1. The strange silence of the Bible[ie OT] in the stories
If these were made up why are there so few, indeed almost entirely absent, ref's to OT in them in startling contrast to the rest of the Gospels which are filled with quotes and allusions?
'... the resurrection narratives convey the naked feeling of a solo flute piping a new melody after the orchestra has fallen silent.' (p.600)2. The strange absence of personal hope in the stories
'... it is extremely strange ... that at no stage do [the Gospel writers] mention the future hope of the Christian. ... If Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wanted to tell stories whose import was 'Jesus is risen, therefore you will be too' they have done a remarkably bad job of it.' (p.602-3)
3. The strange portrait of Jesus in the stories
'... Jesus is never depicted, in these stories, as a heavenly being, radiant and shining.' (p.604)4. The strange presence of the women in the stories
The best known and most often cited 'problem' with the stories. If you made them up, given the culture of the day, you would NOT have women as your primary witnesses. In those days
'... women were simply not acceptable as legal witnesses.'(p.607). 'From women let no evidence be accepted, because of the levity and temerity of their sex.' (Josephus, Ant. 4.219, n55, p.607).Wright concludes:
'Nobody inventing stories ... would have done it like that.' (p.610).
