Outside the Bible, how does historical evidence of Jesus' empty tomb prove that he rose from the dead?

Outside of religious texts such as the Bible, historical evidence of Jesus' empty tomb does not directly prove that he rose from the dead. Instead, the empty tomb is a piece of evidence that is often cited within the context of the broader historical accounts of Jesus' life, crucifixion, and the origins of Christianity.

The empty tomb is primarily attested to in the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These texts describe how Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea after his crucifixion and how the tomb was found empty three days later.

From a historical perspective, the empty tomb serves as an element of the narrative surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection, which was central to the early Christian movement. However, outside of Christian belief, historians approach the empty tomb as a subject of historical inquiry rather than as definitive proof of the resurrection.

Historians and scholars use various methods to assess the credibility and reliability of historical accounts, including criteria such as multiple attestations, coherence with other historical evidence, and the presence of eyewitness testimony. In the case of the empty tomb, scholars examine the Gospels and other early Christian writings to evaluate their historical accuracy and reliability.

While the empty tomb is mentioned in the Gospels and is an important element of Christian tradition, its historical veracity is a matter of debate among scholars. Sceptic’s may propose alternative explanations for the empty tomb, such as the possibility of a mistaken burial location, grave robbery, or the deliberate removal of Jesus' body by his followers.

In summary, while the empty tomb is a significant aspect of the narratives surrounding Jesus' resurrection within Christian tradition, its historical evidence alone does not prove the resurrection from a secular perspective. It is one piece of evidence among many that scholars consider when examining the historical accounts of Jesus' life and the origins of Christianity.