The Ontological Argument Meets the Empty Tomb

Philosophers have long wrestled with the question: What is the greatest conceivable being?The ontological argument, especially as formulated by Alvin Plantinga, says that if it's even possible for a maximally great being (MGB) to exist—a necessary being who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent—then such a being must exist in every possible world, including the actual one.

It’s a bold and beautiful argument. But it doesn’t stop at abstract theism. Once we realize that such a being exists, the next question is raised:

What would a MGB actually do?

Love That Moves Worlds

A maximally great being would not be aloof or uninterested in His creatures. A being who is perfect in power, knowledge, and love would not merely watch the story unfold—He would choose to enter the story. He would choose to enter the universe He created.

Think about it . . . A perfectly loving Creator would not create just for fun or to display raw power. He would create freely, out of love, to bring others into a relationship with Himself. He would not remain distant or hidden. He would reveal truth—truth about reality, about purpose, and about Himself. He would not merely stand outside suffering, but would step into it—not to destroy the world, but to redeem it.

In short: the MGB of the ontological argument looks remarkably like the Jesus of history.

The Historical Jesus and the Resurrection

Let’s be clear: Jesus of Nazareth is not a vague myth or theological metaphor. He is a historically documented figure. And what we know of Him is astonishing. As the New Testament reveals—and as history confirms—He claimed not just to speak about God, but to be one with God. And He didn’t merely make claims. He predicted His own death and resurrection and then made good on that promise.

This brings us to the Easter claim: that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, buried in a tomb, and then appeared—physically and bodily alive—to His followers.

This isn’t just religious wishful thinking. As thinkers like William Lane Craig, N.T. Wright, Gary Habermas, and Michael R. Licona have shown, the historical case for the resurrection is surprisingly strong. The minimal facts—agreed upon by the majority of scholars—include:

• Jesus’s death by crucifixion

• The empty tomb

• The postmortem appearances

• The radical transformation of the disciples

These facts cry out for explanation. And if the God of the ontological argument exists, then we already have the best possible candidate.

The Resurrection as Philosophically Expected

The resurrection of Jesus might seem impossible under a purely naturalistic worldview. But if a maximally great being exists, and if this being is perfectly loving, then the resurrection is not only possible—it is, in many ways, expected.

What better demonstration of divine love than the Author of life laying down His life for His creatures? What greater revelation of God's power than conquering death itself? What deeper display of justice and mercy than absorbing the sin of the world without compromising His holiness---His perfection.

As C.S. Lewis famously said through the mouth of Aslan, there is a “deeper magic” that governs reality—one that even death must obey. That deeper magic was displayed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Jesus called the atonement. The resurrection of Jesus, far from being a random miracle, is the central plot twist of reality—the moment where philosophy, history, and theology collide.

From Abstract Logic to Concrete Hope

The ontological argument gives us reason to believe in a perfect God. The resurrection gives us reason to trust Him. After all, if God raised Jesus from the grave, then:

• Christianity is objectively true

• Evil can be overcome

• Death does not have the final word

• You can have an eternal and personal relationship with the maximally great being

In Jesus, the maximally great being entered the very world He created to make Himself known and to make us His own. He didn’t just write the rules of reality. He wrote Himself into the story—to reveal, to redeem, and to resurrect.

That’s the Gospel. That’s Easter. That’s reason to believe.

Bottom line: If it is possible that a maximally great being exists, then He exists in every possible world. And in this world—our world—He walked among us, died for us, and rose again.

Stay reasonable (Isaiah 1:18), Dr. Tim Stratton