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Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World Hardcover – Illustrated, October 3, 2017
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Everything you need to effectively defend the truths of the Bible and the beliefs of the Christian faith.
Winner of the 2018 ECPA Christian Book award for Bible Reference Works.
The truth of the Bible doesn't change, but its critics do. Now with his son, Sean McDowell, speaker and author Josh McDowell has updated and expanded the modern apologetics classic for a new generation.
Evidence That Demands a Verdict provides an expansive defense of Christianity's core truths, rebuttals to some recent and popular forms of skepticism, and insightful responses to the Bible's most difficult and misused passages. It invites readers to bring their doubts and doesn't shy away from the tough questions.
Topics and questions are covered in four main parts:
- Evidence for the Bible
- Evidence for Jesus
- Evidence for the Old Testament
- Evidence for Truth
Also included, you'll find:
- An introduction about the biblical mandate to defend one's faith and why our faith is built on facts.
- A prologue describing why we live in a theistic universe.
- A closing response to the specific challenges of atheist New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman.
- Two reflections: "How to Know God Personally" and "He Changed My Life."
Serving as a go-to reference for even the toughest questions, Evidence that Demands a Verdict continues to encourage and strengthen millions by providing Christians the answers they need to defend their faith against the harshest critics and skeptics.
"Here's a treasure trove of apologetic gems! This is an indispensable book that all Christians should keep within reach." —Lee Strobel, bestselling author of The Case for Christ
- Print length880 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherThomas Nelson
- Publication dateOctober 3, 2017
- Dimensions6.88 x 1.93 x 9.5 inches
- ISBN-101401676707
- ISBN-13978-1401676704
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"Here's a treasure trove of apologetic gems! This is an indispensable book that all Christians should keep within reach." --Lee Strobel, Best-Selling Author of The Case for Christ and In Defense of Jesus |
"I am thrilled for the updated and expanded edition of this landmark resource to reach the hearts and minds of a rising generation, and I trust it will have the same impact in their lives as it did in mine." --Louie Giglio, Pastor of Passion City Church, Founder of Passion Conferences, Author of Goliath Must Fall |
"For those who want to understand how to defend the veracity of the Christian faith, Evidence That Demands a Verdict is the book for you." --Dr. Tony Evans, Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and President of The Urban Alternative |
"I'm so happy that this timeless classic is now updated and being released to a whole new generation of readers!" --Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder/CEO, Joni and Friends International Disability Center |
Editorial Reviews
Review
"When I was a college student full of questions about the authenticity of my faith, I usedEvidence That Demands a Verdict as my go-to reference book. I'm grateful to Josh for this updated release for my two sons." - Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family
"It is not without reason that Evidence That Demands a Verdict has stood the test of time with readers around the world for nearly four decades. Josh McDowell has not only been a pioneer in the field of apologetics and worldviews but a friend and encourager to many, including me. I am thrilled that he has partnered with his son, Sean, to update his classic book and know it will challenge and inspire you." - Ravi Zacharias, Author and Speaker
"My friend Josh McDowell and his son Sean have given us an updated and relevant 21st Century tool to encourage faith and trust in the reliability of Scripture. For those who want to understand how to defend the veracity of the Christian faith, Evidence That Demands a Verdict is the book for you." - Dr. Tony Evans, Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and President of The Urban Alternative
"In 1972, shortly after the accident in which I became paralyzed, I picked up a book that helped solidify my belief in God and faith in Christ. Still struggling to accept my wheelchair, I needed rock-solid evidence that there was a personal God who genuinely cared about my plight. Evidence That Demands a Verdict was that remarkable book, and I'm so happy that this timeless classic is now updated and being released to a whole new generation of readers! Can't recommend it enough!" - Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder/CEO, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
"Significant. Timely. Life-Changing. For decades, Evidence That Demands a Verdict has met believers, seekers and skeptics at the intersection of faith and fact, laying a foundation of unshakeable, time-proven truth for us to stand on through ages of skepticism, mysticism and so-called tolerance. I am thrilled for the updated and expanded edition of this landmark resource to reach the hearts and minds of a rising generation, and I trust it will have the same impact in their lives as it did in mine. I'm grateful for Josh and Sean McDowell's relentless passion to equip and empower God's people to confidently and boldly stand for truth. You'll want to keep this book close at hand!" - Louie Giglio, Pastor of Passion City Church, Founder of Passion Conferences, Author of Goliath Must Fall
"This book changed my life. It showed me the staggering welter of evidence for the historicity of the bible -- and convinced me that having faith in the biblical God is infinitely more rational than not having such faith. Any agnostic or atheist reluctant to become a Christian must take every precaution available to avoid this book." - Eric Metaxas, author of Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World and host of the nationally-syndicated Eric Metaxas Show.
