“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness.’”
-1 Corinthians 3:19
Naysayers posing as "objective" skeptics often query, “Did the historical Jesus really exist? They follow it up with unsubstantiated statements, such as, "The evidence just doesn’t add up.” They may even cite an article published in a liberal tabloid as “proof.”
The author of one such article article noted, “There are good reasons to doubt Jesus’ historical existence - if not to think it downright improbable.” Unashamedly atheistic in his worldview, what is improbable, indeed impossible, is the article's objectivity regarding Christianity and Christ.
Some of the “proofs” listed in his "objective" article are as follows:
“The lack of early sources...”
100% FALSE! The New Testament has more and better early sources than any other book of antiquity. If you want to look at evidence and persuasive arguments for the validity of Christ (not some biased tabloid journalists’ take on it) here are some books to consider:
Why The Universe Is The Way It Is by Hugh Ross
Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Can I Trust the Bible by Darrell Bock
Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias
Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller;
Finding Truth by Nancy Pearcey
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
“Paul avoided Jesus’ earthly events...”
100% FALSE! Paul was a Jewish zealot formerly known as Saul. After leading the murderous charge against Christians in Jerusalem, Saul’s terror scattered King Jesus’ followers in every direction and into every civilized area of the Roman Empire and beyond! Saul was on the road to Damascus to slaughter more Christians when… (see Acts 9). Saul was radically transformed by a supernatural encounter with the RISEN Christ. Saul became known as Paul, the great Apostle, missionary, evangelist, church planter, martyr, and author of thirteen (or fourteen depending on which scholars you ask) of the twenty-seven New Testament books.
Paul didn't "avoid" the earthly events of Jesus' life and ministry. He didn't address them because he was not an eyewitness to them. Saul/Paul was not one of King Jesus' Twelve Disciples. If Paul did, in fact, comment on much of Jesus' earthly ministry, it would have actually fueled the fires of doubt and controversy. Liberal scholars and atheists would simply rationalize, "What grounds does Paul have to comment on events he bore no witness to?"
The only “earthly event” Paul witnessed of Jesus (Damascus Road encounter) was recorded. Paul’s letters to the various churches were written NOT as commentary on Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. That's what the four Gospel accounts are (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Instead, Paul's epistles (letters) to the churches (Romans, Corinthians 1&2, Galatians, Philippians, etc.) were primarily guidance and instructions to followers of King Jesus now living - not as autonomous individuals - but members of Christ's Body and Bride in Gospel communities.
Paul's letters were primarily focused on how born-again, Holy Spirit filled, humble, surrendered members of the LORD's Church were to RESPOND with their lives in light of King Jesus' earthly life: His incarnation as Immanuel; His baptism of identification in the Jordan; His gracious ministry of preaching, teaching, healing, and leading; His death upon the Cross; His resurrection on the third day, His ascension to heaven - seated at the right hand of the Father; and His imminent return.
Paul did comment, to some extent, on Jesus’ earthly ministry. But if Paul had commented on events to which he was NOT a first-hand eyewitness, i.e. Jesus’ miracles, teachings, ministry, etc. the aforementioned "objective" author would, in fact, have grounds for discrediting those writings by arguing Saul/Paul wasn’t a firsthand witness to any of them. Paul did NOT “avoid” King Jesus’ earthly events. He limited his writings to what was supernaturally revealed to him by Christ and what the Holy Spirit inspired him to write for the edification of the Church.
“No eyewitness accounts…”
100% FALSE! It is grossly inaccurate and downright misleading for Christians to state, "There are four gospels." There is only ONE Gospel: Jesus, the Son of God, and the son of David, is Christ (the Anointed One of God). It is only accurate to state that there are four accounts of the one Gospel. All four are rich and ripe with early and credible testimony. The Gospel accounts are not personal accounts or documentaries. Instead, they are a unique type of literature. Gospel genre incorporates oral traditions that were validated, verified, and affirmed by the earliest authentic Christian communities.
