The third chapter concerns the resurrection.
Martin begins by noting that the resurrection is essential to the Christian faith.
Throughout the chapter, Martin seems to assume that the resurrection must be understood in terms of a physical corpse crawling out of the grave. I guess, strictly speaking, one could believe that Jesus rose on the third day without attributing that act to a god. But such a person would be odd at best, and it's not a position that I am seriously considering. Martin goes on to give a fair assessment of the historical reliability of the resurrection accounts. The Purposes of the Gospel Writers 2.