The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-17
CONFERENCE ADDRESS.
MODERN SOHOLARSHIP-ITS WORD
AS TO THE RESURREOTI0N.*
BY REV. j. M. PULLMAN, DID.

synopsis. The word of modern schol-
arship as to the Resurrection is strong
ly affirmative. 1t exalts the resurrec-
ton to a central place in human
events, and at the same time inclines
to deny that the resurrection consisted
in the re entrance of Jesus into his
previous earthly conditions. In the
atmosphere of modern scholarship
there IS an evident indisposition to
rest the whole magnificent structure
of Christianity on the mere resuscita-
ton of the dead body of its Founder.
The resurrection of Jesus was a vast
" more stupendous and qulckenlng
event than that; and it is on all hands
felt that, placing the emphasis OF the
resurrection on the termination OF
the body, belittles and obscures the
significance of the event. Canon
Westcott says:
eff the fragmentary accounts OF
the resurrection were such as to yield
a simple and consistent narrative of
the restoration of the Lord to the cir
cumstances of the earthly life which
he lived before, it is not too much to
say that the hope which they convey
would be destroyed" Gospel Of the
Resurrection, n. a.
The Christian church was not
founded on the return of Jesus into
his former earthly conditions, but on
his ascent into heavenly conditions;
not on the animation of his body,
but on the perceived rising-up of his
whole personality into higher form
and potency. All modern scholar
ship appears to agree that the rise
and development of the Christian
church was due to the belief of his
immediate followers in the rising-up
or exaltation of Jesus. The Dutch
school by the lips of DIR. Hooykaas
says:
"The followers of Jesus regained
their faith in his Messianic dignity
which faith took the form of be-
lief that he had risen from the regions
of the dead, and had been exalted to
heaven, whence he would soon re-
turn" Bible for Learners, III, p.
4S1.
DR.. Martineau says: "From this re-
view of the early Christian traditions
we issue with one indisputable, his
torical fact-the intense belief OF the
personal disciples of Jesus, and OF
their quondam prosecutor Paul, that
in spite of the cross and the sepulchre,
he had passed into heavenly life,
whence he would visit or whittier he
would lift those who were his, by the
pure power of faith and love-" The
Seat of Authority IN Religion, p. 575.
AS to the manifestation of Jesus to
his disciples after his death, there is
also substantial agreement in modern
scholarship. DIR. Keim says:
"The evidence that Jesus was alive,
the telegram from heaven, was neces-
sary after an earthly downfall that
was unexampled, and which in the
childhood of the human race would
be convincing; the evidence that he
was alive was therefore given by his
own impulsion and by the will of
God" Life Of Jesus of Nazara, VI,
1854.
President Cone says: "After an
amazing and brilliant career.
he was crucifed at Jerusalem, and
was thereupon in some way
manifested to those who had loved
and followed him as victorious over
death" Gospel Criticism and HIS
tortcal Christianity, p. 344.
| adduce these testimonies from the
more radical or advanced scholars,
because they are, up to this point, in
essential agreement with the conserv-
alive school. That Jesus was, in
some way, manifested to his disciples
after his crucifxion, is the well-nigh
universal conclusion of modern schol-
arship.
The existence of the Christian
church has to be accounted for. Prof.
Huxley says: "For myself the prob
lem of the origin of such very re-
markable historical phenomena as
the doctrines and the social organiza-
tons, which in their broad features,
certainly existed, and were in state
of rapid development within hun
dred years of the crucifxion of Jesus,
and which have steadily prevailed
against all rivals, among the most in
telligent and civilized nations in the
world ever since, is and always has
been profoundly interesting; and,
considering how recent the really
scientific study of that problem, and
how great the progress made during
the last half century in supplying