The Humble Skeptic

Are miracles possible, or should they be seen as violations of natural laws that all scientifically minded people should reject? Is it true that most scientists reject God? What about faith? Should it be dismissed as a kind of of irrational leap that is essentially the opposite of critical thinking? Shane discusses these questions and more with MIT professor Ian Hutchinson, author of Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?SHOW NOTESBooksCan A Scientist Believe in Miracles?, Ian HutchinsonMonopolizing Knowledge, Ian HutchinsonCan Science Explain Everything? John LennoxFinding Ultimate Reality John LennoxThe Return of the God Hypothesis, Stephen MeyerThe Case Against Accident & Self Organization, Dean OvermanArticlesScience & Faith: Allies or Enemies? John LennoxWhat is Faith? Shane RosenthalSignature in the Cell, Stephen MeyerIs Science Incompatible with Christianity? Derek RishmawyTaking Science on Faith, Paul DaviesSupersymmetry & The Crisis in Physics, Scientific AmericanHas Belief in God Harmed the Advancement of Science? Craig PartonVideosThe “Science Refutes God” Debate, Hutchinson, Krauss & ShermerCan A Scientist Believe in Miracles? Ian Hutchinson (Veritas Forum)Is There Knowledge Outside of Science? Ian Hutchinson (Veritas Forum)By Design, Lennox, Behe & Meyer (Uncommon Knowledge)Stephen C. Meyer, The Joe Rogan ExperienceHas Science Buried God? John Lennox (Socrates in the City)Does the Biblical Story of Creation Fit with Science? John LennoxAgainst the Tide, A documentary film featuring John LennoxAudioReturn of the God Hypothesis,  Shane Rosenthal & Stephen MeyerThe Multiverse & the Mystery of Life’s Origin, Shane Rosenthal & Stephen MeyerJohn Lennox on Faith & Science, Humble Skeptic #41John Lennon on The Problem of Evil, Humble Skeptic #42A Conversation About God, Jordan Peterson & John LennoxCan a Scientist Believe in the Resurrection? R. McLaughlin & Ian HutchinsonWRITE A POSITIVE REVIEWIf you’re a fan of the show, consider writing a quick note about what you like about the show (preferably via the Apple Podcast app since their reviews are visible in many other podcast portals). The more positive reviews we get, the more exposure we get! SUPPORT THIS PODCASTDonations to The Humble Skeptic podcast are tax-deductible. To make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly gifts, click here. Another way to support this podcast is by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year, however, this option is not tax-deductible. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

For two years, Steven Flo was filled with fear and despair. He retreated from the world and even began to hide from sunlight. In vampire-like fashion, he closed all his curtains and lived in what felt like a tomb. Even though he was a Lutheran pastor who often counseled others, during this period he was inconsolable, and began to despair about his own eternal state. If the Gospel was true, it was true for others, but not for him. On this episode, Shane talks with pastor Flo about his descent into darkness.SHOW NOTESRelated ArticlesAn Overview of TMS, Mayo ClinicWhat is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?, Cleveland ClinicLife & Death, Simonetta CarFaith & Mental Illness, Michael HortonWilliam Cowper: Depression & The Art of Hymn Writing, Barb DuguidRelated BooksThe Unseen Realm | Demons, Michael HeiserPrincipalities & Powers, John W. MontgomeryThe Proof of the Gospel, Eusebius of CaesareaThe Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas KuhnThe Care of Souls, Harold SenkbeilRelated AudioFaith & Mental Illness, White Horse Inn #1213 Darkness My Only Companion, White Horse Inn #1214Death, Ghosts & Views of the Afterlife, Humble Skeptic #31UPCOMING EVENTS Troy, IllinoisOn Sunday, Nov. 3rd, Shane will be speaking at a youth event from 3:30 to 7:00 pm at Providence Presbyterian Church. Shane will be addressing the topics: “Is Faith Blind?” and “Are There Contradictions in the Gospels?” For more information about this youth event, send a text to 618-820-4908.Houston, TexasOn Friday & Saturday, Nov. 8-9, Shane will be speaking with Gary Habermas and others at the Lanier Theological Library. The discussion will be centered on