About the Author
For over 60 years Josh McDowell has provided breakthrough moments for more than 45 million people in 139 countries about the evidence for Christianity and the difference the Christian faith makes in the world. Through his work with Cru and the global outreach of Josh McDowell Ministry, millions of people worldwide have been exposed to the love of Christ. He is the author or coauthor of more than 150 books, including such classics as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, especially young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support of a biblical worldview. Sean is an associate professor in Talbot School of Theology’s Christian Apologetics program at Biola University. Sean is an internationally recognized speaker and the author, co-author, or editor of numerous books. He has a popular YouTube channel in which he discusses apologetics, culture, and worldview issues and regularly hosts conversations with non-Christians. He blogs regularly at seanmcdowell.org and engages a range of different social media platforms.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Evidence that Demands a Verdict
Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World
By Josh McDowell, Sean McDowellThomas Nelson
Copyright © 2017 Josh McDowell MinistryAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4016-7670-4
Contents
Foreword, xv,Preface, xvii,
Acknowledgments, xix,
Revising Evidence That Demands a Verdict, xxi,
He Changed My Life, xxv,
Introduction, xxxi,
PROLOGUE: A Theistic Universe, lix,
PART I: Evidence for the Bible,
CHAPTER 1: The Uniqueness of the Bible, 3,
CHAPTER 2: How We Got the Bible, 21,
CHAPTER 3: Is the New Testament Historically Reliable?, 41,
CHAPTER 4: Have the Old Testament Manuscripts Been Accurately Transmitted?, 92,
CHAPTER 5: Gnostic Gospels and Other Nonbiblical Texts, 124,
PART II: Evidence for Jesus,
CHAPTER 6: The Historical Existence of Jesus, 143,
CHAPTER 7: The Lofty Claims of Jesus, 172,
CHAPTER 8: The Trilemma: Lord, Liar, Lunatic?, 195,
CHAPTER 9: Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ, 205,
CHAPTER 10: The Resurrection: Hoax or History?, 232,
CHAPTER 11: Is Christianity a Copycat Religion?, 303,
CHAPTER 12: The Deity of Jesus: An Investigation, 316,
CHAPTER 13: The Martyrdom of the Apostles, 360,
PART III: Evidence for the Old Testament,
CHAPTER 14: The Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Influences, 371,
CHAPTER 15: Biblically Faithful Approaches to Genesis, 403,
CHAPTER 16: Archaeology and the Old Testament, 414,
CHAPTER 17: The Historical Adam, 423,
CHAPTER 18: The Historicity of the Patriarchs, 443,
CHAPTER 19: The Historicity of the Exodus, 459,
CHAPTER 20: The Historicity of the Conquest, 480,
CHAPTER 21: The Historicity of the United Monarchy, 503,
CHAPTER 22: The Historicity of the Divided Monarchy and Exilic Period, 519,
CHAPTER 23: The Composition of the Pentateuch, 529,
CHAPTER 24: The Composition of the Book of Isaiah, 558,
CHAPTER 25: The Historicity of Daniel, 572,
CHAPTER 26: Alleged Contradictions in the Old Testament, 586,
PART IV: Evidence for Truth,
CHAPTER 27: The Nature of Truth, 605,
CHAPTER 28: The Knowability of Truth, 621,
CHAPTER 29: Answering Postmodernism, 635,
CHAPTER 30: Answering Skepticism, 652,
CHAPTER 31: Are Miracles Possible?, 663,
CHAPTER 32: Is History Knowable?, 688,
EPILOGUE: Final Thoughts, 703,
APPENDIX: Responding to the Challenges of Bart Ehrman, 705,
Bibliography, 723,
Author Index, 775,
Subject Index, 787,
How to Know God Personally, 795,
CHAPTER 1
THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BIBLE
OVERVIEW
I. Introduction
II. Unique in Character
Unique in Its Time Span
Unique in Its Geographical Production
Unique in Its Authorship
Unique in Its Literary Genres
Unique in Its Languages
Unique in Its Teachings
III. Unique in Impact
Unique in Its Circulation and Translation
Unique in Its Survival and Resiliency
Unique in Its Impact on Western
Civilization
IV. Concluding Remarks
I. Introduction
