Is the Message of the Bible Fact or Fairy Tale? Finale: The Testimony of Other New Testament Writers
We ended our last session together promising to introduce you to some New Testament writers outside of the gospels who provide independent testimony to an early formation of the core of the gospel message. Meet the Apostle Paul.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul records what the majority of New Testament scholars believe to be a very early creed of the church that represents the core beliefs of the Christian faith. In this text. Paul affirms the death, burial, resurrection, and resurrection appearances of Christ. Most scholars agree that Paul originally shared this creed with his readers in 51 A.D. But Paul asserts in this text that he actually received it much earlier. The scholarly consensus points to Paul's visit to Jerusalem recorded in Galatians 1:18-24 as the time when he received this message from Peter and James.
If this is true, and there is no good reason to deny that it is, then Paul is an independent source who confirms that the central core of the Christian message contained in the gospels was fully formed within no more than ten years after the events and almost two decades before Mark wrote his gospel. For those who may continue to doubt, keep in mind that across the range of both skeptical and conservative scholars there is agreement that at least seven of Paul's epistles are authentic. First Corinthians and Galatians are among them.
In addition, there is James, the half-brother of Jesus, who prior to Jesus' death doubted him along with the rest of his siblings. Paul notes in the 1 Corinthians passage above that James saw his risen brother. This is the same James who became the leader of the church at Jerusalem, whose New Testament epistle bears his name, and who was executed for his faith (See Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, Book XX, Chapter IX, Section 1). How do we account for the radical change in this man that compelled him to go to his death rather than deny his belief in the risen Jesus.
For that matter, how do we account for the radical transformation in all of the disciples from beaten, frightened, and doubting losers after Jesus' death to bold preachers of the divine and risen Savior of the world? The majority of the twelve went to their deaths for so proclaiming, and not one of them recanted. Rational men may give their lives for something that they passionately believe to be true, but never for what they know to be false.
It appears then that the core message of the gospels had been circulating long before Mark first cracked his knuckles and sat at his keyboard. Consequently, in order for Christians to stop being Christians, as Ima Dowder hopes, they would have to deny evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt. In other words, they would have to become irrational. And if Christians did follow Dowder's advise, what kind of world would this be? I believe a moment of honest reflection might provoke us to rethink our preference for a world without Christian thought, Christian truth, Christian virtue, and Christian charity. The gospel of John tells us that in Jesus Christ "was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). Consider the alternative.
Blessings,
Dr. B. E. Leaver
(Alias Arnie Gentile)
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In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul records what the majority of New Testament scholars believe to be a very early creed of the church that represents the core beliefs of the Christian faith. In this text. Paul affirms the death, burial, resurrection, and resurrection appearances of Christ. Most scholars agree that Paul originally shared this creed with his readers in 51 A.D. But Paul asserts in this text that he actually received it much earlier. The scholarly consensus points to Paul's visit to Jerusalem recorded in Galatians 1:18-24 as the time when he received this message from Peter and James.
If this is true, and there is no good reason to deny that it is, then Paul is an independent source who confirms that the central core of the Christian message contained in the gospels was fully formed within no more than ten years after the events and almost two decades before Mark wrote his gospel. For those who may continue to doubt, keep in mind that across the range of both skeptical and conservative scholars there is agreement that at least seven of Paul's epistles are authentic. First Corinthians and Galatians are among them.
In addition, there is James, the half-brother of Jesus, who prior to Jesus' death doubted him along with the rest of his siblings. Paul notes in the 1 Corinthians passage above that James saw his risen brother. This is the same James who became the leader of the church at Jerusalem, whose New Testament epistle bears his name, and who was executed for his faith (See Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews, Book XX, Chapter IX, Section 1). How do we account for the radical change in this man that compelled him to go to his death rather than deny his belief in the risen Jesus.
For that matter, how do we account for the radical transformation in all of the disciples from beaten, frightened, and doubting losers after Jesus' death to bold preachers of the divine and risen Savior of the world? The majority of the twelve went to their deaths for so proclaiming, and not one of them recanted. Rational men may give their lives for something that they passionately believe to be true, but never for what they know to be false.
It appears then that the core message of the gospels had been circulating long before Mark first cracked his knuckles and sat at his keyboard. Consequently, in order for Christians to stop being Christians, as Ima Dowder hopes, they would have to deny evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt. In other words, they would have to become irrational. And if Christians did follow Dowder's advise, what kind of world would this be? I believe a moment of honest reflection might provoke us to rethink our preference for a world without Christian thought, Christian truth, Christian virtue, and Christian charity. The gospel of John tells us that in Jesus Christ "was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). Consider the alternative.
Blessings,
Dr. B. E. Leaver
(Alias Arnie Gentile)
Bookmark the Christian Apologetics Blog or subscribe to the Christian Apologetics Blog by email (See sidebar).
Subscribers, visit the Christian Apologetics Blog to view previous entries and comments and to view Christian Apologetics resources for specific Christian Apologetics Topics.
For information on contemporary issues in bioethics, visit www.cedarethics.org.
Recommended Christian Apologetics Titles Related to the Topic
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