the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection as part of the 4th Annual John Warwick Montgomery Lecture in Evidential Apologetics. For more information about this event, click here.St. Charles, MissouriOn Sunday, Dec. 8th at 6 pm, Shane will discuss some of the challenges related to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. Some believe that the account of the census that took place in the days of Quirinius (Luke 2) is at odds with other known historical facts. Did Luke make a mistake or can the apparent contradiction be resolved? This discussion will take place at Christ Presbyterian Church (cpcopc.org).If you would like to invite Shane Rosenthal to speak at your event, send an email to: INFO at HUMBLESKEPTIC dot COM. SUPPORT THIS PODCASTDonations to The Humble Skeptic podcast are tax-deductible. To make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly gifts, click here. Another way to support this podcast is by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year, however, this option is not tax-deductible.The Humble Skeptic is a listener-supported podcast. To support this work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

Jeremy Smith, founder of ReThink315, recently invited Shane to join him for a conversation at a fundraising dinner that took place here in the St. Louis area. During their conversation, Jeremy asked Shane to discuss his conversion to Christianity from a secular Jewish background, along with many other subjects that he frequently covers on The Humble Skeptic podcast. Later in the program, the two take a variety of questions from the audience.SHOW NOTESRecommended BooksDefending The Faith, Michael Horton, Shane Rosenthal & OthersThe Jewish Gospels, Daniel BoyarinThe Proof of the Gospel, Eusebius of CaesareaThe Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy, Rydelnik & BlumThe Gospel According to Isaiah 53, Bock & GlaserRevisiting the Corruption of The New Testament, Daniel WallaceRelated ArticlesUnity & Diversity in the New Testament, Shane RosenthalMicah 5:2 & The Bethlehem Prophecy, Shane RosenthalIt’s Time to Forget “Faith,” Greg KouklFaith Is Not Wishing, Greg KouklWhat is Faith? Shane RosenthalOn Faith & Doubt, Shane RosenthalIs Faith a Feeling? Shane RosenthalRelated AudioRethinking Apologetics, Humble Skeptic #23 with Jeremy Smith The Pilot (Billy Joel Episode), Humble Skeptic #01New Evidence for The Executive Room, Humble Skeptic #55Evidential Reasoning, Humble Skeptic #56 with Craig PartonDealing with Discrepancies, Humble Skeptic #57 with J. Warner WallaceGreg Koukl on Blind Faith, Humble Skeptic #18Dealing with Doubt, Humble Skeptic #19UPCOMING EVENTS Troy, IllinoisOn Sunday, Nov. 3rd, Shane will be speaking at a youth event from 3:30 to 7:00 pm at Providence Presbyterian Church. Shane will be addressing the topics: “Is Faith Blind?” and “Are There Contradictions in the Gospels?” For more information about this event, send a text to 619-820-4908.Houston, TexasOn Friday & Saturday, Nov. 8-9, Shane will be speaking with Gary Habermas and others at the Lanier Theological Library. The discussion will be centered on the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection as part of the 4th Annual John Warwick Montgomery Lecture in Evidential Apologetics. For more information about this event, click here.St. Charles, MissouriOn Sunday, Dec. 8th at 6 pm, Shane will discuss some of the challenges related to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. Some believe that the account of the census that took place in the days of Quirinius (Luke 2) is at odds with other known historical facts. Did Luke make a mistake or can the apparent contradiction be resolved? This discussion will take place at Christ Presbyterian Church (cpcopc.org).If you would like to invite Shane Rosenthal to speak at your event, send an email to: INFO at HUMBLESKEPTIC dot COM. SUPPORT THIS PODCASTDonations to The Humble Skeptic podcast are tax-deductible. To make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly gifts, click here. Another way to support this podcast is by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year, however, this option is not tax-deductible. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

How should we deal with discrepancies as we piece together evidence on important matters of interest? On this episode Shane talks with retired cold-case detective, J. Warner Wallace about following the evidence wherever it leads, whether in attempting to solve murder cases, resolving disputed claims about the past, or even when it comes to challenging our beliefs about the nature of reality itself. J. Warner Wallace is the author of Cold-Case Christianity, Forensic Faith, and most recently, The Truth in True Crime. SHOW NOTESRecommended BooksCold Case Christianity, J. Warner WallaceThe Truth in True Crime, J. Warner WallaceGod’s Crime Scene, J. Warner WallacePerson of Interest, J. Warner WallaceForensic Faith, J. Warner WallaceReligion on Trial, Craig PartonTestimonies to the Truth, Lydia McGrewRelated ArticlesThe Authenticity & Genuineness of The Fourth Gospel, J.B. LightfootIs Luke a Trustworthy Historian?, Sir William RamsayOutside The Gospels, What Can We Know About Jesus? Shane RosenthalConsidering Alternatives to the Resurrection, Shane RosenthalJoanna: Obscure Disciple or Luke’s Key Witness?, Shane RosenthalCan We Trust Luke’s History of the Early Jesus Movement? Shane RosenthalHow to Detect Deception, Shane RosenthalThe Virtue of Doubt, Shane RosenthalHumble Apologetics, Shane RosenthalRelated AudioThe Pilot Episode, Humble Skeptic #01New Evidence for The Executive Room, Humble Skeptic #55Evidential Reasoning, Humble Skeptic #56Death, Ghosts & Views of the Afterlife, Humble Skeptic #31The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony, Humble Skeptic #48Faith Founded on Facts, Humble Skeptic #15Are the Gospels History? Humble Skeptic #52Questioning Conventional Wisdom, Humble Skeptic #13UPCOMING EVENTS Milan, ItalyOn Sunday, Oct. 13th, Shane will discuss “The Thing of First Importance” at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia which is located on the northwest side of Milan. For more info or directions, click here.St. Louis, MissouriOn Friday, Oct. 18th, Jeremy Smith will talk with Shane about why he lost faith in atheism, along with what it means to be a “humble skeptic” at this year’s ReThink315 fundraising dinner, which will take place at the Missouri Athletic Club in Des Peres. To purchase tickets for this event or for more info, click here.Troy, IllinoisOn Sunday, Nov. 3rd, Shane will be speaking at a youth event from 3:30 to 7:00 pm at Providence Presbyterian Church. Shane will be addressing the topics: “Is Faith Blind?” and “Are There Contradictions in the Gospels?” For more information about this event, send a text to 619-820-4908.Houston, TexasOn Friday & Saturday, Nov. 8-9, Shane has been invited to participate in a panel discussion with Gary Habermas and others on the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection. This event will take place at the Lanier Theological Library.St. Charles, MissouriOn Sunday, Dec. 8th at 6pm, Shane will discuss some of the challenges related to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. Some believe that the account of the census that took place in the days of Quirinius (Luke 2) is at odds with other known historical facts. Did Luke make a mistake or can the apparent contradiction be resolved? This discussion will take place at Christ Presbyterian Church (cpcopc.org).If you would like to invite Shane Rosenthal to speak at your event, send an email to: INFO at HUMBLESKEPTIC dot COM. SUPPORT THIS PODCASTDonations to The Humble Skeptic podcast are tax-deductible. To make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly gifts, click here. Another way to support this podcast is by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year, however, this option is not tax-deductible. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

