...The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus A Critical Book Review Lee Strobel, New York Times bestselling author of twenty books, including four which received ECPA awards, is an atheist turned Christian after a two year investigation of Jesus. He became a Christian in 1981. Strobel worked at the Chicago Tribune for 14 years as an award winning legal editor. He has a Bachelor of Journalism which he received in 1974 from the University of Missouri. He also earned a Master of Studies in Law Degree in 1979 from Yale. Washington Post has referred to him as the evangelical communities most popular apologists. The Case for Christ captures your attention and holds it from page one. It has a very interesting and easy writing style in which Strobel writes in first person. He uses his investigative reporter background to shape the way this book is set up. He proves that Jesus really is the son of God, using a sequence of interviews with 13 well respected Evangelical apologists. The book begins by Strobel using five lines of evidence: eyewitness, documentary, corroborating, scientific and rebuttal. Craig Bloomberg, PhD; whose doctorate is in New Testament, is the first to be interviewed. Bloomberg alleges that Papias and Irenaeus confirmed that the four gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John making them eyewitness testimony. He goes on to dismiss the Gospel Q hypothesis saying it is “nothing more than a hypothesis.” (p. 26)...
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...Title: Proof of God’s Existence By: Vicki Williams PHI208 Ethics and Moral Reasoning Instructor: Barbara Palomino de Velasco June 10, 2013 The Bible diagnoses humanity's deepest need and then prescribes what it claims is the only antidote: God saves sinners. Is there an intellectual basis for believing in God? Or is being religious just a matter of faith? Christianity invites scrutiny into its claims and its reasons for having faith and these deserve examination... Some people feel that acceptance of God is entirely a matter of faith. But the Scriptures actually claim that it is the truth which is the basis for this faith (Rom. 10:17). Truth is only truth if it is objective truth, that is, it is true for everyone regardless of time or circumstances. Thus, God is either true (and there can be objective proofs to support this), or He is not true and only subjective 'truth' can be offered for 'proof'. Some ancient Philosophers have argued that the fact mankind can imagine there being a God is a proof that there must be one. While this argument does have some merit, it mainly has limitations. Taken to its natural application this means that if anything can be imagined it must exist. Based on the nightmares I had as a three and four year old boy- I really hope this theory isn't true or I'm not going to sleep well tonight! On the other hand, 'beliefs' and 'truth' are sometimes not entirely related. Tertullian once bragged that the main reason he so readily accepted...
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...uniqueness of Jesus, who is more than a carpenter. He does this by asking ten serious questions, which forms his chapter divisions, which are in-depth in trying to understand the identity of Jesus. In his preface, Mr McDowell argues that so many historians have agreed that Jesus lived one of the greatest life ever lived. His beauty is eternal and his reign shall never end. He is in every respect unique and nothing can be compared with him. All history is incomprehensible without Christ. In the first question, Mr. McDowell endeavours to investigate what makes Jesus different. Although Jesus was a great religious leader that only does not make him different and unique from others.. Mohammed, Buddha and other religious were great as well. Several things are highlighted by the author that make Jesus unique. Jesus was different because he was God. The gospels clearly states that he was 100 percent God. That meant that what God the father was able to do, he was also able to do, for example forgiveness of sins. Secondly, Jesus received worship and honour like that of God the Father. All that was due to the Father was accorded to Jesus. And also, Jesus was equal with the Father in nature. He was from the beginning eternal, not created. With this well reason out statements, McDowell explains clearly what makes Jesus different form other religious leaders. In the second question, McDowell states clearly that Jesus claimed to be God. His claim must either be true or false. Jesus’ question...
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...In the Bible, Christ’s resurrection is explored after his death, leading into resurrection. Events that lead to his demise lead to his return in the real world, bringing a new and insightful light to the story. The significance of Christ being able to self-resurrect back into the world is because he’s the only one to ever do it, and do it successfully, whereas other Gods don’t have the ability to do so. To further explain, according to the Bible, Christ is the only deity but self identified man to essentially do this. Considering his abilities is through God, and God wanted reveal to man proof of his power through Jesus, without directly showing it to them like many times prior, by raising Jesus from the dead. To emphasize this, “because He has appointed a day on which, He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Christ had mentioned several times that his death and resurrection would be the one thing to give to the sinful and unbelieving world God made for them. Such as, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Further explaining that he knew he would be able to come back with ease. Foreknowing one’s own death is common in most Mythologies...
