Category Archives for "Christian Apologetics"

Peter and Paul Die for Christ

Christian Apologetics , Other Essays , Resources

Dr Clay Jones from Biola University (my alma mater!) builds a defense on why Peter and Paul believed so much that Christ died and rose again that they went to their death for it.  He utilizes what we call the Two Minute Drill (he refers to it as the 200 word answer:

In apologetics we provide argument and evidence for the truth of historic Christianity. For example, consider Jesus’ resurrection. We know that Jesus’ disciples walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and ate with Jesus—they knew who Jesus was. They were with Jesus when he was arrested and they then scattered. The Romans then scourged Jesus, drove spikes through His wrists and His feet to nail him to the cross, and thrust a spear in His side to make sure He was dead. Then they buried Jesus.

But three days later, Jesus’ tomb was found empty and the disciples started testifying that they again walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and ate with Jesus. And what’s really amazing is that many testified to his resurrection even to their own torture and death. We know extra-Biblically that Nero beheaded the Apostle Paul and we know from the Jewish historian Josephus that the Sanhedrin stoned to death Jesus’ brother James, who had become a leader of the Christian church.

So here’s my question: if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead, then why would the first disciples die for what they knew was a lie?

Then he proceeds to explain in wonderful detail WHY

God bless!

Atheists Position on Morality

Christian Apologetics , Debates , Resources

Ok – I have to admit, debating is one of my favorite things to do.  I love exploring both sides of a thought, and listening to smart people present and respond to criticism of their positions.  It generates and encourages deep thought, and forces us to really know what we're thinking.

Just discovered a new blog, and a great set of debates – True FreeThinker.com

Here's a fun debate with an atheist defending his moralilty – watch and learn.  It's a hoot!

Grace and peace…

Mike

Christianity and the Brain

Christian Apologetics , Current Events

A great website True Free Thinker has a wonderful post that explores our favorite militant atheist on their pursuit proving that people of faith are 'insane'.   “The Neural Correlates of Religious and Nonreligious Belief” – Sam Harris’ Neuroscientific Escapades

Pretty deep, cool stuff.  Here's an example…

In Sam Harris we are dealing with a person who has admitted that he did not get into the field of science in order to perform the ideal task of an unbiased researcher who is prepared to do away with a lifetime’s worth of research and published opinions when it is toppled by contradicting evidence. Rather, we are dealing with someone who holds to an a priori conclusion and has become a scientist in order to, as I will state it, seek to find evidence that will reinforce his conclusions and or place a thin veneer of scientific respectability as a façade around his militant atheistic opinions

Enjoy!

Grace and Peace

Matthew vs Mark

Christian Apologetics , The Bible

 

There's been a lot of conjecture about why the Gospels don't line up EXACTLY – and there are good reasons why.

Andy Naselli has a good diagram of the differences of the first two Gospels here

Is good use in a class you may teach about the intricacies of the Bible…

God bless!

 

Do We Need A Darker Christmas

Christian Apologetics , Current Events

 

 

The Evangelical Outpost has a different take for us to consider – that Christmas shouldn't be all happy and sweet!?

We Need a Darker Christmas is a little thought provoking…

We needn’t dwell on the darkness, but we need to recognize that we live in the midst of darkness, for it’s only the people who walked in darkness who have seen a great light.  Only then can we distinguish the true light of Christ from the cheap thrill of a string of lightbulbs, and only then can we begin to bring the wonder of that Light to a dark world.

The point is that Christmas needs to remember why Christ had to come – not just that He did come (if we even remember that, as a society.)  So what do you think?  Should Christmas be a joyous time, or a solumn time?  Can it be both?  Shouldn't it be joyous BECAUSE we know of the solemnity of the curse of sin? 

I think I get the point, but prefer to be happy about the coming of Christ…

Apologists in the Church

Christian Apologetics , Current Events , Evangelism

 

One of my profs at Biola has a blog, and has an excellent post entitled An Apologist In Every Church.