On this program Shane talks with trial attorney Craig Parton about evidential reasoning, which is an outlook that seeks to impartially examine the facts of any particular controversy in order to find the best explanation of those facts. The two apply this type of reasoning to the facts uncovered on last week’s episode about the location of The Executive Room, as well as to the field of Christian apologetics as a whole. Craig Parton is the author of Religion on Trial, The Defense Never Rests, and more recently, The Art of Christian Advocacy.SHOW NOTESRelated AudioThe Pilot Episode, Episode #1 (The Billy Joel Story)New Evidence for Executive Room, Episode #55 with John GibsonDealing with Discrepancies, Episode #57 with J. Warner WallaceIs Faith A Feeling? Shane Rosenthal & Craig PartonReligion on Trial, Shane Rosenthal & Craig PartonThe Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony, Shane Rosenthal & Richard BauckhamThe Four Gospels: History or Fan Fiction? Shane Rosenthal & Lydia McGrewFaith Founded on Facts, Shane Rosenthal & John Lennox & OthersQuestioning Conventional Wisdom, Shane Rosenthal & David RohlRelated ArticlesIs Luke a Trustworthy Historian? Sir William RamsayCan We Trust Luke’s History of the Early Jesus Movement? Shane RosenthalConsidering Alternatives to the Resurrection, Shane RosenthalAuthenticating The Fourth Gospel, Shane RosenthalOutside The Gospels, What Can We Know About Jesus? Shane RosenthalSimon of Cyrene: An Archaeological Discovery, Shane RosenthalWho is Sergius Paulus? Shane RosenthalHow to Detect Deception, Shane RosenthalThe Virtue of Doubt, Shane RosenthalOn Faith & Doubt, Shane RosenthalRecommended BooksThe Art of Christian Advocacy, Craig Parton & John W. MontgomeryReligion on Trial, Craig PartonThe Defense Never Rests, Craig PartonJesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard BauckhamHidden in Plain View, Lydia McGrewTestimonies to the Truth, Lydia McGrewChristianity on Trial, Mark LanierAtheism on Trial, Mark LanierFaith Founded on Fact, John W. MontgomeryA Treatise on the Law of Evidence, Simon Greenleaf—FREEThe Testimony of The Four Evangelists, Simon Greenleaf—FREESUPPORT THIS PODCASTDonations to The Humble Skeptic podcast are tax-deductible. To make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly gifts, click here. Another way to support this podcast is by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year, however, this option is not tax-deductible. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

The Pilot Episode of The Humble Skeptic podcast was launched in October of 2022, and on that program, Shane told his Dad’s story of seeing Billy Joel perform at a piano bar in Los Angeles. If you’ve had a chance to listen to that episode, you know the story (if not, you should listen to that show first). On this program, Shane discusses some of the new evidence that has recently come to light about the location of The Executive Room, and talks with John Gibson about his memories of the famous piano bar.SHOW NOTESRelated ResourcesThe Pilot Episode, Humble Skeptic Ep. #1 Is My Dad One of the Characters in Billy Joel’s Piano Man? Shane RosenthalThe Life & Times of an Angry Young Man, Hank BordowitzHow to Detect Deception, Shane RosenthalThe Virtue of Doubt, Shane RosenthalOn Faith & Doubt, Shane RosenthalRelated LinksThe Executive Room According to PopSpots, Bob EganThe Legacy of the O.J. Simpson Murder Trial, John GibsonJohn & Sandy Gibson’s role in the Billy Joel story, Hank BordowitzPiano Man—Billy Joel, Hank BordowitzABC’s 20/20 Segment on Billy JoelLiam Cooper’s Interview with a former owner of The Executive RoomLiam Cooper’s King of the Keys TrailerBilly Joel’s Piano Man (sign at the very end says: “Bill Martin at the piano”)An Interview with Billy Joel, The Library of CongressMusicThe song that appears at the very end of the podcast (in the additional material that appears after the close of the program) is “Along the Way,” by The Hunts.According to the Library of Congress (see link above), Billy Joel stated that The Executive Room is now “a bank or an insurance building.” The image above is of The Pierce National Life building, which is an insurance company, and according to the replica also shown above, at one time it also happened to be a bank building. This also matches one of the statements that Shane’s dad mentioned on the Pilot Episode. And when Shane sent a picture of this building to John Gibson (after he volunteered the information about it being located in the lobby of a large office building), he wrote back saying, “Oh, that looks like the building!”SUPPORT THIS PODCASTClick here to make a one-time gift or to upgrade to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year. Thanks for your support! Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

