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Book Plunge: In Defense of the Gospels

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  • Book Plunge: In Defense of the Gospels

    Do we have a good defense of them?

    The link can be found here.

    ----

    What do I think of John Stewart's book published by Intelligent Faith Press? Let's plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.

    John Stewart is a lawyer who works with Ratio Christi and has written a book on defending the Gospels. Stewart goes through several questions very thoroughly and point by point. He also introduces you to many methodologies and explains why he accepts the answers that he accepts.

    He starts off with asking when the Gospels were written. He establishes reasons for His dates but points out that often even on the worst case scenario of a date, the date could still be within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses. He points out that this is important and compares this to other works of history as well.

    Stewart goes on to use similar methodologies on other questions such as if the Gospels are anonymous or if they've been changed or if they're biased. Many of the objections dealt with are the ones that most people will encounter when they engage with internet atheists. If you are often involved or know someone who is involved with those debates and wants an extra resource, this would be a good one.

    The work is also short and easy to understand without using technical language. It can be read in a short time and would be ideal for college students on campuses. No doubt, this is because of years that Stewart has spent with Ratio Christi.

    There's also a brief section on Jesus Mythicism in one of the chapters. This will be helpful for those who regularly encounter this crazy idea that seems to keep popping up its head. While the material there is basic, it is enough to help you out with the average mythicist.

    I also like the argument dealing with the question of if the Gospels are anonymous. This is a common one that shows up on the internet, but it is one I do not see professional scholars dealing with, mainly because most scholars don't use "The Gospels are anonymous" as a reason to think that they are automatically untrustworthy. Stewart rightly points out that it does help us if we can have good reasons to name an eyewitness behind a Gospel, but it is not a necessity to know if the Gospel is reliable or not.

    If there were some criticisms I would give, the first one is that the book does need an editor. There would occasionally be seen typos that were distracting. One in particular was to hear about how to respond to Bark Ehrman. This is a slip of the keyboard of course, but it can damage one's reputation.

    I also would have liked to have seen a lot more specifics on ideas that have been overturned in the past 100 years about the Gospels due to archaeology. Mythicism was addressed, but that has never been a reigning theory among scholars. There have been very few isolated individuals who have held that position, although the number today could be greater due to the rise of the internet and the fast spread of false information.

    Still, there is much to commend in Stewart's book. It is a good opening defense one can have in the case of the Gospels and the author does make sure to focus there. He does have a short section on the Pauline epistles, but that is not what the book is about so he does rightly stick with the Gospels. I recommend this one for your college student, especially one who wants to better defend the Gospels.

    In Christ,
    Nick Peters

  • #2
    Thanks, Nick, I'll look into this.

    We're doing basic apologetics on Wednesday nights.

    Meanwhile, I'd like your ranking on Paul Little's Know What You Believe and Know Why You Believe.
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

    Comment


    • #3
      Been years, but I liked both of them.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Apologiaphoenix View Post
        Been years, but I liked both of them.
        I'm using them as kind of an intro to apologetics - how bout giving me a list of progressively better stuff, if that makes any sense.

        The book you reviewed here sounds like it fits the bill.
        The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

        Comment


        • #5
          Cold-Case Christianity is a great one.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Apologiaphoenix View Post
            Cold-Case Christianity is a great one.
            Thanks!
            The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

            Comment


            • #7
              I'm sure that that particular one is just fine for 99% of lay Christians who really just need to know why they believe and aren't going to be debating with atheists online.
              "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

              Comment


              • #8
                Yeah, I'm not so much interested in training atheist debaters as just helping people know how to explain their faith to friends, family and potential new Christians.
                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Timothy Keller is a good writer.
                  sigpic

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by TheWall View Post
                    Timothy Keller is a good writer.
                    What do you like about his writing? I've never actually read any of his books.
                    "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post
                      What do you like about his writing? I've never actually read any of his books.
                      He is very succint. He does a great job making his work easy to understand.
                      sigpic

                      Comment

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