People often say to us, "Oh, you don't read the Bible, do you?" Or they say, "The Bible is just another book. You really ought to read ..." Then they name some of their favorite books. Others have a Bible in their library, describing how it sits on the shelf next to other "greats," such as Homer's Odyssey, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, or Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Their Bible may be dusty, not broken in, but they still recognize its historical influence, thinking of it as one of the classics. Still others make degrading comments about the Bible because they are surprised that anyone might take it seriously enough to spend time reading it. I (Josh) was once like them. I even tried to refute the Bible as God's Word to humanity. I finally concluded, however, that not accepting the Bible must result from being either biased, prejudiced, or simply unread.
Voices like those above brought up many issues with which I grappled. As a result of all my research about the Bible, I concluded that the best word to describe the Bible is the word unique.
This chapter focuses exclusively on the unique origin and nature of the Bible, the profound impact it has had on western civilization, and its responsibility for much of the progress of human history. This chapter will not attempt to demonstrate the validity or truth of the Bible, nor its claims to inspiration, infallibility, or inerrancy, which will be addressed in subsequent chapters.
II. Unique in Character
There are several uncommon and distinctive features of the Bible's history, composition, and content. F. F. Bruce, former Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester, summarizes these characteristics:
The Bible, at first sight, appears to be a collection of literature — mainly Jewish. If we enquire into the circumstances under which the various Biblical documents were written, we find that they were written at intervals over a space of nearly 1400 years. The writers wrote in various lands, from Italy in the west to Mesopotamia and possibly Persia in the east. The writers themselves were a heterogeneous number of people, not only separated from each other by hundreds of years and hundreds of miles but belonging to the most diverse walks of life. In their ranks we have kings, herdsmen, soldiers, legislators, fishermen, statesmen, courtiers, priests and prophets, a tentmaking rabbi and a Gentile physician, not to speak of others of whom we know nothing apart from the writings they have left us. The writings themselves belong to a great variety of literary types. They include history, law (civil, criminal, ethical, ritual, sanitary), religious poetry, didactic treatises, lyric poetry, parable and allegory, biography, personal correspondence, personal memoirs and diaries, in addition to the distinctively Biblical types of prophecy and apocalyptic. (Bruce, BP, 79)
Now let us look in more detail into some of these specific characteristics.
A. Unique in Its Time Span
While most scholars agree that all the books of the New Testament were completed by the second half of the first century AD (Kitchen, OROT, 500), there is sufficient evidence to confirm that the earliest forms of the Bible were written during the time of the Hebrew exodus out of Egypt (c. 1400–1200 BC). This means that the composition of the biblical writings, from the earliest book of the Bible to the last of the New Testament writings, spans a period of 1,300 to 1,500 years. In comparison to other literary and historical works, the Bible is exceptional in that it was written and assembled over a vast number of generations.
B. Unique in Its Geographical Production
Unlike most other literary works, the composition and transmission of the biblical books did not emerge from a homogenous community located in a single region of the ancient world. Rather, these works were written by peoples in areas as diverse as Rome in the West, Egypt in the South, and Mesopotamia in the East. This amazing geographical and ethnic diversity distinguishes the Bible's origins from that of all other books.
