CASE FOR JESUS: Biblical & Historical.HB

This book will prove to be a most effective weapon against the debunking and skeptical attitudes toward the Gospels that are so prevalent, not only in academe, but also on the street, among young people who, sadly, are leaving the Churches in droves. Robert Barron, author of 'Catholicism'

For well over a hundred years now, many scholars have questioned the historical truth of the Gospels, claiming that they were originally anonymous. Others have even argued that Jesus of Nazareth did not think he was God and never claimed to be divine.

In 'The Case for Jesus,' Dr. Brant Pitre, the bestselling author of 'Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist,' goes back to the sources the biblical and historical evidence for Christ in order to answer several key questions, including:

-Were the four Gospels really anonymous?
-Are the Gospels folklore? Or are they biographies?
-Were the four Gospels written too late to be reliable?
-What about the so-called Lost Gospels, such as Q and the Gospel of Thomas?
-Did Jesus claim to be God?
-Is Jesus divine in all four Gospels? Or only in John?
-Did Jesus fulfill the Jewish prophecies of the Messiah?
-Why was Jesus crucified?
-What is the evidence for the Resurrection?

As 'The Case for Jesus' will show, recent discoveries in New Testament scholarship, as well as neglected evidence from ancient manuscripts and the early church fathers, together have the potential to pull the rug out from under a century of skepticism toward the traditional Gospels. Above all, Pitre shows how the divine claims of Jesus of Nazareth can only be understood by putting them in their ancient Jewish context.'

As reviewed by Dr. Stephen McQuoid in July 2019- 'Pitre’s aim in this book is to defend a traditional view of the person of Christ and also the reliability of the New Testament accounts by using the best of biblical and historical evidence. He does both very well and writes convincingly and in an accessible manner. He correctly notes that liberals such as Bart Ehrman have poured scorn on the reliability of the gospel accounts as well as the deity of Jesus. Pitre is unstinting in his defence of both and counters many of Ehrman’s arguments.

There are several things about this book that I really enjoyed. He does an excellent job of responding to the claims that the anonymity of the gospels leaves us in doubt as to their authorship. Likewise, he demonstrates clearly why the so called ‘lost gospels’ do not belong to the cannon of scripture. I particularly enjoyed his chapter on the dating of the gospels. In common with evangelical scholars like Pete Williams, Pitre goes for an early dating of the gospels, suggesting that they could all have been completed by the death of the apostle Paul. His chapters on the death of Jesus and the resurrection are equally interesting and of value. In short, this is a wonderful little book that is easily read, but a robust defence of the Gospels as well as the person and work of Christ.'

Product details:
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Image (2 Feb. 2016)
ISBN-13: 9780770435486
Product Dimensions: 14.7 x 2.3 x 21.6 cm