The Case for Christ

BOOK SUMMARY The courting for savior Lee Strobel. Pub. Zondervan Publishing House astir(predicate) the Author Lee Strobel, Master of Stu occurs in natural law from Yale Law School. Award-profitsning journalist & investigative news homo for 13 yrs. at the Chicago Tribune. Pg. 303. His behavior permutes when his wife be fixs a messiahian. He fears he will resort the fun-loving companion and friend he has known for courses, that alternatively he is surprised by clear-sighted changes in her character. This non only intrigues him but prompts him to exact more ab proscribed messiah by utilize the same logical and factual approach he follows while working as an investigative dourensive reporter.He starts his l seduceing quest as an dubious skeptic. His netherlying query is, Can a slip-up for Christ be do beyond a reasonable uncertainty? To answer this, he sets proscribed on a fact-finding mission. For nearly deuce years, he interviews numerous subject matter effecti ves and biblical scholars to answer his questions with facts and evidence. His skills in investigative reporting abet uncover the truth regarding the reliability of the evangel. Introduction Who is savior? This comes down to two answers This man was, and is, the Son of graven image or else a madman or some affaire worse. helping 1 Examining the RecordTimeframe Skeptics Some scholars say the gospels were create verb all in ally so far after the events that invention developed and distorted what was finally write down, move messiah from merely a wise instructor into the mythological Son of god. Pg. 32 Answers The standard donnish dating is that Acts was written by Luke in A. D. 61-63, because capital of Minnesota was remedy living and under house knock off in Rome. Since Acts is the 2nd of a two- leave-taking work, we know the maiden part the gospel of Luke must pay been written earlier than that. And since Luke incorporates parts of the gospel of homer, that me ans Mark is even earlier.So if you allow one year for each pen, you end up with Mark written no later than some A. D. 60, a level best gap of 30 yrs. after deliverer dying. Pg. 34 Thats still within the lifemagazines of various eyewitnesses of the life of savior, including hostile eyewitnesses who would consume served as a strict if false teachings nigh deliverer were going around. Pg. 33. eyewitness testimony is the key here. The two earliest biographies of horse parsley the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than four hundred years after Alexanders wipeout in 323 B. C. , yet historians consider them to be trustworthy.So whether the gospels were written 60 yrs. or 30 yrs. after the life of deliverer, the mount of time is minimum by comparison. Pg. 33. Character examination The gospel writers had postcode to gain except criticism, ostracism, and martyrdom. The certainly had nonhing to win financially. If some(prenominal)thing this would retain provided pr essure to keep quiet, to deny the Nazarene, to understate him, even to forget they ever met himyet, because of their integrity, they announced what they saw. Pg. 48. 11 apostles were amaze to grisly deaths, which show deep trust for what they acceptd and were preaching regarding saviour. Pg. 45 Consistency The gospels argon extremely consistent with each another(prenominal) by ancient standards, which are the only standards by which its fair to judge them. Pg. 45 If the gospels were alike or alike consistent, this would have raised awareness that the authors had conspired among themselves to coordinate their stories in advance, and that would have cast doubt on them. Pg. 45 The Adverse Witness Test M some(prenominal) tribe had reasons for wanting to discredit this apparent cause and would have done so if they could have precisely told accounting better. Pg. 51. Yet, look what his opponents did say.In later Jewish writings deliveryman is cal direct a sorcerer who le d Israel astraywhich acknowledges that he really did work wonderful wonders, although the writers dispute the source of his power. They never say he did not work the written miracles. If critics could have attacked the ride on the basis that it was full of falsehoods or distortions, they would have. But, thats exactly what we dont intoxicate. Pg. 51 Corroborating evidence outside the Bible Josephus, Jewish historian, A. D. 37-100 Wrote about(predicate) Jewish wars that have corroborated by other historians and archeologic excavations.Pg. 81 Writes about James, brother of the Nazarene, who was called the Christ. Stoned to death in A. D. 62. Pg. 78 Wrote about Jesus the kin multitude of his Christian fol press downs that had still to this day not disappeared. Pg. 79 Tacitus, a senator and a historian of the papistic Empire, A. D. 56 117 Writes about Christ suffering extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hand of Pontius Pilatus. Refers to an coarse multitud e of Christ followers willing to die for their judgements. Pg. 82 Pliny the Younger, papistical citizen, and provincial governor, A.D. 23-79 Refers to rapid disseminate of Christianity among all classes of tidy sum, as well as Roman citizens that are sent to Rome for trial. They have risque ethical standards and if they repeatedly admit they honor Christ as God they are penalise. Thallus, a Greek historian, wrote in A. D. 52 a tale of the Mediterranean world since the Trojan War. Referenced the center darkness at the time of the crucifixion. Pg. 84 Phlegon, a Greek author in A. D. 137 Reported about the greatest eclipse of the sun when it became night at noon in A. D. 33. Pg. 85The Mishnah, the 1st part of the Talmud, an important Jewish work compiled in A. D. cc regarding Judaisms Oral Law Refers to Jesus as a false messiah who practiced magic and was properly condemned to death. Pg. 86 Key Findings So if we didnt have any New volition or other Christian writings, we could conclude from non-Christian historical writings that 1. Jesus was a Jewish teacher 2. Many believed he performed healings and exorcisms 3. Some believed he was the christ 4. He was rejected by Jewish leaders 5. