The Swoon Theory
| Teachings |
The Swoon Theory proposes that Jesus was not dead but rather unconscious (swooning means fainting) when taken down from the cross. It then proposes that Jesus later revived in the cool of the tomb. His resurrection is thus a misunderstanding over his apparent death. This view, as advocated by Herrmann Reimarus, Karl Venturini and Heinrich Paulus in the early nineteenth century, is generally held to have been thoroughly refuted by Albert Schwietzer and David Strauss, amongst others.It is not now a widely held view.
In support of this theory is usually advanced two pieces of evidence. The first is that Jesus was only on the cross for a short period of time.(See the section on the crucifiction). The second is that Jesus was offered some sort of drug to produce a state that closely resembled death.
Now of course, Jesus was offered some kind of wine / vinegar / herb drink on the cross. There were in those parts at that time drugs which could make it appear you had popped your clogs.
As always, however, there are side effects. Unfortunately the most common side effect was actual death. It is almost impossible to administer the right dose by way of sponge (not the most accurate of medicinal tools).
This `Swoon Theory` attributes incompetence or even stupidity to quite a few people. The Romans, for example, failed to make sure that Jesus Christ actually died; the Romans and Jews both failed to discover the deception. And the disciples were stupid enough to believe that Jesus had raised Himself from the dead.
The swoon theory falls apart quickly when you consider that Jesus had undergone six trials, been beaten, then scourged with 39 lashes that left His back raw, exposed, and bloody, had a crown of thorns forced upon His head, ripping His scalp, been crucified with nails in the hands and feet, hung there for six hours bleeding and dehydrating, had his side pierced with a spear which emitted blood and water, was left in a tomb for three days, and was tightly wrapped up. Was anyone in this condition able to revive, get himself out of the tight wrappings, walk on pierced feet, and single handedly move a large stone with hands that were unusable due to the wrist piercings which severed the median nerve in the hands and paralyzed them, and then somehow got by the armed guards given the charge of watching the grave side? Are we to further believe that Jesus managed to walk a long distance on feet which had been pierced through and appear to the disciples as a victorious conqueror of death? The prince of life now living in His perfect resurrection body.
It makes no sense.
The problem is compounded when you consider the order of events.
Several events occurred in between Jesus’ apparent death, and his removal from the cross. Firstly, as sunset (the beginning of the following Sabbath day) approached, the prisoners being crucified beside him had their legs broken so that they would die more quickly. Jesus' legs were not broken, as they found he was already dead) — instead he received a spear wound to the side. The Gospel of Mark records the Governor's skepticism over Jesus’ death when Joseph of Arimathea requested permission to bury him. Mark notes that he checked with the centurion who supervised the executions, before granting permission for the body's release. Only then was the body removed from the cross.
The trouble is that this indicates an interval of time sufficient for several trips of a kilometer or more back to the center of Jerusalem: Joseph goes to Pilate, Pilate sends for the Centurion, and so on. That is a long time to be playing dead for; seeming not to breathe; having no visible heartbeat (and bleeding less); suffering trauma and shock yet making no involuntary movements; showing no reaction to a spear wound to the chest; not flinching when being removed from the cross -- it is to be doubted whether anyone, in any state of consciousness or unconsciousness, could have managed this.
So, from the accounts in the gospels, Jesus was suffering from five untreated puncture wounds to his body when taken from the cross, including a spear wound to his chest. He would have had dislocated arms and shoulders from hanging, as well as open wounds and heavy blood loss, with associated dehydration from a scourging. He had endured (probably) about six hours of extreme traumatic shock, in addition to the events of the preceding night, and may have suffered a heart attack during the crucifixion itself. Afterward, he had hung on the cross for a significant length of time, and been removed from it, without showing even involuntary signs of life.
If Jesus awoke from a swoon, where did he go? Which Doctor treated Him (and remained forever silent about it)? Where did Jesus end up? How did He manage to go on living in quiet anonymity whilst Christianity went through explosive growth through proclaiming His resurrection and ascension into Heaven? Surely disciples would have continued to follow Him and seek Him out for advice, teaching and miracles. Despite all this there is not a single source, friend or foe, not a single word written about his surviving life. A man like Jesus would have left traces - He could not have avoided it.
I would suggest that it is easier to believe that Jesus rose from the dead than to subscribe to the swoon theory.
The swoon theory gains it overall appeal from its acknowledgement of the empty tomb.