The Sean McDowell Show A Homicide Detective Investigates the Gospels (J. Warner Wallace)
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Dec 18, 2023 
J. Warner Wallace, a former homicide detective and author, uses his investigative skills to assess the reliability of the Gospels. He discusses the importance of eyewitness testimony and how his techniques reveal internal details that support their authenticity. Wallace introduces a four-part test for evaluating Gospel claims and emphasizes the significance of early dating and corroboration. He also explores why the resurrection is a distinctive claim that requires rigorous scrutiny, contrasting the Gospels with other religious texts that lack verifiable historical details.
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Finding Eyewitness Patterns In Gospel Variants
- J. Warner Wallace discovered the Gospels' variation while reading them neutrally and compared that variation to eyewitness testimony patterns.
- He became intrigued because the messy, overlapping details looked like multiple eyewitnesses rather than fabricated uniform stories.
Luke's Preface Signals Earlier Sources
- Luke's opening language implies he compared earlier accounts and wrote an orderly, chronological history distinct from shorter accounts like Mark's.
- That internal wording serves as a clue for dating and relationship between Gospel sources.
Use Four Detective Tests On Ancient Claims
- Test ancient eyewitness claims by four criteria: early dating, corroboration, preservation, and motive to lie.
- Use those same evidential tests detectives apply to modern eyewitnesses before accepting historical miracle claims.
