“The Credible Christ” 03/18/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles

“The Credible Christ” Introduction For more than a century, one of the most important issues in NT scholarship has been the “quest for the historical Jesus.” Why is it that Jesus within history is such a controversial subject? There are at least two factors at play here.

“The Credible Christ” First, as time has marched on, the way people write history has changed. In the NT times, in the case of the biblical record, the writers did not write in a purely chronological way.

“The Credible Christ” Instead, the Gospels were written around theological concerns. The last 300 years of history has not been understood theologically.

“The Credible Christ” With the advent of the scientific revolution, science has dominated the way people see the past and project the future. The separation of faith and reason (whose offspring is the separation of church and state), has had dramatic effects on how we see reality.

“The Credible Christ” Second, although the NT documents have been proven to have been written during the first century, they are constantly called into question.

“The Credible Christ”

“The Credible Christ” So many have tried to prove the Bible is false and it seems to always revolve around Jesus. Prominent scholars throughout the years have tried to discredit Jesus as a real person of history. These are the same old tricks used by Satan to deceive people.

“The Credible Christ” The fundamental premise used to discredit Jesus is to teach that Jesus was not a real person of history.

“The Credible Christ” Jesus was a myth. It wasn’t until the 20th century that people seriously questioned whether Jesus had ever lived. Englishman G. A. Wells insists that Paul made Jesus up to validate his own new religious ideas.

“The Credible Christ” Now let’s look at the Evidence for Jesus. Jewish Evidence. Josephus was the official historian of the Roman Empire.

“The Credible Christ” “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.

“The Credible Christ” He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among 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 the third day;

--Flavius Josephus, Antiquities, xviii.33. (early second century) “The Credible Christ” as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.” --Flavius Josephus, Antiquities, xviii.33. (early second century)

“The Credible Christ” Rabbinical Writings (between A.D. 70-200). “In Jewish writings. . . we are told these things about Jesus: he was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier; his mother’s name was Mary, and she was a dresser of women’s hair;

“The Credible Christ” he was a “revolutionary” and he “scoffed at the words of the wise”; he worked miracles by means of magic brought out of Egypt. . .he was a heretic who sinned and caused the multitude to sin, and he “led astray and deceived Israel”;

“The Credible Christ” he was about thirty-three years old when he was put to death. . . One thing, however, which the Jewish enemies of Jesus never thought of saying was that he had not existed.” (Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Man of Nazareth, p. 20)

“The Credible Christ” Pagan Evidence. Tacitus (circa A.D. 115). Thallus (circa A.D. 52). Suetonius, Pliny, Lucian and other writers from the second century. If Jesus had not lived, why would the enemies of Christianity even mention Jesus?

“The Credible Christ” Taking the Gospels as History Why do you believe in Jesus? Why do we believe in Jesus? We are more ignorant or more superstitious.

“The Credible Christ” Today more than ever in our lifetimes we see how blind allegiance to a religion can be dangerous. Why do you believe in Jesus?

“The Credible Christ” 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-26, NIV) 33 … any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33, NIV)

“The Credible Christ” 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Rev 3:15-17, NIV)

“The Credible Christ” 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (John 1:3, NIV)

“The Credible Christ” 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (John 1:3, NIV)

“The Credible Christ” Matthew the tax-collector. Peter the fisherman. 16 We did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16).

“The Credible Christ” Luke. 1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. (Luke 1:1-2, NIV)

“The Credible Christ” 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:3-4, NIV)

“The Credible Christ” Conclusion

“The Credible Christ” 03/18/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles