15. More Than Mythology: Why Molly Worthen changed her mind
Mar 19, 2024
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The podcast explores the trend in academia towards trusting the New Testament. It discusses the controversial Jesus Mythicism, the reliability of the Gospels, and the surprising transformation of a professor from agnosticism to faith after investigating the evidence for Jesus.
Archaeological discoveries confirm historical accuracy of the Bible through physical evidence of locations and events in the New Testament.
Early manuscripts' consistency, dating, and abundant copies support the reliability and preservation of the Gospels.
Gospels' inclusion of specific local customs, names, and details suggest firsthand eyewitnesses, enhancing authenticity and reliability.
Deep dives
Historical Insights from Archaeology
Archaeological discoveries like the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem and the Pool of Bethesda from the Gospel narratives confirm the historical accuracy of the Bible. These physical findings align with biblical descriptions, providing tangible evidence of locations and events mentioned in the New Testament.
Textual Reliability and Trustworthiness
The plethora of early manuscripts and their consistency across texts through meticulous textual criticism support the reliability of the Gospels. The early dating of the New Testament documents compared to other ancient sources and the wealth of copies available bolster the case for the accuracy and preservation of the original texts.
Eyewitness Testimony and Local Knowledge
The presence of specific local customs, names, and details in the Gospels indicate firsthand eyewitness accounts. The gospels display intimate knowledge of local customs, traditions, and geography, reflecting personal experiences and interactions with the events and locations described.
Historical Intimacy and Local Prejudices
Characters' reactions and interactions with personal prejudices from unique localities like Nathaniel's skepticism towards Nazareth's inhabitants provide insight into the authenticity and reliability of the Gospels. By portraying local biases and responses accurately, the authors showcase a deep understanding of the historical and cultural contexts in which events unfolded.
Evidence from Names in Grico-Roman Egypt and the Gospels
In the podcast, it is highlighted that the names commonly found in Jewish inscriptions of men in first-century Grico-Roman Egypt, such as Elie, Azar, and Lazarus, differ from those in the gospels, like Sabateus and Doseathius. This discrepancy supports the authenticity of the gospels as they reflect the names prevalent in the specific time and place of Jesus's life in first-century Judea. The consistency of names in the gospels with their historical context suggests that the accounts originate from eyewitnesses, reinforcing their credibility.
Unintended Coincidences Between Gospel Accounts
The discussion also delves into undesigned coincidences found across different gospel narratives, exemplified by detailed explanations surrounding events like the feeding of the 5,000. These coincidences involve subtle connections between various passages that would be challenging to fabricate, indicating a harmonious common historical narrative. By showcasing interlocking details that corroborate one another without intentional referencing, these coincidences add depth and authenticity to the gospel accounts, providing compelling evidence of their truth hidden in plain sight.
New Atheism popularised 'Jesus Mythicism' - an online movement denying the existence of Jesus. But in recent years the trend in academia has gone in the opposite direction as research sheds new light on the reliability of the story of Jesus in the Gospels.
Justin speaks to thinkers such as John Dickson, NT Wright, Lydia Mcgrew and Peter J Williams about why we can trust the New Testament. He also hears the story of Molly Worthen, a professor of religion, who was recently shaken out of her agnosticism after investigating the evidence for Jesus.