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...Religious philosophy can offer no firm evidence for distinction- Discuss Humans appear to have both a body and a mind, the body which is related to physical movements and appearances. And the mind which relates to feelings and emotions, qualia. Many philosophers therefore make a distinction between the mind and body, the dualist view that a person is made of two separate substances. On the other hand, some philosophers take a monist/ materialist view that the mind and the body are the same substance. This is a contentious area of philosophy, and has created a debate known as “the mind, body problem”. Such philosophers as Plato take a dualist view and try to offer evidence to suggest a distinction between the body and soul. Plato saw the body and soul as two separate entities. The soul that most closely resembles the divine and immortal. While the body resembles the human and mortal, which is endlessly changing and can be broken down. Plato was not trying to suggest the soul was perfect as it joined the body which it is inhibited by, however, he explains that by taking care of the soul the person can develop knowledge. Plato used evidence such as the “world of the forms”. He suggested that by taking care of the soul and ignoring physical pleasures the soul can return to the word of the forms when the body dies. For the body to survive it must meet its basic needs such as food, reproduction and physical pleasure. On the other hand for the mind to be stimulated it has other needs...
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...erroneously claimed her modern view has always been held by the historic church. At the Council of Trent Rome taught her belief was affirmed by “all our forefathers” (Thirteenth Session, Chapter 1, The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, trans. H. J. Schroeder, [TAN Books and Publishers, 1978], p. 73), that is, church fathers. Trent also claimed, “because that Christ, our Redeemer, declared that which He offered under the species of bread to be truly His own body, therefore has it ever been a firm belief in the Church of God” (Thirteen Session, Chapter 4, The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, trans. H. J. Schroeder, [TAN Books and Publishers, 1978], p. 75). We will therefore test Rome’s claims historically. Rome’s idea ahistorical & based on Aristotelian concepts adopted late by the church. Rome’s doctrine of transubstantiation is dependent on the pagan Aristotle’s philosophical idea of accidents and substance. Modern Rome’s specific view as espoused by the Fourth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent, as well as other papal documents, that the substance of the elements change into the body and blood of Christ, while the appearance, taste and smell remain bread and wine is dependent on the Aristotelian categories of accidents of substance. Aristotle theorized that substance makes something what it is, and that the accidents give to it its external appearance etc. So Rome followed in this thinking in defining her teaching. What must be understood then is that since...
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... Chapter 1 1. What year was Jesus born? 2. When was Christianity made Rome’s national religion? 3. What is the Incarnation? 4. Does the Bible states that Jesus was the creator of the world? 5. Did Jesus claim to have supernatural origins? 6. Who baptized Jesus? 7. Did Jesus allow people to worship him? Etzel & Gutierrez: Introduction & Chs. 1–5 1. Why does the author say that everyone is a theologian? 2. What areas of our lives are influenced by the way we see God? 3. How did Jesus show that he is worthy of our faith? 4. Do Christians need to ignore intellect and reason in order to have faith in Jesus? 5. What does Jesus teach about truth? Online Excerpts: “Understanding the Faith” 1. What is more important than the sincerity of your belief? 2. What are the six types of faith that describe the believer's relationship to God? “Prolegomena to Theology”—Pg. 18–24 1. What are the four tools for accurately arranging a systematic theology? 2. What four questions must we ask about faith? 3. What 5 factors can limit our theology? “The Names of Christ” – Pg. 160–173 1. What chapter of the New Testament does the author suggest contains the most names of Jesus? 2. Which of God’s names do some scholars think that Jesus is claiming with his “I am” statements? 3. What is the term “only begotten” used to describe about Jesus? 4. Why does the author think that...
