Christians, have given its reality the consideration that its relevance demands.
In “Body of Proof”, Jeremiah Johnston compiles much of the most significant of the available scholarship on this critical matter. His approach is logical, accessible and focused on the most essential. He grounds his analysis in historical evidence and convincingly argues that the facts best point to the reality of the resurrection. He considers the arguments against the resurrection and counters them effectively and fairly. He relies on all historical sources available, Christian, pagan, and antagonistic. His approach is thorough yet highly readable. It’s an excellent addition to the academic work on the resurrection in a format understandable by all, regardless of prior familiarity with the subject.
While much of the material in fact may be familiar to those who have read broadly on the topic, Johnston both encapsulates it well and adds perspectives. To the specific edification of this reviewer, for example, he showed how the controversial second century non-canonical writings (especially the so-called Gospel of Peter and Acts of Pilate) exhibit numerous instances of embellishing or reconstructing the Gospel record to overcome criticisms of testimony deemed awkward (e.g., the prominence of women’s witness to the empty tomb or the equivocation of the Apostles after Jesus’ arrest and before His resurrection appearances). As Johnston points out, these later, non-eyewitness counterfeits, while possibly intended to strengthen the arguments for the faith, actually exhibit all the characteristics of legend/myth-making that are absent from the canonical Gospels and writings, thus establishing even more persuasively the authenticity and reliability of the New Testament. It is ironic how so many contemporary critics of Christianity point to the non-canonical writings as evidence for biased exclusion of important records, when actually they are evidence of the superior veracity of the canon.
I recommend “Body of Proof” to the familiar and unfamiliar, the believer and nonbeliever, the nominal and the devout. It will give you much to consider on an essential topic for all.
May 14, 2023
In Body of Proof, Jeremiah J. Johnston explored seven key reasons that will lead us to believe that Jesus died for our sins and did in fact rise from the grave. He explained how Jesus is the only historical event that enclosed evidence that Jesus died by a Roman crucifixion. The book also explored the misconception theories and how they are flawed and untrue. Two of these included the swoon and wrong tomb theory. He expelled how they are both wrong and provided reasons on why we can choose not to fall for their lies. The book explored seven reasons to believe: society is transformed everywhere Christianity is introduced, Jesus called it, Jesus demonstrated resurrection power, just to name a few. Throughout the book, readers will get to witness key evidence that Jesus did die for our sins and was resurrected.
One of these reasons comprised of how the written and archaeological sources support the Gospel and the resurrection narrative. He explained how in Jewish law Jesus’ death wouldn’t have been an honorable death. He was executed like he was a criminal. He looked at the tombs and stones they used back then. They used square or rectangular stones to seal the entrance of the tomb. Only wealthy families would be able to afford to have round stones. He shared how a body would have to be carried through horizontally. He went into detail about the established facts and how Jesus appeared to numerous people and he had a whole list at the end of the chapter and where they appeared in scripture. He also explored how Jesus was raised up and how Jesus wasn’t a ghost and they actually could touch him.
I would recommend this awesome piece on historical evidence to anyone who is doubting that Jesus existed and that the tomb was empty. I immensely loved how he went into detail about the sevens reasons we can believe. He did an excellent job in looking at the history and the background and what we can learn from it. I also liked how he covered a whole chapter on how the disciples couldn’t have made up the resurrection and if they did, they did a terrible job. This book is an eye opener in the regards to our faith in Christianity.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”
One of these reasons comprised of how the written and archaeological sources support the Gospel and the resurrection narrative. He explained how in Jewish law Jesus’ death wouldn’t have been an honorable death. He was executed like he was a criminal. He looked at the tombs and stones they used back then. They used square or rectangular stones to seal the entrance of the tomb. Only wealthy families would be able to afford to have round stones. He shared how a body would have to be carried through horizontally. He went into detail about the established facts and how Jesus appeared to numerous people and he had a whole list at the end of the chapter and where they appeared in scripture. He also explored how Jesus was raised up and how Jesus wasn’t a ghost and they actually could touch him.