According to Rebecca McLaughlin, many of the beliefs of our contemporary culture can be summarized into a kind of “secular creed.” Though Christians will agree with some parts of this creed and disagree with others, it’s important to note that many of the assumptions underlying this “statement of faith” are rooted in Christian soil. So how did Jesus completely reshape the moral imagination of Western culture? Shane discusses this with Dr. McLaughlin, who is the author of numerous books including Confronting Christianity, and The Secular Creed.SHOW NOTESRelated BooksThe Secular Creed & Confronting Christianity, Rebecca McLaughlinDominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World, Tom HollandThe Righteous Mind & The Anxious Generation, Jonathan HaidtChristianity & Liberalism, J. Gresham MachenThe Secularist Heresy, Harry BlamiresEarly Christian Writings, The Apostolic FathersRelated ArticlesHow Christianity Killed Infanticide, Rebecca McLaughlinAn Ancient Letter from a Soldier to His Wife (scroll to bottom right)The Epistle to Diognetus (see chapters 5 & 9).Why I Was Wrong About Christianity, Tom HollandPentecost Skewers Racism, Rebecca McLaughlinCan We Trust the Gospels: A Review, Rebecca McLaughlinLiberalism or Christianity?, J. Gresham MachenThe Tower of Babel & The Virtue of Doubt, Shane RosenthalRelated VideosThe Secular Creed, Rebecca McLaughlinChristianity is Returning, Tom Holland & Justin BrierleyHow St. Paul Changed the World, Tom Holland & N.T. WrightJesus Through the Eyes of Witnesses, Rebecca McLaughlinSexuality & Identity, Rebecca McLaughlin & Sam AllberryRelated PodcastsThe Gospel Creed, Humble Skeptic #9On Persuasion, John Dickson on the research of Jonathan HaidtSame-Sex Attraction, Sam Allberry & Michael HortonIdentity in a Post-Christian Culture, Humble Skeptic #33The Woke Revolution, Humble Skeptic #34Navigating the Currents of Aggressive Secularism, Humble Skeptic #36Is Faith Irrational? & Is Faith Blind? Humble Skeptic #2 and #3Is Faith a Feeling? Humble Skeptic #4UPCOMING EVENTS MILAN, ITALYOn Sunday, Oct. 13th, Shane will be speaking at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia on the northwest side of Milan. For more info or directions, click here.ST. LOUIS, MISSOURIOn Friday, Oct. 18th, Shane will be the keynote speaker at the ReThink315 fundraising dinner, which will take place at the Missouri Athletic Club in Des Peres. To purchase tickets for this event or for more info, click here.TROY, ILLINOISOn Sunday, Nov. 3rd, Shane will be speaking at a youth event from 3:30 to 7:00 pm at Providence Presbyterian Church. Shane will be addressing the topics: Is Faith Blind?, and Are There Contradictions in the Gospels? For more information about this youth event, send a text to 619-820-4908.HOUSTON, TEXASOn Friday & Saturday, Nov. 8-9, Shane will be participating in a panel discussion on the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection, featuring Gary Habermas and others. This event will take place at the Lanier Theological Library.If you would like to invite Shane Rosenthal to speak at your event, send an email to: INFO at HUMBLESKEPTIC dot COM. Support This Podcast!Donations to The Humble Skeptic podcast are tax-deductible. To make a one-time donation or set up recurring monthly gifts, click here or use the QR code below. Another way to support this podcast is by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack. Subscriptions begin at $5.95 per month or $59 per year, however, this option is not tax-deductible. Thanks for your support!If you haven’t heard The Pilot Episode yet, be sure to fix that before Sept 3rd! Featuring an interview with a special guest whose name you just might recognize, this episode will revisit questions related to the location of The Executive Room. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

David VanDrunen, political theology expert, discusses the separation of church and state from a Christian perspective. Topics include political idolatry, totalitarianism, and Christian citizenship. The podcast explores the relationship between Christianity and state governance, emphasizing genuine spiritual transformation.

