Books: The Case for the Real Jesus

This is the sort of thing that troubles me: I've already got a boatload of books that I haven't read yet. And now yet another tempting book recommendation. Dear, dear...

Books: The Case for the Real Jesus: "

‘The Case for the Real Jesus’ by Lee Strobel. Zondervan, 2007.

Christian journalist-apologist Lee Strobel adds another in his list of ‘The Case of …’ books with this new title exploring answers to some of the new challenges facing Christianity in recent years.

In this new volume, Strobel takes on questions such as:

• Did Christianity copy its beliefs about Jesus from pagan religions?

• Are ancient documents such as the Gnostic gospels as credible as the four Gospels in the canon?

• Was Jesus an imposter who failed to fulfill the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament?

• Why can’t people just pick and choose what to believe about Jesus?

Strobel uses his tried-and-true method of interviewing scholarly experts in biblical studies, philosophy, textual criticism and other fields. Far from being dry and esoteric, Strobel’s tone is conversational, approachable and memorable.

As scholars once again present well-documented, logical evidence to support the historicity of the resurrection and the reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you might wonder why Strobel is going over the same ground again.

But if you’ve been paying attention to current events, you’d know how in recent years the best-seller lists and TV have been populated with all sorts of challenges to orthodox Christianity, from ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ to the alleged discovery of Jesus’ ossuary near Jerusalem, to the Gospel of Judas. These ‘new’ discoveries and allegations have shaken the faith of some and caused others to scoff at Christianity anew.

If you know anyone in your life like that, this book would be for them.

Strobel’s interviewees include Craig A. Evans, Ph.D., biblical studies professor and author of ‘Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospel,’ and Daniel B. Wallace, Ph. D., author of ‘Reinventing Jesus’ and an expert on textual criticism.

Such scholars and experts take on challenges from critics ranging from Dan Brown and Michael Baigent to Bart Ehrman, the Jesus Seminar, Muslim apologists and postmodern syncretists.

Because of its thorough answers and reader-friendliness, this book would be a valuable addition to a church library and certainly any individual Christian who cares about defending his faith. This is the sort of sound historical apologetics every Christian should know.

Early in the book, David Wallace, the New Testament expert and textual critic, says something that hit me right between the eyes. He tells Strobel: ‘Christians are not being led into proper historical research by their pastors. I have been saying for some time that I don’t think the evangelical church has fifty years left of life to it until it repents. … We have to quit marginalizing scripture. We can’t treat the Bible with kid gloves. We really need to wrestle with the issues because our faith depends on it. … We need to quit turning Jesus into our buddy. He’s the sovereign Lord of the universe, and we need to understand that and respond accordingly.’

If we as Christians are going to wrestle with the issues that challenge our faith, ‘The Case for the Real Jesus’ is a good place to begin.

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(Via such small hands.)