I would recommend this awesome piece on historical evidence to anyone who is doubting that Jesus existed and that the tomb was empty. I immensely loved how he went into detail about the sevens reasons we can believe. He did an excellent job in looking at the history and the background and what we can learn from it. I also liked how he covered a whole chapter on how the disciples couldn’t have made up the resurrection and if they did, they did a terrible job. This book is an eye opener in the regards to our faith in Christianity.
"I received this book free from the publisher, Bethany House/ Chosen for my honest review.”
April 22, 2023
Body of Proof: The 7 Best Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus--and Why It Matters Today by Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, is not a light read. It is a book steeped in scholarly research to prove the case Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
While setting out to prove we can be sure Jesus physically rose from the grave, Dr. Johnston laments his belief most followers of Jesus have a "woefully inadequate understanding" and says few are able to articulate the evidence that supports their belief in Jesus' resurrection.
Body of Proof offers what Dr. Johnston believes are seven best reasons to believe in the resurrection:
Society is transformed everywhere Christianity is introduced and embraced.
Jesus called it.
Jesus demonstrated resurrection power.
No motivation to invent Jesus' resurrection narrative is evident.
Written and archeological sources overwhelmingly support the Gospel's resurrection narrative.
Only Jesus' resurrection convincingly explains the conversion of people not previously his followers.
Jesus' resurrection is the only basis for making sense of suffering.
After he discusses his seven reasons, Dr. Johnston concludes his final two chapters by going deeper into scholarly research of ways to argue the authenticity and historicity of Jesus' resurrection.
If you enjoy in depth scholarly research, Body of Proof may be the book for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.
While setting out to prove we can be sure Jesus physically rose from the grave, Dr. Johnston laments his belief most followers of Jesus have a "woefully inadequate understanding" and says few are able to articulate the evidence that supports their belief in Jesus' resurrection.
Body of Proof offers what Dr. Johnston believes are seven best reasons to believe in the resurrection:
Society is transformed everywhere Christianity is introduced and embraced.
Jesus called it.
Jesus demonstrated resurrection power.
No motivation to invent Jesus' resurrection narrative is evident.
Written and archeological sources overwhelmingly support the Gospel's resurrection narrative.
Only Jesus' resurrection convincingly explains the conversion of people not previously his followers.
Jesus' resurrection is the only basis for making sense of suffering.
After he discusses his seven reasons, Dr. Johnston concludes his final two chapters by going deeper into scholarly research of ways to argue the authenticity and historicity of Jesus' resurrection.
If you enjoy in depth scholarly research, Body of Proof may be the book for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.
May 12, 2023
This is a nice and easy read surrounding the apologetics of the resurrection of Jesus. Johnston does a great job at making an evidential case for the resurrection which is awesome for our hope in our own resurrection. Johnston has similar views as N.T. Wright on the topic which is great.
I also really enjoyed hearing him discuss the origins of the study as his doctoral viva at Oxford.
The only negative I had in the book was that it seemed like a study that was more suited to a shorter essay than a book. Dr. Johnston repeats himself a lot in each chapter... almost to an annoying level. This doesn't take away from the content. One could say that evidence of the resurrection bears repeating. But I found myself wanting to skip ahead to get to the next chapter.
Overall this is a great read and every Christian should be able to explain why they believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a way which is logical and evidential. If you find yourself struggling with that, please give this study a read. The content is very compelling.
I also really enjoyed hearing him discuss the origins of the study as his doctoral viva at Oxford.
The only negative I had in the book was that it seemed like a study that was more suited to a shorter essay than a book. Dr. Johnston repeats himself a lot in each chapter... almost to an annoying level. This doesn't take away from the content. One could say that evidence of the resurrection bears repeating. But I found myself wanting to skip ahead to get to the next chapter.
Overall this is a great read and every Christian should be able to explain why they believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a way which is logical and evidential. If you find yourself struggling with that, please give this study a read. The content is very compelling.