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius 6.His followers sp usher beyond Palestine to there were multitudes of them in Rome by A. D. 64 7. All types of people worshiped him as God. Pg. 87. The scientific picture Archaeology frame an inscription from the time of Tiberius, from A. D. 14-37 which names Lysanias as tetrarch in Abila near capital of Syriajust as Luke had written. Pg. 97 keister mentions the pussy of Bethesda and details the pool had five porticoes. When archaeologists excavated in this spot 40 feet below the ground, they found the pool repose and 5 porticoes (walk ways) exactly as arse had described.A fragment copy of John 18 was found in Egypt that papyrologists have dated to about A. D. 125. Pg. 99 Part 2 Analyzing Jesus The I dentity essay of Gospel Writings The cross Pontius Pilate inscribed INRI, an acronym for Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews. Pg. 135 The Psychological evince Gary Collins, Dr. in clinical psychology. People suffering form psychosis demonstration inappropriate emotions such as anxiety, depression or even anger. Jesus did not display any such emotions nor did he exhibit the misperceptions that plague people suffering from psychosis. Jesus did not show any symptoms of mental illness.Jesus supported what he verbalize by his actionshealing, raising people from the dead and the mould out of demons. Pg. 153 Prophesy Fulfillment Louis Lapides, Jewish interchange to Christianity. Grew up thinking Jesus was more disparaging than anything else. After returning from Vietnam War, he experimented with various religions and drugs. Was challenged about his disbelief in Jesus which led him to read the Old Testament prophesies. Was amazed of all the prophesies that Jesus execute Isaiah reve aled the manner of the Messiahs birth (of a virgin) Micah pinpointed the place of his birth (Bethlehem)Genesis and Jeremiah specified his ancestry (a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, the house of David) The psalms foretold his betrayal, his accusation by false witnesses, his manner of death (pierced in the hands and feet, although crucifixion hadnt been invented yet), and his resurrection (he would not decay but would cost increase on high) and on and on (p. 179). Lapides goes on to earn a bachelors degree in theology and a master of divinity of theology. Pg. 173 Part 3 Researching the ResurrectionTo move over that Jesus rose from the dead, one must source establish that he died on the cross. The Medical Evidence The gospels tell us that Jesus elbow grease blood. And existence in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his lather was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 2244 Dr. Metherell, M. D. & PH. D. in Engineering. Pg. 193 In se vere cases of anxiety, the body releases chemicals that smash down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result, theres a small list of bleeding into these glands, and the sweat comes out tinged with a very small amount of blood. Pg. 195According to the Dr. , when Jesus was nailed to the cross, his arms would have immediately been stretched about 6 inches in length, and both shoulders would have become dislocated. This fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy in Psalm 22, which foretold the Crucifixion hundreds of years before it took place and says, My get up are out of joint. When Jesus suffocated on the cross, a Roman soldier reasserted it by driving force a slam into his side, which likely went through his lung and into the heart. When the spear was pulled out, clear swimming and a large volume of blood would have come out.Clear fluid from the lung and large amounts of blood from the heart. This was confirmed in John 1934 when John reported he saw blood and water come out Jesus side when the spear was removed. Pg. 199. The Dr. testified there would be no question that Jesus was dead at this point. Pg. 200. To speed up death, Romans would use a brand shaft to shatter the victims lower leg bones. This would prevent the victim from pushing up with his legs to breathe. Jesus legs were not broken, because the soldiers already determined that he was dead, and they just used the spear to confirm it.John 1932-36 This fulfilled another Old Testament prophesy about the Messiah, which is that his bones would remain unbroken. Ps 3420. Pg. 200 Roman soldiers had every fillip to ensure crucified prisoners were dead when removed from the cross, because they would be put to death if a prisoner escaped. Pg. 201. Last of all, if Jesus did not die, and he somehow walked away from the tomb, he would have been in such poor judicial admission and looked so pitiful that his followers would have matt-up sorry for him and try to nurse him natural covering to health.T hey would never have been prompted to start a worldwide movement based on the hope that someday they too would have a resurrected body like his. Pg. 202 The Evidence of the Missing Body Joseph of Arimathea takes to body of Jesus, puts it in a tomb, the tomb is visited by a small group of women followers of Jesus early on the sunshine morning following his crucifixion, and they find that the tomb is empty. They see a vision of angels saying that Jesus has come up (p. 215). Recorded in Acts 1329-31 and prophesied in Ps. 1610. Pg. 219.In the earliest Jewish writings, there was naught claiming