Ephesians 4:11-16: And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

This is one of my goals, to help church's establish an apologetics ministry to enable those with questions and issues – even those IN the church.

Enjoy, and consider your role as an Apologist in YOUR Church!  If you're so inclined, Help me with this endeavor!  Give me some thoughts about how you would think we should proceed

Grace and Peace

Independent Collaborations for the Bible

Christian Apologetics , The Bible

 
Are There Any Independent Verifications of the Bible?

YES!  There are MANY 'Secular' (non-religious) Sources

The existence of extra-Biblical documentations only helps to confirm the validity of the Bible, and provides incentive for the serious consideration of the Bible's messages.  

"Secular" Collaborating Information

 

Regarding

Artifact

Date

Significance

Further Info

Dating of the Bible Documents

War Of The Jews / Antiquities Of The Jews  Flavius Josephus

77 or 78 A.D / 93 A.D.

Describes the horrendous torture and slaughter of the Jews by the Romans in 70 A.D.  Every historical writing after this period discusses this event.  The gospels are silent, however, providing rational circumstantial evidence that they were written prior to 70 A.D.  

 

Confirming the Execution of John the Baptist

Antiquities Of The Jews  Flavius Josephus; Book 18, Chapter 5.

93 A.D.

Describes that "John, that was called the Baptist", was murdered by Herod.

 

Confirming Existence and Importance of Jesus

Antiquities Of The Jews  Flavius Josephus; Book 18, Chapter 3.  There is much controversy over the validity of this passage, whether is was entirely written by Josephus or added manipulated by Christians.

93 A.D.

"Now, there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, -a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.  He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles.  He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principled men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again on the third day, as the divine prophet had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him' ant the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."

 

Confirming Death of Jesus, and the Persecution of Christians

Tacitus – A Roman Historian (60 – 120 A.D.)

 

Refers to fact that "Chrestus…was executed at the hands of the procurator Pontius Pilot in the reign of Tiberius."  Also mentions that Nero put many of his followers to death

Chalmers; Evidences of the Christian Revelation

Tacitus; Annales xv.44

Documents of the Christian Church

Confirming Persecution of Christians

Suetonius – A Roman Historian (TBD)

 

Refers to Jews who were 'continually making disturbances at the instigation of Crestus' were expelled by Claudius from Rome.

 

Confirming Death of Jesus, and the resulting Darkness That Fell Over The Land

Julius Africanus

221 A.D.

Refers to a work by Thallus, who wrote in ~52 A.D. mentions the crucifixion of Jesus.  Thallus describes the event as a solar eclipse, but Africanus disputes this, since the moon was full at the time of the Passover.  (Thallus' work has been lost, but its significance is confirmed by the mentioning by Africanus.

The New Testament Documents – Are They Reliable?  113

Confirms Existence and Execution of Jesus

The 'Mishnah', which is part of the Jewish Talmud.

 

"On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu (of Nazareth)."  This confirmation comes from a Jewish source (non-Christian), which was a record of events sanctioned by the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Habermas; Ancient Evidence For the Life Of Jesus, Pg 98

 

Online Bible Resources

Christian Apologetics , The Bible

            

Online Bible Resources: 

 

Bible Gateway – Provides a nice search feature with many translations and lots of additional information.

 

NET Bible – The New English Translation

 

Bible Crosswalk – Another nice search feature with many versions online, includes Strong's numbers!

 

Parallel Comparison – From the folks at Crosswalk – compare texts of two different translations!

 

Bible History.com – TONS of Bible information, history, maps, geography, timelines, etc etc etc

 

 

Public Domain Dictionaries:

 

Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology – From the folks at Crosswalk – one of the finest Dictionaries in use today!

 

Public Domain Commentaries: 

 

Crosswalk Commentaries – Many public domain commentaries, including Scofield's notes and Wesley's notes!

 

Public Domain Concordances: 

 

Crosswalk Concordances – Many public domain concordances, including Nave's and Strong's.

