Chapter 11: Financial Aspects of the Resurrection
A Review

By Jeff G

In this chapter J. Ducan M. Derrett examines the empty tomb from the aspect of financial incentives. From the very beginning Jesus was interested in drawing in the rich to his movement in order to get money from them. On page 395 he tells us that Jesus’ inner cabinet was filled with financially astute people and that he even had a treasurer, as if this would prove that Jesus’ main concern was financial. Every organization needs someone to handle the money, no matter how much or how little there is. “Follow the money” seems to be the mantra of this chapter and if he wishes to argue that many through the years have been inordinately interested in the money to be had over and above spreading the Gospel of Christ; there wouldn’t be much of an argument. But his contention is that the foundation of the Christian movement is financial. And this he does not do.

Putting aside all of the vitriolic language used describing both the Jewish and Christian religions, the hardest part of doing this review was the fact that virtually every Biblical reference he uses to try and support his position have nothing to do with the points he is trying to make. For example, he uses the rich young ruler (Luke 18: 18-23) to try and show how Jesus is trying to “recruit” the wealthy ruler and how disappointed he is not to get his money into the program. Any simple reading of the passage will show that the only disappointment by Jesus is that the ruler was unwilling to leave his wealth and follow him. The point of the story was about where someone’s heart lies, whether with money or something else. On pages 395-396 Mr. Derrett states “the successful accumulator exists to be squeezed” and he uses the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1ff) to try and show how he was punished because he did not give all that he had promised. A reading of the text shows that he was punished because he lied to God. Not because he did not give a certain amount of money. These are the types of misrepresentations Derrett makes throughout this chapter when referencing biblical passages.

Derrett’s representation of the role of Christianity can be summed up in his statement on page 397: “The trustees of charitable funds gain a vicarious reputation and patronage, the semblance of generosity (Ps. 112:5; Prov. 22:7; 2 Cor. 9:7) which compensates them if their income is poor. In that world the idea reigned that if one pays another to be righteous one becomes righteous oneself.” So what we have here is that the main draw to becoming a Christian is not to change ones sinful nature but to bring money in to the program so you can distribute it so as to feel righteous. Derrett totally ignores Christ’s teachings, such as Luke 12:21 or Peter in Acts 3:6, where he shows that earthly treasure is nothing only that in heaven is what counts. The foundation is the risen Christ not money.

This brings us to the next point, which is the resurrection. Starting on page 400 to the end of the chapter, Derrett deals with the financial gain for having a resurrected Jesus. He paints the idea that Jesus revived from the grave, met with his followers and then died. All of these are old ideas that have been refuted in the past and by reviews in other chapters of this book so there is not need to go into them further but he does say that the resurrection story was done to promote the gathering of wealthy converts. As with the rest of his theories he does little to provide any sort of evidence other than to make allusions to secret meetings to figure out what to do with Jesus’ body after he has finally died for real. He says on page 400, “Naturally we have no record of their secret debates” (about what to do with the body) as if this proves that there were meetings. Because we have no proof of something obviously it really did happen and was just covered up. What wonderful logic we have going on here. There is little more that can be said about an essay that relies upon such logic and innuendos and wild flights of fantasy. Quotes and references are continually taken out of context and by using only the wildest of imaginations when reading them can they support his contentions.

As Peter said in Acts 3:6 “However, Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold, but I'll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!” The Gospel of Christ has nothing to do with worldly things but the power of the risen Christ.