the tomb still contained Jesus body. The question unendingly was, What happened to the body? The Jews proposed the guards of the tomb fell asleep, while the Christians proclaimed the guards were paid off to keep quiet. Pg. 221 The site of Jesus tomb was known to Christian and Jew alike. If it were not empty, it would have been impossible for a movement founded on belief in the Resurrection to have come into existence in the same city where this man had been publicly executed and buried. Pg. 20. The Evidence of Appearances Paul 5 B. C. 67 A. D. Wrote in both 1 Cor. 91 and in1 Cor. 158 where he personally encountered the resurrected Christ. Pg. 228. Persecuted Christians until his rebirth sometime in A. D. 33. Refers to the fact that Jesus was a descendant of David, that he was the Messiah, that he was betrayed, that he was tried, crucified for our sins, and buried, and that he rose again on the third day and was seen by many peopleincluding James, the brother of Jesus who hadnt believed in him prior to his crucifixion. Pg. 8 1 Corinthians 158 is part of an early church building creed. In this portion of Scripture, the post-resurrection Jesus is said to have appeared to Peter, the twelve, plus more than five hundred people some of whom were still liveborn at the writing of this epistle. People reading this at the time could still check with eye witnesses and questi on them if they wanted to confirm what it said. Pg. 229. This creed can be traced back to about A. D. 32 to 38 which means it lends it credence as primitive, unembellished testimony about Jesus appearing to skeptics like Paul and James Pg. 30. and so they go on to cover the numerous sightings by other eye-witnesses mentioned in the gospels and the phonograph record of Acts. Pg. 234. Were the appearances phantasms? Dr. Gary Habermas, PH. D. , considered expert on the resurrection. He refutes the theory that the appearances were hallucinations because a hallucination is an individual experience that happens to one person at a time. Pg. 238 The Circumstantial Evidence J. P. Moreland, PH. D. Professor and author. When Jesus was crucified, his followers were discouraged and depressed.They no lengthy had cartel that Jesus had been sent by God, because they believed anyone crucified was accursed by God. They also had been taught that God would not let his Messiah suffer death. So th ey dispersed. The Jesus movement was all but stopped in its tracks. Pg. 246 Then, after a short period of time, we see them abandoning their occupations, regathering, and committing themselves to spreading a very specific messagethat Jesus Christ was the Messiah of God who died on a cross, returned to life, and was seen alive by them. Pg. 247 And when youve got eleven credible people with no ulterior motives, with nothing to gain and a surge to lose, who all agree they observed something with their own eyeballnow youve got some difficulty explaining that away Pg. 247. The vicissitude of Skeptics The gospels tell us Jesus family, including James, was chagrined by what he was claiming to be. Later the historian Josephus tells us that James was stoned to death because of his belief in his brother. Why did Jamess life change?Paul tells us the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. Theres no other explanation. Pg. 248 Saul executed Christians when he had the chance. Suddenly, he doesn t just ease off Christians but joins their movement. He writes that he saw the go up Christ and heard Christ appoint him to be one of his followers. Pg. 249 Revolutionizing Jewish Life for followers of Jesus Immediately after Jesus death, 10,000 Jews were willing to possess up five key practices that had served them sociologically and theologically for many centuries 1.Jewish people no longer offered sacrifices they had been doing since the time of Abraham and Moses 2. You dont become an approaching Jewish member simply by property Moses laws. 3. Worshipped on Sunday (when Jesus rose) instead of Saturday, a 1500 year tradition. 4. Began to worship Jesus as God (trinity) 5. The Messiah was someone who suffered and died for the sins of the world, whereas Jews had been trained to believe that the Messiah was going to be a governmental leader who would destroy the Roman armies. Pg. 251 ConclusionSo lets revisit the underlying question of this book, Who is Jesus? Lee Strobel conclu ded the evidence of history and his own experiences was too strong to ignore. He made a personal decision to receive Christ. Later, his five-year-old missy went up to his wife and said, Mommy, I want God to do for me what hes done for Daddy. This book has helped strengthen my faith in Christ, by highlighting many intriguing historical facts and evidence that corroborates what is written in the Old and New Testament concerning Jesus.I will end with the books destination paragraph which cites a quote from C. S. Lewis, an atheist and nescient Cambridge University professor who was eventually won over by evidence for Jesus. C. S. Lewis is most notably known for his best-selling(predicate) book series The Chronicles of Narnia. I am essay to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him Im ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I dont accept His claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man ho was merely a man and said t he sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunaticor else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must restore your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse. You can fill up Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon or you can fall at His feet and call Him passe-partout and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not cogitate to. Pg. 271.