Who Moved the Stone? (Paperback)

by Frank Morison (Author) "suppose that most writers will confess to having hidden away somewhere in the secret recesses of their most private drawer the first rough draft of..." (more)
Key Phrases: physical vacancy, vacant tomb, arrest party, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea, Garden of Gethsemane (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The author began to write this book with the intention of disproving the Resurrection but found instead that the evidence supported the biblical story. This recognized classic is an examination of his research and the evidence he found.

From the Back Cover
"I owe Morison a great debt of gratitude. Who Moved the Stone? was an important early link in a long chain of evidence that God used to bring me into his kingdom. Morison’s stirring intellectual exploration of the historical record proved to be an excellent starting point for my spiritual investigation." --From the foreword by Lee Strobel

English journalist Frank Morison had a tremendous drive to learn of Christ. The strangeness of the Resurrection story had captured his attention, and, influenced by skeptic thinkers at the turn of the century, he set out to prove that the story of Christ’s Resurrection was only a myth. His probings, however, led him to discover the validity of the biblical record in a moving, personal way.

Who Moved the Stone? is considered by many to be a classic apologetic on the subject of the Resurrection. Morison includes a vivid and poignant account of Christ’s betrayal, trial, and death as a backdrop to his retelling of the climactic Resurrection itself. Among the chapter titles are: * The Book That Refused to Be Written * The Real Case Against the Prisoner * What Happened Before Midnight on Thursday * Between Sunset and Dawn * The Witness of the Great Stone * Some Realities of That Far-off Morning

Who Moved the Stone? is a well-researched book that is as fascinating in its appeal to reason as it is accurate to the truthfulness of the Resurrection.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 27, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310295610
• ISBN-13: 978-0310295617
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #417,503 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a non-optional doctrinal study., June 25, 2001

By	Cipriano "www.bookpuddle.blogspot.com" (Planet Claire) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Verily verily, the Christian Bible is very clear on the foundational importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Regardless of personal interpretation, Scriptures such as Romans 10:9 and 1 Corinthians 15:14 clearly state that for the believer, Jesus' resurrection from the dead must be regarded as a non-optional issue, and must be personally subscribed to doctrinally. Obviously, this can be an affront to the modern intellect and have the potential to collide with our reasoning faculties and idea of intelligence. In fact, that was exactly the case for English journalist Frank Morison when he began to write "Who Moved The Stone" over 70 years ago. As a skeptic, he set out to prove that the story of Christ's resurrection was only a fabricated myth... what he found, however, was a seamless validity in the biblical and extra-historical record.

I call this book a "study". By that I mean that it is not a light read, and one ought to follow up on all Biblical references and make notes as one goes along. I filled up half a notebook with detailed timelines, summaries, and diagrams, with the end result being that my initial understanding of the resurrection was further strengthened in a way that is impossible to exaggerate. For me, one of the greatest testimonies to the FACT of the resurrection has always been that the authorities at the time did not dispel the "myth" by simply displaying the crucified body. In the early stages of the apostles' preaching, when the church was gaining converts left and right... all the authorities would've had to do was PRODUCE the body of Jesus! Why didn't they do it? Read Morison's book with even a half-open mind and I believe that you will finish it in agreement with me... that they DID not, because they COULD not.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book is Not Misrepresented, September 28, 2003

By	M. Kerezman "philipmarlowe4" (macomb, ok United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This interesting study that deserves to be read despite having been written over 70 years ago. Despite what a previous reviewer said, the book is not misrepresented nor is "Morison's entire argument is based on the acceptance of the Bible as historical fact, word for word". This assertion is flat out untrue. Consider Morrison's novel conclusion that the indiividual Mary Magadelene and Women met in the Tomb on Sunday morning was a ordinary man. Mark says a young man (Mk 16:5) but Matthew and John's gospels both say it was two angels. Luke clearly implies an Angel as well. Morrison argues in favor of a Young man not an Angel. He does not take the Bible word for word. Nor is it true that Morrison cites "no references but Biblical ones". It is worth noting Thomas Paine wrote his deist polemic "THE AGE OF REASON" a scathing criticism of the bible using ONLY the bible and nothing else. However, Morrison does cite extra-biblical books that are NOT in the Bible such as the Gospels of Peter, Hebrews, as well as the works of Josephus, the Jewish Historian and the few historical writings on the character of Pontius Pilate. The above mentioned Gospels of Peter and Hebrews are NOT in the Bible. One wonders if a previous reviewer was aware of this fact for Morrison gives a lengthly quote from it (gospel of Hebrews) on the last page of WHO MOVED THE STONE. One of the more telling arguments put forth by Morrison is that there is NO historical evidence that tomb was not indeed empty; There are only assertions by Jewish authorities that the disciples had stolen his body. The truth is Morrison was a skeptic in the tradition of 19th Century Biblical scholarship that is still with us today with such annual events as the Jesus Seminar and the Historical Jesus movement that discount the historical reliability of the New Testament accounts.

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Seekers & Skeptics, July 27, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Dublin, Oh) - See all my reviews

I've read many books on the historical reliability (and unreliability) of the New Testament; I've seen many educated opinions varying in every way; I done studies many resurrections-centered topics; but I've never seen a book quite like this! Morrison takes nothing for granted. He trusts his instincts, and, though coming shy of any kind of Biblical-Christian opinion, he beautifully defends the resurrection in this short examination. As a doubter I find it difficult to swallow what many Christians take for granted in their own faith. This book is not like most. However, as a believer I was thrown by Morrison into the last week of Jesus' life (and the following weeks) as I never have by any lecture or writing. Morrison brings to light many historical details missed my so many people (including myself). He is easy to read and difficult to put down.

To the skeptics: I was once a skeptic. It was not a brief reading of one or two apologetic works that convinced me; instead, it was months and months of hard research, with this book as one of the many highlights. I encourage all to read this.

Morrison's book will forever remain one of my personal favorites.

Luke Gilkerson