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...April 29, 2015 The gospel according to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. The book of Matthew basically tells how the Messiah, Jesus Christ, rejected by Israel, finally sends the disciples to preach his gospel to the world. It does not so much indicate a literary genre but characterizes the contents of the book: good news about Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew may be considered a Midrash theological interpretation on the gospel of Mark. Matthew, whose name means “gift of the Lord,” was a tax collector who left his work to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9–13). In Mark and Luke he is called by his other name, Levi. Although the author did not record his name within the text itself, the first book found in the New Testament has historically been credited to the writing of Matthew, a tax collector and one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Some New Testament scholars doubt the authorship of Matthew. The Gospel of Matthew, like all the other New Testament gospels, was originally anonymous and only attributed to Matthew, the disciple of Jesus, later in the second century. The author relied on Mark's Gospel for everything he knew about the life and mission of Jesus. There are two lines of evidence that proves the authorship of Matthew, the superscription of the ancient manuscripts and the patristic witness. According to NT scholar D. Edmond Hiebert, the first gospel’s “identifying superscription, ‘The Gospel...
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...Humans were created on a dynamically beautiful earth! A place strategically created for its inhabitants. Beyond anything made, the attendants were given an inner beckon. This compass was set to know a higher power. But unfortunately, some have misplaced their sense of direction. A large percentage of the human race has placed their trust in different aspects of the creation and not the Creator. As the world was laid upon its foundation, every notion and simple minuet thing was created to provide comfort and nourishment. The Heavenly Father has always desired to love and provide for His most precious creation. The fellowship was harmonious between the Father and His masterpiece. The fellowship was that of pure love. It was a three-fold relationship that set the great example of true communion. But as known from history, the adversary planted the seed of discord. Seeking revenge and devastation to the Father, satan weaved a web of deception and lies. The con-artist promised god-like wisdom without the consequences the Father foretold of. The idea that there was more to be known was an overwhelming defeat. The disobedience caused a separation between the Creator and His creation. At that moment faith was misplaced. Harsh conditions along with pain and toil came with the separation. These conditions were punishment to mankind for their sinful nature. But the most grievous punishment was the spiritual separation from God. But graciously, the Father made plans...
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...APOLOGETICS APPLICATION PAPER: Examining the Atheist Belief and Defending the Christian Faith Rhonda Rigsby APOL 500 7/7/13 Target Audience The selected target audience for this paper is atheists. Atheists are defined as “a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of God or gods”, according to the Random House College dictionary. The first order of business within the atheist argument is that atheism is not a belief at all. Many Christians cringe when they hear the word atheism or that someone is an atheist, while some become angry, others consider it an opportunity to convert a lost soul. Statistics have shown an increase in atheism, which was predicted in the bible, and many tend to think that atheists all come from a scientific background and that as many as ninety-five percent of scientists are atheists. A study by Curry concludes differently reporting that seven percent of scientists are Christians and twenty-one percent are agnostic, while seventy-two percent report they do not believe they have a personal god.However, during this study it appears some skewness existed in the sense people were asked if they believed that God was affective and communicates with mankind. With this a part of the equation, most based their response on the fact they did not think God, if they believe He does exist, actually tried to communicate with mankind. At the end of the study, they concluded that thirty four participants actually were atheists...
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...Bible Study Notes and Comments by David E. Pratte Commentary on the Gospel of John Available in print at www.lighttomypath.net/sales Other Bible Study Materials by the Author Printed books, booklets, and tracts available at www.lighttomypath.net/sales Free Bible study articles online at www.gospelway.com Free Bible courses online at www.biblestudylessons.com Free class books at www.biblestudylessons.com/classbooks Free commentaries on Bible books at www.gospelway.com/commentary Contact the author at www.gospelway.com/comments Commentary on the Gospel of John: Bible Study Notes and Comments © Copyright David E. Pratte, 2010, 2013 All rights reserved ISBN-13: 978-1492190547 ISBN-10: 1492190543 Note carefully: No teaching in any of our materials is intended or should ever be construed to justify or to in any way incite or encourage personal vengeance or physical violence against any person. “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” – 1 Corinthians 1:31 Study Notes on John Page #2 Comments on the Book of John Table of Contents Introduction............................4 John 1......................................8 John 2...................................39 John 3................................... 53 John 4...................................69 John 5...................................88 John 6................................. 109 John 7..................................134 John 8..................................153 John 9.........................
