Did Jesus Really Exist?
May 28, 2009
From time to time I get asked this question–Did Jesus really exist? Recently, a student of mine in a University of Manitoba class more than a dozen years ago wrote to me to ask the same question. So here are two answers: one short, and the other long–in the form of two book recommendations:
No serious scholar that I know of disputes the idea that Jesus existed–only nuts on the fringe who advertise their own books at the back of magazines! The gospels have been fought over for a few centuries as to just how much they record that can be taken as historically accurate, but no one in that long dispute has ever doubted that there is someone, Jesus, behind them as the source of at least the authentic sayings and stories.
For that matter, how does the Christian religion begin, with all its fresh ideas and energy, without a Jesus at its heart? How do all the apostles tell such different stories in the various books of the New Testament that nonetheless cohere so well unless there is a Reality (Jesus) to which they all correspond?
For some good discussions of the historicity of the New Testament, I’d start with these fine books, written by scholars I know and whose scholarship is beyond dispute:
Paul Barnett, Finding the Historical Christ (Eerdmans, 2009)
Craig Blomberg, The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (InterVarsity, 2008)
There is a lot to ponder in the career of Jesus and there is lot to argue over regarding the records we have of his life. But whether there was such a person? I think it’s more likely to assert that Moses or Plato or Julius Caesar or Muhammad didn’t exist.
May 28, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Thank you for these recommendations. I’ve been looking for an appropriate introduction/summary of the historical Jesus debate for some time!
May 30, 2009 at 7:37 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXZAElV-yi8&feature=related
This is a good post for me. I am debating with an atheist, who is actaully a professor who teaches Darwinism.
He gave me this youtube video to watch, and then to discuss. i thought, if you have the time, would you mind checking this out, and letting me know what you think. I appreciate it. but if you don’t have time, I understand.
I came to your blog via Modern Reformation, and your interview with Michael Horton. Actually I put a portion of your interview on my blog, and it has caused some heated discussion, let me tell you.
Have a blessed Lord’s day. Hebrews 10:25
May 30, 2009 at 9:15 am
I couldn’t stand to watch more than a few minutes of this video, frankly, since everyone involved is a terrible package of confident semi-ignorance. The Christian woman says, for example, that every place name in the Bible is verified archaeologically, which is wildly untrue. The atheists say that the New Testament was not written by eyewitnesses, which is also untrue: Matthew, John, and Peter were disciples of Jesus; James was Jesus’ brother; Mark and Luke clearly are connected with eyewitnesses; and Paul was an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ.
Yes, I’m well aware that the authorship of most of the books of the New Testament has been contested. I’m well aware that the gospels themselves don’t have authors’ names anywhere in the text. I’m well aware that Paul’s testimony to seeing the resurrected Christ is incredible to someone who doesn’t believe in resurrections.
As a professional historian myself, however, I’m convinced that what we have in the New Testament are indeed documents that reflect eyewitness testimony. Moreover, these documents were affirmed (among many other Christian writings circulating in the earliest communities, including other writings by the same authors, such as other Corinthian letters by Paul) as so reliable they were venerated as new scripture–and Jews (as the earliest Christians mostly were) take the category of “scripture” pretty seriously!
A little knowledge goes a long way in standing up to blowhards like these Austin atheists. Alas, too few churches teach that knowledge and leave their people vulnerable to embarrassment and confusion. Maybe it’s time for an adult education class to walk through one or both of these books?
May 30, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Thank you John for your response. Would you mind if I quoted you to the atheist friend of mine, who I have been sharing the gospel with.
It has been an on going debate for a year or so. He is quite sure there is no God. Yet he doesn’t know what to do with Dr. Luke’s epistle of the Acts of the Apostles. And he has no idea what to do with Peter, who saw Jesus after he rose from the dead.
So, he is open to video’s like this one.
Thank you so much for taking a look. And sharing. I appreciate it very much.
I have quite a debate going on at my blog over your thoughts on inclusivism with a good friend, who has been a missionary in Nepal for 12 years now. A good brother in the Lord, who likes to speak his mind.
Gal. 6:14
May 31, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Dr. Jon
Bart D. Ehrman’s DVD series Lost Christianities;as well as The Gnostic Scriptures and the Nag Hammadi Texts have contributed significantly to my continual learning of Christology.
Now I have to lean Coptic,,GRrrrrrrr.
Henry Cullihall
Winnipeg
May 31, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I meant,”learn,” Coptic
June 13, 2009 at 10:00 pm
“I’m not saying he didn’t exist” was his final comment to the caller which means that while he claims there is no evidence that he exists nothing tells him he didn’t. Felt that was a bit thin if not a tad on the cowardly side of things. Forgive me if that is a tad unkind.
I actually like the atheists advice to the Christian; that being, to read some books on alternative views. Might that have helped her piece together a more compelling argument? Hardly would hurt a person to understand the heart and mind of one who uses historical evidence or a lack of it to conclude that god is fictitious.
Appreciate the post here.