Only in later centuries did misguided cults, sects, and pseudo-Christian communities begin to emerge out of false teachings (both King Jesus and Paul warned of), which refute the validity of the four Gospel accounts. The Gospel accounts are a unique and unified confession (Greek word- homologeó, which means "one word," indicating perfect agreement in thought and understanding) of the entire Christian community. Therefore, to say there were “no eyewitness accounts” is not only ignorant, but completely untrue. Thousands upon thousands of people had been miraculously fed, healed, cleansed, restored, made whole, taught, rebuked, and raised from the dead. Those very real people witnessed supernatural miracles first-hand by King Jesus - from His turning water to wine to witnessing His scourged and lifeless crucified body miraculously resurrected from the grave!
The Gospel accounts ARE valid and credible “eye witness accounts” and the agreement of the entire early Christian community regarding the truth: Jesus of Nazareth truly was the son of David, the Christ, our Creator, the prophesied Serpent Crusher, Immanuel (God with us), necessary Savior, Lord of lords, and Holy God the Eternal Son.
“Let’s (only) look at what non-Christian scholars have to say…”
100% ERROR! There is a systemic and downright malicious idea that agnostics and atheists are somehow “impartial” or “neutral” regarding faith, religion, and Christianity. This concept is inherently flawed and completely incoherent. No one is “neutral” or “impartial” regarding God. Claiming some "objective openness" to the concept of the God of the Bible (or any other "god"), while openly suppressing the truth of Christ (see Romans 1:18-25) is utter nonsense. The issue isn't God's failure to make Himself known. The root issue is our insatiable craving for darkness, sin, and rebellion rather than loving the Light of Christ, redemption, and His life-giving presence (see John 3:19-20).
Limiting the evidence and argument to what "objective" non-Christian scholars have to say is ridiculous. It's akin to only considering what flat-earthers have to say about the preconceived notion of the earth being flat "because those 'spherical' earthers have all been indoctrinated into a lie!"
In the pursuit of truth, one cannot eliminate any potentiality or possibility from the onset. In doing so, the results are inevitably doomed. It's not good science. It's even worse theology. Obviously, in looking only at what “non-Christian scholars have to say,” the endeavor will merely produce the desired result: a biased thesis suppressing, avoiding, and ignoring the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
How did the author of the aforementioned article arrive at this misguided conclusion: “There are good reasons to doubt Jesus’ historical existence - if not to think it downright improbable.”? It was only after:
1) Eliminating all "biased" Christian scholars from the argument
2) Rejecting the valid testimony and historicity of the entire early Christian community
3) Fasly accusing Paul of “avoiding Jesus’ earthly events"
4) Completely dismissing both the unmatched quality and quantity of early documentation and attestation to the “historical Jesus”
In fact, in his article, the author presents no "good" reasons at all. If one chooses to quote the article's author, or the tabloid publishing the article, as "credible sources," that option is certainly available. If our "Get Out of Jail FREE!" plan when King Jesus returns to judge the world is to blame someone else for our choice to embrace rebellion and squander the gift of Christ by wallowing in our sin, blathering, “But Jesus, it's not my fault! I read an article… that’s why I rejected You and encouraged others to follow their hearts rather than You!"... King Jesus’ response is no mystery. It's a foregone conclusion revealed and recorded in John 12:47-48.
Those who believe themselves to be wise according to the standards and pattern of the world are referred to as fools throughout Scripture. They are inevitably and invariably plunged into self-inflicted pitfalls of destruction.
Scripture reveals all of us fall short of the the glory of God. All of us are wretched, unrighteous rebels. God could have left it at that, as He did with Satan and all his rebellious crew. "But God, who is abounding in loyal love, because of His great love for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were DEAD in trespasses. You are saved by grace!"
Apart from Christ we're all stuck in the death trap of our own "craftiness." How does a dead person call out to Jesus? They cannot - apart from divine grace. He's given us a divine awareness, a voice, and the ability to use them to either suppress the truth and blaspheme His Name or to call out to Him - not with some nonsense as a "good teacher" or merely some "holy dude," but as the Eternal Son and Lamb of God. Jesus is humanity's exclusive Deliverer. He is our Creator and our Sovereign King.
We can follow the fools of the world who think themselves wise on their countless paths to destruction and unending torment, i.e. separation from Christ. Alternately, we can choose to deny self, to pick up our cross daily, and follow King Jesus - the only WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE into everlasting glory.
The problem isn't a lack of credible evidence. The real problem is that many simply choose not to listen.
“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.”
- Philippians 3:18
Grace and Peace,
Kevin M. Kelley
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