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...7 Facts About the Seventh Day Adapted from Why God Said Remember by Joe Crews. Part of Satan s strategy to destroy humanity s trust in God has been to attack His claim as the Creator. Obviously, the theory of evolution is part of this deceptive and soul-destroying effort. With its amoral humanistic emphasis, Darwin s doctrine has turned millions into religious skeptics and enshrouded in darkness their need for the Savior. Yet while many Christians rightly denounce this unscientific belief, ironically, many are still falling into the devil s trap of denying God s sovereignty over the earth. That trap is the ages-long effort to twist and destroy the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. Through Satan s false information and man s trust in traditions over the sure word of Scripture, millions of Christians have been led to discount or even reject the importance of observing the Sabbath. “The seyenth day is the sabbath of the Lord: in it thou shalt not do any work (Exodus 20:10). No one disagrees with the clear meaning of this text, yet millions are finding ways not to follow it. Why? The general Bible ignorance of the church and the clever arguments of Satan have created a climate of prejudice against the holiness of the seventh day in favor of the observance of Sunday. So in the interest of promoting God s law over the theories of men, let s take a moment to rediscover some amazing facts about the seventh-day Sabbath. Fact #1: ‘ The Seventh-day Sabbath...
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...The 4 Gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John collaborate to present Jesus. An in-depth look that reviews structures, themes, authors, settings, and dates, are ways to shape each Gospels contribution to the portrait of Jesus. By doing so, this pin points how they are similar and different from each other. What some referred to as, “memoirs of the apostles”, are not considered to be a biography of Christ; rather, the same information arranged and written as their individual interpretation to present the portrait of Christ that they choose to show . Out of The four Gospel writers Luke's interpretation is fascinating for many reasons. Luke had so much to tell, so he needed a second book, The Acts of the Apostles that is considered to be...
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...“Person” of the Holy Spirit Of the three “persons” to the concept of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is often shrouded in more mystery than the other two. While the person of God the “Father” as the creator and sustainer of creation is well established in the scripture and the history of Judaism and Christianity, and while the person of Jesus the “Son” as an actual person in the course of human history is well documented in history and scripture, the person of the Holy Spirit is a person whose characteristics are not well defined. While the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit are often documented throughout scripture, the question of how to address the Holy Spirit is sometimes vague. While there is plenty of scriptural attestation to the Holy Spirit, and while Jesus does use personal pronouns to describe the Holy Spirit, the modern depictions of the Spirit are often amorphous, lacking definition, and sometimes even pictures that do not infer personhood as much as substance, such as depictions of the Holy Spirit as a, “tounge of fire.” Some theologians have pointed to the scripture to attest to the personhood of the Holy Spirit in the same way as Jesus and the Father (with some scripture point to personal pronouns such as “he”) while others are more concerned with the function of the Holy Spirit rather than the form. This begs the question as to whether or not it truly matters what the Holy Spirit is rather than who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is first mentioned in the...
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...Divinity and Mortality of Jesus One of the important ideas introduced during the course was one that described the divine characteristics of God. Specifically, at least In Christianity, God is noted to have three aspects: omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence. By having each of those, God is viewed as an all-powerful, all knowing, and all good being. What I want to focus on is God’s son, Jesus. The doctrine in Christianity known as the trinity describes God as being one with Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit. This union means that Jesus must be a divine being – Jesus is God. Clearly, however, Jesus is also depicted and described as one who is human as well. How can Jesus be both God and a man? How is it that Jesus is seen as having the divine characteristics that are fitting of God, yet has all the characteristics of a mortal? These are the questions I want to focus on and hopefully make some sense out of. Christian theology employs the idea of the Hypostatic union between God and Jesus which means that Christ is in fact one person with two fully complete natures. Jesus is completely human and completely God at the same time. There is no dilution or separation of these qualities. Jesus is simply both with the two distinct natures existing concurrently. However, I find issue with this idea. Is it not contradictory? Jesus obviously takes on the form of a mortal man as evidenced by certain passages in the scriptures. Luke 2:52 says “And Jesus grew in in wisdom and stature...
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