Truthbomb Apologetics: Video: The Real Jesus- New Evidence from History and Archeology by Historian Paul Maier

Chad, from Truthbomb Apologetics, has posted  a really great lecture from Paul Maier about the historical and archeological evidence for Jesus Christ.


Truthbomb Apologetics: Video: The Real Jesus- New Evidence from History and Archeology by Historian Paul Maier

Debunking Christianity: Two New Books on the Historicity of Jesus by Richard Carrier and Robert Price

John Loftus has recently posted an article discussing two books by Richard Carrier and Robert Price challenging the Historicity of  Jesus' existence. Carrier has finally decided to write a book trying to explain what he thinks about Jesus. Price has been up front and honest that he does not think that Jesus existed and that most historians and scholar (Christians or not) disagree with him. However up until now Carrier has not been as dogmatic about it, but just suggested that Jesus did not exist. Loftus posted the following video. Carrier does not make a point to allege that he can prove emphatically that Jesus did not exist, but now he has written a book. I won't try to say that he is now saying the he can prove that Jesus did not exist because I have not read the book. However, the video does seem to explain that Carrier thinks that it is reasonable to hold the idea that Jesus may not have existed. 




Richard Carrier's version


However Bart Ehrman says something qualitatively different

Bart Ehrman's Version


So which is it? Ehrman is an Agnostic. Carrier is an atheist. They both reject the Bible as being infallible. They both reject Christianity. They both reject Jesus' Resurrection. They disagree about Jesus' existence as a living person. They both can't be right.  How do you know? The preponderance of evidence is on Ehrman's side. What about other professional historian?

Various other Historians




Debunking Christianity: Two New Books on the Historicity of Jesus by Richard Carrier and Robert Price

CADRE Comments: The Best Attested Event in History?

I like this article. It's very honest. It does make me think that when I quote William Lane Craig, Michael Licona, JP Holding, and Paul L. Mair that I need to be careful how I quote what they say. I have never hear them say things that in context makes it seem that they overstate or exaggerate any of the facts. I know that I can be so imprecise. I will be more careful to be clearer and to not overstate anything. The whole article is well worth reading. I think the bottom line of the article is thus:

So, overall, I think that the claim that the attestation to the life of Jesus is "the best attested event of history" is definitely wrong, and the claim that it is "the best attested event of ancient history" is also an overstatement -- but not by much. Certainly, given the circumstances of the time, the amount of information available about Jesus from the contemporaneous biographies is (to my knowledge) unprecedented.

I'd go a tad further. The article mentions that Jesus' earthly background does not mean that someone like him would have much written about him because at the time they didn't know how important Jesus is. Of course more would be written of Julius Caesar. I think that the very fact that we as everyday people know so much about Jesus and next to nothing about the other itinerant preachers, and would-be messiahs shows us that Jesus is different. That Jesus wasn't and isn't like everyone else who has walked this planet. Regardless of whether or not you believe the things Jesus said and did, the fact that you can know something about Jesus is indisputable. The truth is Jesus' life affects yours on way more levels than Julius Caesar's did. Jesus matters.

CADRE Comments: The Best Attested Event in History?

Apologetics 315: Jesus in the New Testament & Beyond MP3 Audio by Paul Maier

Here is a great lecture from Paul Maier discussing evidences for Jesus through History. This is excellent!

Apologetics 315: Jesus in the New Testament & Beyond MP3 Audio by Paul Maier

YouTube - Some Facts about Jesus Christ's Resurrection

Jesus really did rise from the dead, bodily, with all power in His hand!

YouTube - Some Facts about Jesus Christ's Resurrection

Did Jesus Exist or Was He Just a Myth? - May 4, 2008

Paul Maier was interviewed about the historicity of Jesus. I think I posted some of it before. Maier gives proof of evidence that Jesus existed outside the Bible. This is a great interview.

Did Jesus Exist or Was He Just a Myth? - May 4, 2008

YouTube - Penn & Teller Bullshit - The Bible - Fact or Fiction

Here is a video from Penn and Teller's show. It was on ShowTime so it does contain some profanity. In this episode they attempt to prove that the Bible is wrong - inconsistent and false! Michael Shermer and Paul Maier are interviewed kind of in a faux debate. Penn most definitely hates the Bible and insults believers every chance he can. Shermer is given more time to make his points than Maier and I don't think Maier is given the same weight. Some ideas brought up in the show arew definitely the same tired drum but not new. It is asserted over and over again than we have no evidence for the Jews in Egypt or the Exodus. Or Adam. Or Noah. Contrary evidence was not presented. For example it was remoarked that it made no sense for Noah to be able to gather up two of every kind of animal and put them on the continents we know they live today. Forgetting that in Noah's time, there was only a single continent and that Noah brought the ancestors of the animals today. For example, Noah did not bring 2 Saint Bernards and 2 dobermans, he brought two dogs that were the common ancestor to each of them. Onm point Penn brought up was how horrible that God killed the firstborn of Egypt. He seemed to have forgotten that the Egyptians had murdered all the male Hebrew children when Moses was as baby. It was justice. Egypt had it coming.

The equivocation between Jesus and Elvis was funny...in a pathetic way. Penn and Teller threw out all the evidence for the reliability of the Gospels. But at least they did say that there is enough evidence to accept that Jesus historically lived and was crucified. Unfortunately, they also try to argue that there were other messiahs at the time of Jesus. Shermer throws out Apollonius as an example. I did a post comparing truly if our ideas of Jesus came from Apollonius here. Not a good argument at all. And as for Jesus' miracles being demeaned to being like the magic acts of Penn and Teller, I wanna see them raise a man from the dead who was dead 3 days - or do a single healing miracle. No? Didn't think so.






YouTube - Penn & Teller Bullshit - The Bible - Fact or Fiction Part 1

Monergism :: Historic Jesus

I have found a treasure trove of resources for anyone who wants to delve into looking at Jesus from a historic viewpoint. Ir mostly includes a lot of articles to read but it also includes mp3sb and videos for some of the information. This must a must-see website.  It even include several excepts form the work of historian Paul Maier and other experts like NT Wright.

Monergism :: Historic Jesus

Paul Maier - Jesus Really Existed

I recently came across a great interview with Paul Maier who is a Historian and an expert on First Century Roman Empire History. He has studied the early history of Christianity and is a recognized expert. He lays out his case for why we can faithfully believe that Jesus not only lived, but that He did the things the Bible says He did. It's awesome. I always enjoy him. I want to get his book In The Fullness of Time where he goes into greater detail.I really would like to see a debate between him and Bart Ehrman. In this interview Maier mentioned that he had debated Dan Barker, but I can't find that debate. If you know where I can score a copy please leave a comment as to where I can get it.

Apologetics-DidJes...