According to John Dickson, “Christianity is unlike other religions in that it gambles its plausibility on supposed historical events. Christians,” he writes, “don’t merely say otherworldly things like ‘Heaven is open to all,’ but they also say things like, ‘Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate,’ and statements of this kind aren’t immune from historical scrutiny.” So, what are the considerations involved in assessing the historical value of the Gospels? How can we be sure these ancient texts really are what they claim to be? On this episode, Shane talks with Undeceptions host, John Dickson, who received a PhD in the field of ancient history, and who is the author of Is Jesus History?• The clip in which John Dickson mentioned his openness to an earlier date for the Fourth Gospel appeared on Episode 126 of his Undeceptions podcast.• The quote from Princeton scholar, James Charlesworth was taken from his book, Jesus As Mirrored in John. You can find additional quotes by Charlesworth and other advocates of an earlier date for John here.• To read Shane’s recent article mentioned at the end of this episode featuring an archaeological discovery related to Joanna & Theophilus, click here.SHOW NOTESRelated BooksIs Jesus History? John DicksonA Doubters Guide to Jesus, John DicksonA Doubters Guide to the Bible, John DicksonCan We Trust The Gospels? Peter J. WilliamsRedating the New Testament, John A.T. RobinsonRethinking the Dates of the New Testament, Jonathan BernierJesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard BauckhamTestimonies to the Truth, Lydia McGrewThe Righteous Mind, Jonathan HaidtRelated ArticlesJoanna: An Obscure Disciple, or Luke’s Key Witness? Shane RosenthalJohn 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”, Shane Rosenthal & othersThe Authenticity & Genuineness of the Fourth Gospel, J.B. LightfootIs Luke a Trustworthy Historian, Sir William RamsayAuthenticating The Fourth Gospel, Shane RosenthalOutside The Gospels, What Can We Know About Jesus? Shane RosenthalWater Into Wine? Shane RosenthalOn Faith & History, Shane RosenthalScribes of the New Covenant, Shane RosenthalThe Identity of the Beloved Disciple, Shane RosenthalCan We Trust Luke’s History of the Early Jesus Movement? Shane RosenthalSimon of Cyrene: An Intriguing Archaeological Discovery, Shane RosenthalThe Mormonization of American Christianity, Shane RosenthalOther Related ResourcesIs John’s Gospel Late & Unreliable? Humble Skeptic #51The Jesus of History, Humble Skeptic #12The Gospel Creed, Humble Skeptic # 9The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony, Humble Skeptic #48Questioning The Fourth Gospel, Humble Skeptic #49Faith Founded on Facts (1), Humble Skeptic #15Faith Founded on Facts (2), Humble Skeptic. #16Authenticating The Book of Acts, Humble Skeptic #24New Evidence for the Gospels, Peter J. Williams (video)UPCOMING EVENTS Milan, ItalyOn Sunday, Oct. 13th, Shane will be speaking at Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia on the northwest side of Milan. For more info or directions, click here.St. Louis, MissouriOn Friday, Oct. 18th, Shane will be the keynote speaker at the ReThink315 fundraising dinner, which will take place at the Missouri Athletic Club in Des Peres. To purchase tickets for this event or for more info, click here.Troy, IllinoisOn Sunday, Nov. 3rd, Shane will be speaking at a youth event from 3:30 to 7:00 pm at Providence Presbyterian Church. Shane will be addressing the topics: Is Faith Blind?, and Are There Contradictions in the Gospels? For more information about this youth event, send a text to 619-820-4908.Houston, TexasOn Friday & Saturday, Nov. 8-9, Shane will be participating in a panel discussion on the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection, featuring Gary Habermas and others. This event will take place at the Lanier Theological Library.For more information, or to invite Shane Rosenthal to speak at your next event, send an email to: INFO at HUMBLESKEPTIC dot COM. We Need Your Help!Consider supporting The Humble Skeptic podcast by making a one-time gift or upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack ($5.95 per month, $59 per year). Click here for more information about giving options. Also, if you’re a fan of the show, consider writing a brief review to let others know what you like about it (preferably via the Apple Podcast app since their reviews can be seen in other podcast portals). The more positive reviews we get, the more exposure we get!NOTE: Some clips from this interview with John Dickson were previously featured on episodes 2, 15 & 16 of The Humble Skeptic podcast. Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe

