Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture Can We Trust the Bible On the Historical Jesus? (with Craig Evans)
Dec 18, 2020
Is the Bible's account of Jesus historically reliable? Craig Evans boldly affirms yes, drawing on his latest debate insights. He demystifies Bart Ehrman's critiques and argues that supposed discrepancies in the Gospels highlight oral traditions, not inaccuracies. The discussion delves into the strong historical evidence supporting Jesus, with unique manuscript stability amid archaeological discoveries. Recent findings bolster faith in biblical texts rather than undermine them, making for a compelling case in favor of the New Testament.
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Ehrman Creates A Straw-Man Critique
- Bart Ehrman often attacks a naive, literalist straw-man version of biblical reliability rather than current scholarly positions.
- Craig Evans argues Ehrman's popular claims misrepresent textual criticism and pedagogy, producing misleading conclusions.
Personal Collegiality With Ehrman
- Craig Evans knew Bart Ehrman personally at Princeton and maintained friendly scholarly contact over decades.
- Evans values that relationship and prefers critique of ideas while preserving personal respect.
Gospel Variations Reflect Ancient Pedagogy
- Differences among the Gospels reflect ancient pedagogical practice of paraphrase, adaptation, and application, not careless fabrication.
- Understanding Greco-Roman and Jewish teaching handbooks explains why variations preserve meaning while differing in wording.