C. Unique in Its Authorship
The Bible is as diverse in its authorship as it is in its production over a long period of time and the multiple geographical regions in which it originated. Authored by approximately forty different people (some known, some unknown) and edited and preserved by countless scribal schools and communities, the Bible preserves for us the writings of a vast array of different personalities from widely divergent social circumstances. We discover kings surrounded by power and wealth (e.g., Solomon) on the one hand, to lower class Galilean fishermen (e.g., Peter and John) on the other. Between these two socioeconomic extremes one finds an exiled prince (Moses), military leaders (e.g., Joshua and David), trained philosophers (e.g., the authors of Job and Ecclesiastes), a tax collector (Matthew), a historian (Luke), and a zealous Pharisee (Paul). These authors recorded the stories of all kinds of people. Professor Mary Ellen Chase remarks:
The story-tellers of the Bible ... understood men and women of all sorts and in all conditions. There is literally no type of person whom they have neglected. All are here: the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor, the faithful and the treacherous, the designing and the generous, the pitiful and the prosperous, the innocent and the guilty, the spendthrift and the miser, the players of practical jokes and their discomfited victims, the sorry, the tired, the old, the exasperated young, misled and impetuous girls, young men who lusted and young men who loved, friends who counted no cost for friendship, bad-mannered children and children well brought up, a little boy who had a headache in a hay-field, a little servant girl who wanted so much her master's health that she dared to give him good, if unpalatable, advice. Once one discovers such persons as these, still alive after many centuries, they become not only fascinating in themselves but typical of persons whom we know today. (Chase, BCR, 5)
D. Unique in Its Literary Genres
The Bible is also unique in that a multitude of distinct literary forms and genres can be found within its pages, as complete compositions consisting of a single genre (e.g., Song of Songs) or complete compositions imbued with multiple genres (e.g., Exodus). Gerd Theissen, professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, highlights the importance of biblical genres:
Biblical texts are of various sorts. Treatment of one sort of text provides practice in dealing with all texts of the same sort. Narrative, poetic, legal, and argumentative texts of the Bible can therefore be treated as exemplary, as well as the various biblical genres identified by that area of biblical scholarship called form criticism. In principle no single sort of text is privileged. Central themes appear in all forms: creation is recorded as narrative; trust is expressed in prayer (Psalm 23); monotheism is mandated in a commandment (Exod. 20:2); justification is expounded in a disputatious letter (Romans); theodicy — the question of God's justice — is examined in wisdom dialogue (Job). The Bible is not a homogenous text but a compendium of different forms and genres. Each must be appreciated on its own terms. (Theissen, BCC, 30–31)
Other ancient literary works utilize a multiplicity of literary genres, but the biblical authors use them in order to focus their audience's attention on one supreme metanarrative. Alison Jack, professor of Bible and Literature at the University of Edinburgh, illustrates the interplay between this unifying biblical motif and the multiplicity of literary forms:
While one overarching story may be discerned, involving the central character of the one God, creator and sustainer of the earth, and his relationship with those who accept a relationship with him, and those who do not, there are many different voices behind the books of the Bible. A multitude of literary genres are found here, from long and short narratives to poetry and song, genealogies and historical accounts, biography, letters and apocalyptic writing. These voices tell different versions of the story, from a variety of perspectives. (Jack, BL, 6)
E. Unique in Its Languages
The Bible is written in three different languages (two Semitic and one Indo-European), each with a unique character and essence. Larry Walker, former professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, outlines each of the biblical languages:
Hebrew is actually one of several Canaanite dialects which included Phoenician, Ugaritic, and Moabite. Other Canaanite dialects (for example, Ammonite) existed but have left insufficient inscriptions for scholarly investigation. Such dialects were already present in the land of Canaan before its conquest by the Israelites. ... Hebrew belongs to the Semitic family of languages; these languages were used from the Mediterranean Sea to the mountains east of the Euphrates River valley, and from Armenia (Turkey) in the north to the southern extremity of the Arabian peninsula. ... Hebrew, like the other early Semitic languages, concentrates on observation more than reflection. That is, things that are generally observed according to their appearance as phenomena, not analyzed as to their inward being or essence. Effects are observed but not traced through a series of causes. Hebrew's vividness, conciseness, and simplicity make the language difficult to translate fully. It is amazingly concise and direct. For example, Psalm 23 contains fifty-five words; most translations require about twice that many to translate it. ... Hebrew is a pictorial language in which the past is not merely described but verbally painted. Not just a landscape is presented but a moving panorama. The course of events is reenacted in the mind's sight. ... Many profound theological expressions of the Old Testament are tightly bound up with Hebrew language and grammar. Even the most sacred name of God himself, "the Lord" (Jehovah or Yahweh), is directly related to the Hebrew verb "to be" (or perhaps "to cause to be"). (Walker, BL, 218–221)