December 16, 2024
A good starting point. Despite the good points (despite most being found elsewhere) there was some left to be desired. He fleshed out some areas well, but others seemed half-baked. At the very least it encourages the reader to investigate further. This book is angled for the Christian, which is fine and probably best, but the arguments shift from archeological and historical to theological and I wish he wouldve had all of his arguments for one or the other. As they both have good effects on different audience and it's more compelling when you maintain one audience for the entirety of a work. Overall, as always, the evidence for a faith in a resurrected Jesus of Nazareth is strong and well articulated.
April 8, 2025
2.5 stars I agree with much if not all of this book; however, I found it unorganized and without passion for the topic being expounded. I read it because I am about to do the workbook Bible study by this same author on the same topic. As I will be leading a small group, I thought it might help me going in and it may, but right now it’s difficult to see how. It seemed well researched but poorly executed. Also, how can you write a book like this without a conclusion or call to a response with the information presented? This makes me wonder who the target audience actually is and what the purpose statement would be about the book.
October 25, 2023
2.5 stars. This book lacks organization. Some sections begin with subtitles that purport to let the reader know what's coming, but then the content veers off in another direction. Also, the author has no clear audience. Is the book for skeptical non-believers? Then don't use words like eschatalogical. Is the book for believers? Then don't repeat several times that Saul becomes Paul. Finally, there is no conclusion. That's just odd. To be fair, there are some decent points made, so I'm not entirely disappointing to have read the book.
June 15, 2024
This book was great! It gave 7 great reasons for why the resurrection is true, and archaeological, cultural, and written evidence outside of the Bible too, to back up those reasons. As a believer in Jesus Christ this book really helped reinforce my belief in Him and His resurrection. This book has changed my entire outlook on how to live my life now with the hope and joy of the life that is to come when Christ returns.
August 24, 2024
A well-reasoned proof helps some along their faith journey. Body of Proof certainly fits that bill. As one who enjoys exploring the background (Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Roman, etc.) history of the Bible, was a teenage archaeologist wannabe, and is a mathematics educator, I found this to be a very satisfying faith-filled read. I wanted to take notes but I would just be copying the whole book.
March 17, 2023
Though just released in print, I purchased the audio version when it was first released. The book was fantastic. Short, concise, and effective in its message! If you're a Christian you need to read this book! If you're not a Christian and you're trying to figure out this guy named Jesus, you need to read this book!
September 7, 2024
As Christians, we do not discuss the resurrection and the facts surrounding it nearly enough. This book manages to be incredibly academic about the resurrection of Christ and honor the holiness of it at the same time. It can be read by Christians and non-believers who are seeking answers for their questions. I highly recommend!
August 1, 2025
I had the pleasure of meeting Jeremiah Johnston at my Church this past Sunday (got my first book signed by the author themselves). He did a service that was very interesting, so I had to get his book. This book is great for believers and non believers. He goes into the science and archaeologists aspect of things that prove Jesus and the Resurrection. Very informal and interesting.
March 25, 2023
So, I would say almost 4 stars. There were a few conflicting and/or conclusory arguments, but it finished stronger than it began. A good defense of the accuracy of the gospel accounts. Definitely worth a read.
September 17, 2023
One of the best scholarly works I’ve ever read. One in which needs revisited frequently. If the foundation of Christianity is a resurrected Messiah, that resurrection should be thoroughly known. Therefore, read this book!
December 22, 2023
A must read for all Christians, Johnston discusses the proof of the resurrection of Christ - the foundation of Christianity. The book is thought provoking, inspirational, and easy for average Christian readers to understand. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
April 28, 2024
Proof
Very informative and analytical in the structure of this book. I highly enjoyed and would recommend to everyone who is looking for comparisons of what was written in the gospels to what was written in the preceding centuries.
Very informative and analytical in the structure of this book. I highly enjoyed and would recommend to everyone who is looking for comparisons of what was written in the gospels to what was written in the preceding centuries.
January 7, 2025
wonderful read and so much information
I enjoyed this book with all the different aspects that people believed about Jesus a d his resurrection.
So much material you have to take it slow to understand it all.
I enjoyed this book with all the different aspects that people believed about Jesus a d his resurrection.
So much material you have to take it slow to understand it all.
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