Dr. Bart Ehrman’s works could rattle the faith of naïve Christians. Hence, those who debate Christians frequently appeal to Ehrman's works. This is a beginner’s guide to comprehend Ehrman, and the scholarly response from Christian apologists to debunk his attacks against Historic Christianity. Who Is Bart Ehrman? “Dr. Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray … [Read more...]
Is the Message of the New Testament Lost?
Lost the Plot? Have we somehow lost the message of the New Testament? That's what some people wonder when the conversation turns to the issue of textual variants---differences in the biblical manuscripts we've discovered over the years. Maybe you've got a friend or a co-worker who tends to be pretty skeptical of the Bible right from the get-go. For many like them, the issues … [Read more...]
Is the Weight of Scholarship on Bart Ehrman's Side? (Tolle Lege)
Critics of the Bible will often claim that the majority of biblical scholars are on their side when it comes to doubting Christian beliefs about Scripture. I recently heard atheist activist John Loftus claim, in a debate with apologist David Marshall, that most biblical scholars don't believe any prophecies in the Old Testament refer to Jesus. New Testament scholar Bart … [Read more...]
Was The Gospel of Mark Forged?
Was the Gospel of Mark a fake? That’s something you might hear liberal scholars ask, not just about Mark, but about many of the New Testament documents. In fact, in a book called Forged, Bart Ehrman said that “the vast majority of these apostolic books were in fact forged” (p.218). For example, he says The Gospel of Mark really wasn’t written by Mark. Instead, later scribes … [Read more...]
On Miracles and Historiography: Can The Supernatural Ever Be The Best Explanation?
Anyone who has engaged in or interacted with any public discourse on the subject of miracles in the New Testament (especially the resurrection) will have encountered this objection: How can an historian infer that a miracle is the best explanation of historical data, given that supernatural phenomena are, by their very nature, extremely improbable? One might grant that the mass … [Read more...]
A Look at the Evidence for the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus
Introduction When it comes to the formation of the early Jesus movement, 1 Corinthians 15: 3-7 is a crucial element to the proclamation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In relation to early testimony, historian David Hacket Fisher says, “An historian must not merely provide good relevant evidence but the best relevant evidence. And the best relevant evidence, … [Read more...]
Why the Debate over Christian Origins Matters
Introduction Over the years, I have studied a good deal concerning the birth of the Christian faith. When I say “birth,” I mean the rise of the Jesus movement pre 70 AD. I am well aware that many people view Christianity through the events of the Council of Nicaea or at a much later date than 70 AD. There is still an ongoing debate as to when we actually have an “official” … [Read more...]
The Gospel According to Bart Ehrman
A June 3rd article that appeared on Christianpost contained an interview with Dr. Bart Ehrman who is a noted author and professor of religion. Ehrman is most famous for his criticisms of the New Testament’s reliability, with various books he’s produced on the topic reaching the top of certain best seller lists. The Christianpost interview focused on his skepticism of the New … [Read more...]
Rabbis, Skeptics, and the Suffering Messiah
On the day of His resurrection, two disciples were dragging themselves, “faces downcast,” towards a village called Emmaus. They suddenly found that they were joined by another, but “they were kept from recognizing Him.” Not knowing that this was their Lord, they confessed their profound disappointment to Him: “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” … [Read more...]
Book Review: Cold Case Christianity
Introduction Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels (Paperback Kindle, Audiobook) is one of the latest books to examine the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament. Detective Jim Wallace was an atheist before he began putting Christianity to the same tests that he places witnesses and suspects to in his investigations of … [Read more...]