Walker also explains:
Aramaic is linguistically very close to Hebrew and similar in structure. Aramaic texts in the Bible are written in the same script as Hebrew. In contrast to Hebrew, Aramaic uses a larger vocabulary, including many loan words, and a greater variety of connectives. It also contains an elaborate system of tenses, developed through the use of participles with pronouns or with various forms of the verb "to be." Although Aramaic is less euphonious and poetical than Hebrew, it is probably superior as a vehicle of exact expression. Aramaic has perhaps the longest continuous living history of any language known. It was used during the Bible's patriarchal period and is still spoken by a few people today. Aramaic and its cognate, Syriac, evolved into many dialects in different places and periods. Characterized by simplicity, clarity, and precision, it adapted easily to the various needs of everyday life. It could serve equally well as a language for scholars, pupils, lawyers, or merchants. Some have described it as the Semitic equivalent of English. ... Gradually, especially after the Babylonian exile, Aramaic influence pervaded the land of Palestine. Nehemiah complained that children from mixed marriages were unable to speak Hebrew (Neh. 13:24). The Jews seem to have continued using Aramaic widely during the Persian, Greek, and Roman periods. Eventually the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Aramaic paraphrases, called Targums, some of which have been found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. ... Aramaic served as a transition from Hebrew to Greek as the language spoken by Jews in Jesus' day. In that sense Aramaic connects Old Testament Hebrew with New Testament Greek. (Walker, BL, 228–230)
Walker continues:
The Greek language is beautiful, rich, and harmonious as an instrument of communication. It is a fitting tool both for vigorous thought and for religious devotion. During its classic period, Greek was the language of one of the world's greatest cultures. During that cultural period, language, literature, and art flourished more than war. The Greek mind was preoccupied with ideals of beauty. The Greek language reflected artistry in its philosophical dialogues, its poetry, and its stately orations. The Greek language was also characterized by strength and vigor. It was capable of variety and striking effects. Greek was a language of argument, with a vocabulary and style that could penetrate and clarify phenomena rather than simply tell stories. ... The conquests of Alexander the Great encouraged the spread of Greek language and culture. Regional dialects were largely replaced by "Hellenistic" or "koine" (common) Greek. Koine Greek is a dialect preserved and known through thousands of inscriptions reflecting all aspects of daily life. The koine dialect added many vernacular expressions to Attic Greek, thus making it more cosmopolitan. Simplifying the grammar also better adapted it to a worldwide culture. ... Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek was an epochal event. The Septuagint (the earliest Greek translation of the Old Testament) later had a strong influence on Christian thought. ... The New Testament epistles blend the wisdom of Hebrew and the dialectic philosophy of Greek. Sermons recorded in the New Testament combine the Hebrew prophetic message with Greek oratorical force. (Walker, BL, 230–234)
(Continues...)Excerpted from Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell. Copyright © 2017 Josh McDowell Ministry. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- Publisher : Thomas Nelson; Illustrated edition (October 3, 2017)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 880 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1401676707
- ISBN-13 : 978-1401676704
- Item Weight : 3.2 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.88 x 1.93 x 9.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #5,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9 in Evangelism
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About the authors
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He graduated summa cum laude from from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double master's degree in philosophy and theology. He earned his PH.D. in Apologetics and Worldview Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author, co-author, or editor of over fifteen books including Evidence that Demands a Verdict, So the Next Generation Will Know, Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World, Understanding Intelligent Design, the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God's Design for Marriage, and Is God Just a Human Invention?. Sean was named Educator of the Year for San Juan Capistrano in 2007-08. His apologetics training has received exemplary status from the Association of Christian Schools International. He is a regular guest on various radio and TV shows. You can read Sean's blog and contact him for speaking events at http://www.seanmcdowell.org. In April 2000, Sean married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie. They have three children, Scottie, Shauna, and Shane and live in San Juan Capistrano, California.
