One of the favorite targets of destructive biblical criticism is the narrative of Jesus' birth in the first two chapters of Matthew. One distinctive feature of Matthew’s account makes it a particularly tempting target. Matthew’s theological agenda is absolutely overt: over and over in the first few chapters of his Gospel, we get some variation on the phrase, “... all this took … [Read more...]
Christmas Notes, Part 1: Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?
There is perhaps no story so well beloved as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. But every year we are told on television or in news magazines that we cannot believe the nativity story, that Matthew and Luke contradict each other, and that “scientific” criticism has dissolved the story of the virgin birth into a pious myth. Why do they say this? Could a story of a virgin birth … [Read more...]
Musings on a Filioque
Ok, I realize that the title should more properly be “Musings on the Filioque Debate” but I desired to go with the flow here and keep the title artsy and musical after having used the word musings. I have recently been involved in a number of discussions on the Trinity and particularly on the filioque clause that describes the relationship within the Trinity between the … [Read more...]
Free-will and choice confusion
I'm writing this article as a plea for Christians and skeptics alike, but especially theologians and apologists, to use the term 'free will' more carefully. I hear mistakes and mis-speaks so often that it has become one of my pet-peeves. I'm also hoping that providing a bit of detail on the distinction will positively impact our theological and apologetics discussion. This … [Read more...]
Does the Old Testament Teach Two Comings of the Messiah?
Introduction Jewish people and even some skeptics like to assert that Christians are the ones who have come up with two act play about the coming of the Messiah. In other words, since Jesus failed at the messianic task, Christians then had no choice but to make up a second coming of Jesus. I already have a post called “Was Jesus a Failed Prophet?” here. While there is much … [Read more...]
Jesus’ Divine Incarnation
[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: Jesus’ often references his divinity throughout the gospels. One of the clearest examples of this is when he healed a man on the Sabbath in John 5. When the Pharisees accosted him for this, he claimed that unlike … [Read more...]
Ask the Alliance: Is Jesus a copycat myth?
:::Ask the Alliance Question #6::: Question submitted by Richard: I am a senior at Liberty University. I am definitely a firm believer in the fact that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. I know that he is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have a question. I watched this video on youtube called Real Proof that Jesus was NOT real. I don't believe it, but I would like … [Read more...]
Reza Aslan's Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth
Guest post by Dan Barkman. Reza Aslan's recent foray into the historical Jesus debate has certainly been provocative. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth has become a New York Times best seller and has predictably engendered a good deal of controversy. Aslan attempts to revive the thesis of the eighteenth century scholar Herman Reimarus who argued that Jesus is … [Read more...]
Answering Mythicism
[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: Did Jesus Christ ever live? Some skeptics such as Richard Carrier, Earl Doherty, and Dan Barker have promoted Mythicism. Other skeptics such as Bart Ehrman, Tim O’Neill, and Neil Carter have rejected the theory, … [Read more...]
The Historicity of Jesus & the Resurrection
[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: If the resurrection of Christ can be shown as a real event in history, then the existence of God is demanded as an explanation for the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is and can be shown as a fact of … [Read more...]