  

Bible Study Software: 

 

E-Sword.net – A nice, basic system with many resources and a good search engine.  FREE!

 

Gramcord.org – A nice tool to work with original languages, many versions and reference materials

 

Logos – The cream of the crop (high end)!  $150 – $600.

  

Greek / Hebrew Information: 

 

Lexicon– From UnboundBible.org, enter a word and determine the Greek or Hebrew meaning/equivalent

 

Foreign Language Versions: 

 

Text available in MANY different languages, provided from the Bible Gateway folks

Biblical Contradictions

Christian Apologetics , The Bible

 

But Aren't There a Lot of Contradictions in the Bible?
 
Contradictions are NOT the same things as Interpretation Issues…

 

 

One particularly favorite game of a skeptic is to find alleged discrepancies within the Bible, under the assumption that the existence of these discrepancies invalidate the claim of Divine inspiration – after all, if the Bible were truly inspired, then it would be perfect and have no contradictions or discrepancies – right?  In addition to this game, the issue can be of serious importance to a seeker who sees the difficulties, perceives intellectual issues and needs resolution in order to continue serious contemplation of Christianity.  It can be a significant stumbling block when not properly understood. 

Causes of the Perception of Discrepancy – All of the seeming contradictions can, when properly analyzed and understood and not just taken 'at the surface', become resolved.  Most are examples of mistaken assumptions by the reader, or of insufficient knowledge about ancient linguistic syntax or cultural interpretation, or simply a misunderstood perspective of the writers intent. 

The following are examples of some of these most common types of misunderstandings, and their resolutions:

 

Perceived Contradiction

Reference

Reference

Resolution

Judas' Death

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left.  Then he went away and hanged himself.  Matthew 27:5

With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out….they called that field…the field of blood.  Acts 1:18,19b,d

Both can be true, and not contradictory.  Judas may have hung himself alone, and then fallen headlong onto the field, etc.  One reference can simply be telling more details of the story than another.  An example of the requirement of a proper perspective for interpretation.

Jesus' Period Of Death

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heard of the earth.  Matthew 12:40

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week…he has risen.  Matthew 28:1a,6b

In Jewish custom, any part of a day is considered part of a full day.  We see this confirmed in Esther chapters 4&5, where 'on the third day' is equivalent to 'after three days'.  And, even now in Jewish custom, the new 'day' begins at sundown of the previous day.    An example of the requirement for cultural understanding for proper interpretation.

Jesus Curses The Fig Tree

He said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!'  Immediately the tree withered.  Matthew 21:19

Then He said to the tree, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.'  In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.  Mark 11:14,20

Clearly a matter of timing.  The issue is in the implications however.  In Matthew, we assume that the object lesson on faith happened immediately afterwards, but we are not told this directly.  Mark may be more descriptive in the chronology of events, while Matthew was describing the event in whole, with breaks in time eliminated to round out the point.  An example of the requirement for proper syntax (structure) understanding for correct interpretation.


We can clearly see that things that appear at first glance to be difficulties, are not, yet need to be properly understood.  One minor lesson from this is that the Bible is to be studied, not 'glanced'.  When you come across a perceived difficulty, don't just simply write the Bible off as errant and therefore not inspired – delve into the facts of the context and pursue proper understanding.  In other words, give the Bible the benefit of the doubt!

Finally, when one considers the fact that the Bible has survived incredible persecution (from the abolition of Rome in A.D. 303 where scores of Christians were killed, and a massive 'book burning' of all Bibles that could be found occurred – yet just 10 short years after this Christianity was accepted as the 'official' religion of the Roman Empire, to Voltaire and Thomas Paine's vain predictions in the 18th century that the Bible will soon be forgotten) is evidence of seemingly supernatural intervention.  

Clearly, these supposed 'contradictions' and 'difficulties' have been worked through for a VAST amount of people for thousands of years.  The Bible is clearly meant to be taken seriously.