A trailblazer for truth and relationships, Josh McDowell has been at the forefront of cultural trends and ground-breaking ministry for over six decades.
Josh shares the essentials of the Christian faith in everyday language so that youth, families, churches, leaders, and individuals of all ages are prepared for the life of faith and the work of the ministry. This includes leveraging resources based on years of experience, new technologies and strategic partnerships.
Since 1961, Josh has spoken to approximately 46 million people in 139 countries. Josh has written or co-authored more than 156 books in over 128 languages including "More Than a Carpenter" with over 27 million copies distributed and "Evidence that Demands a Verdict," named one of the twentieth century’s top 40 books and one of the thirteen most influential books of the last 50 years on Christian thought by World Magazine.
Josh and his wife, Dottie, are quick to acknowledge that after their love for the Lord, family is their greatest joy and top priority. They have been married 52 years and have four wonderful children and eleven beloved grandchildren.
Josh McDowell Ministry is a division of Cru (the U.S. division of Campus Crusade for Christ International).
Please visit: www.josh.org
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Part 2 covers the evidence for Jesus. Chapter 6 provides the biblical, extra-biblical, and archaeological evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is a historical person. Chapter 7 dives into the claims Jesus made regarding his divinity (meaning that Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh). Chapter 8 takes the classic C. S Lewis trilemma of liar, lunatic, or Lord and challenges the reader to decide the identity of Jesus. Chapter 9 dives into how Jesus is the Messiah of Israel by fulfilling key Old Testament prophecies. Chapter 10 explores whether the resurrection of Jesus was a historical event or whether it was a grand hoax concocted by the disciples. Additionally, counter-arguments to the bodily resurrection are refuted such as the Swoon theory and mass hallucination theory. Chapter 11 explains how Christianity is unique among other religions. Chapter 12 is a more in-depth study of the divinity of Jesus. Chapter 13 looks at the martyrdom of the 12 apostles and how their willingness to die for their faith points towards the sincerity of their belief that they truly saw Jesus Christ bodily risen from the dead.
Part 3 covers the evidence for the Old Testament. Chapter 14 compares the Old Testament text with other surrounding Ancient Near Eastern cultures. Chapter 15 surveys different ways the book of Genesis (beginning) has been faithfully interpreted. Chapter 16 provides the archaeological evidence for the historicity of the Old Testament. Chapter 17 explores the importance of the historical existence of Adam and Eve. Chapter 18 looks at the historicity of the Jewish patriarchs and whether the biblical accounts found in Genesis are historically accurate concerning the customs of the cultures they find themselves in. Chapter 19 takes a fresh look at the historicity of the Exodus. Specifically, the life of Moses and to see if Israelites were truly in the land of Egypt. Chapter 20 discusses Joshua’s conquests of Canaan by surveying several interpretations and by consulting the cultural and archaeological evidence for the biblical narrative. Chapter 21 dives into the historicity of the United Monarch focusing primarily on King David and his successor his son, King Solomon. Chapter 22 provides the historical evidence for the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah and refutations to key objections like low chronology. Chapter 23 covers the composition of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) and it discusses who wrote this foundational body of work. Chapter 24 covers the book of Isaiah regarding authorship and unity. Chapter 25 builds a case for the historicity of the book of Daniel. Chapter 26 deals with supposed contradictions in the Old Testament.
Part 4 provides evidence for truth. Chapter 27 explains why truth matters and how it corresponds to reality. Chapter 28 explains how one can know truth. Chapter 29 responds to postmodernism. Chapter 30 provides a well-reasoned answer to skepticism. Chapter 31 explores the nature of miracles, their characteristics, and why they happen. Chapter 32 asked the question can we know history and what history means for Christianity?
As one can tell from the large volume of topics, this is a compendium of the best evidence for the authenticity and historicity of the Christian faith. You will find well-reasoned arguments from some of the best Christian scholars and apologists today like Michael Byrd, Gary Habermas, J.P. Moreland, Mike Licona, and a host of others that can help you see that Christianity is built upon a rock-solid foundation of evidence.