Many scholars over the past century have claimed that John’s Gospel is the least historically reliable since it was written in the late first century. Essentially, they’ve argued that this text tells us more about the beliefs of the church in that period than it does about the historical Jesus. On this episode, Shane talks with New Testament scholar Daniel Wallace about evidence that points to a much earlier date, along with other matters related to the historical reliability and faithful transmission of the Fourth Gospel. John 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”Are we beginning to see a paradigm shift taking place related to the dating of the Fourth Gospel? In his 2019 book, Jesus Mirrored in John, Princeton scholar James Charlesworth writes: John is not a late composition…I am convinced that the earliest edition of John—the first edition—may antedate 70 CE. Why? It is because the author knew Jerusalem intimately, providing many architectural details which only thirty years ago we imagined were literary inventions…All the reasons that require a late date for the Gospel of John (sometime after 90 CE) have vanished. There is no longer a consensus regarding the date of John…Is it possible, then, to observe a paradigm shift…? Yes.To see an exhaustive list of scholars who have argued for an early date for John’s Gospel from Johann Bengel to George van Kooten, click below. The quotes presented primarily interact with John’s present tense language in John 5:2, and I also feature comments from a variety of scholars who remain unconvinced.SHOW NOTESRecommended BooksRevisiting the Corruption of the New Testament, Daniel WallaceRedating the New Testament, John A.T. RobinsonThe Priority of John, John A.T. RobinsonRethinking the Dates of the New Testament, Jonathan BernierRedating Matthew, Mark & Luke, John WenhamNICNT Commentary on The Gospel of John (1995), Leon MorrisConcordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1, William WeinrichCan We Trust The Gospels? Peter J. WilliamsThe Testimony of the Beloved Disciple, Richard BauckhamJesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard BauckhamGreek Grammar Beyond the Basics, Daniel WallaceRecommended ArticlesJohn 5:2 & The Date of The Fourth Gospel, Daniel WallaceJohn 5:2 (Part 2) & John 5:2 (Part 3), Daniel WallaceThe Gospel of John: An Introduction, Daniel WallaceThe Authenticity & Genuineness of the Fourth Gospel, J.B. LightfootThe Four Gospels as Authentic Testimony, Richard BauckhamWater Into Wine? Shane RosenthalAuthenticating The Fourth Gospel, Shane RosenthalThe Identity of the Beloved Disciple, Shane RosenthalJoanna: Luke’s Key Witness? Shane RosenthalJohn 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”, Shane RosenthalA Paradigm Shift on the Date of John’s Gospel? Shane RosenthalOther Related ResourcesHas the Bible Been Miscopied or Mistranslated? Daniel Wallace, WHI #1377The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony, Humble Skeptic #48 with Richard BauckhamQuestioning The Fourth Gospel, Humble Skeptic #49 with Richard Bauckham Which John Wrote John? Humble Skeptic #50 Stories of Jesus: Can They Be Trusted? Humble Skeptic #61 with Peter J. WilliamsSimply Genius, Humble Skeptic #62 with Peter J. WilliamsThe Jesus of History, with John Dickson Humble Skeptic #12New Evidence for the Gospels, Peter J. Williams (video)Are the Gospels Reliable? Peter J. Williams & Bart Ehrman (video)Write a Positive ReviewIf you’re a fan of the show, consider writing a brief review to let others know what you like about it (preferably via the Apple Podcast app since their reviews can be seen in other podcast portals). The more positive reviews we get, the more exposure we get!We Need Your Help!Consider supporting The Humble Skeptic podcast by making a one-time gift or upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack ($5.95 per month, $59 per year). Use the button below for more information about giving options Get full access to The Humble Skeptic at www.humbleskeptic.com/subscribe