To begin then; why, another edition. This is a book that has been around in different editions for 40 years. When an "updated", "new and improved" anything comes out, I am the first to raise an eyebrow as to what the motivation is. In this case, it's simple, both the challenges and the evidence available to the truth of Christianity is a constantly evolving thing, this is a book that in reality could be re-released every 20-30 years with no problem.
Now to the book itself, it is a reference book first and foremost, it is not light reading, in fact it is quite intellectually taxing. It's designed for you to go to a particular section and gather information to answer a particular question, and in this area it is outstanding. The contents are well laid out so you can find what you need quickly. Questions or challenges are addressed concisely and thoroughly and with good cross references if you are looking to go deeper. I wouldn't suggest reading cover to cover in one sitting (though you can if you desire), take your time, let the information simmer, because there is a lot to take in.
In my opinion, this books greatest strength is its honesty. It is not afraid to present opposing views against Christianity, even when the evidence for faith in that subject can sometimes seem a little light, more than once I found myself wanting the authors to claim absolute undeniability, but that would detract from the overall strength of the honest, accumulative argument. There is no silver bullet either For or against Christianity, you have to weigh the evidence for yourself, honestly, and go from there, for me this book is a scale tipper.
The first time I read this book it helped bring me to a strong intellectual Christian faith, this time, it helped me go even deeper and provide even more answers to what, for me has been a journey with many questions to a faith in Jesus Christ.
ANYONE with an open mind, from staunch atheist to staunch Christian, with any questions about the truth of Christianity will benefit from reading this book, I couldn't recommend it more.
Top reviews from other countries
It demonstrates conclusively, through meticulous argument and careful documentation, that the Bible is true.
For those who are disheartened by the increasing influence of revisionist and minimalist thought about the real meaning of the Bible, this book is an absolute must-have.
Indeed, in its many pages, I have only discovered one single error.
The authors, who are otherwise so exact and accurate, mistakenly claim that the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament - which appear in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in Protestant editions - were only added in 1546 by the Council of Trent.
In fact however, these books, which form part of the Greek Old Testament utilized by the early Church, were specifically listed as part of the Bible at no less than three Church councils in the 4th century - Rome (382), Hippo (393) and Carthage (397).
When the Protestant reformers removed several books from the Old Testament in the early 1500s, the Catholic Council of Trent re-affirmed their integral place in Scripture - just as the Church had believed from the very beginning. Trent was not making a novel pronouncement at all.
In effect, since the Orthodox and Catholic Churches have always received these books as being a part of the Bible - they are thus to be found in the in the Scriptures of the overwhelming majority of the Christian world. Also to be noted, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are far older than Protestantism; they were in continuous possession of the Bible long before the Protestant reformation.
It is true that questions were raised from time to time about the canonicity of some of these books, but books which all Christians recognize were also questioned before the canon was settled. It is a little-known fact today that Martin Luther actually wanted to remove several books from the New Testament, including James and Revelation.
As stated above, the Old Testament of the early Christians was the Greek version called the Septuagint. This is amply demonstrated by the fact that the vast majority of quotations from the Greek Old Testament to be found in the New Testament were taken word-for-word from the Septuagint.
It is sometimes argued by Protestant scholars that a rabbinic council held at Jamnia around the year 90 fixed the canon of the Hebrew Bible at the 39 books later recognized as canonical by Protestants. This is a specious argument, not only because the Church was using the wider canon of the Greeek Old Testament at the time but also because these same Jewish leaders had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. So, if they didn't even believe in Jesus why would Protestants regard them as the best authorities to delineate the limits of the Old Testament?
I must again reiterate that this is the only error in the entire text of this book, a truly mammoth undertaking for which the authors richly deserve full credit and appreciation from the entire Christian world.
Indeed, note please that I have favoured this outstanding book with a fully deserved 5 Star rating.
So, if you are wearied by claims that miracles can't happen or that certain books of the Bible were written by anonymous authors centuries after their actual authors lived, this is the book that will heal your heart and soul and will also truly help to give you back your trust in the Word of God.
And there's definitely a LOT of information here!