Is Jesus History? (Questioning Faith)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
What can we really know for sure about the past? Can anything from ancient history be regarded as ‘fact’? In particular, how seriously can we take the historical sources for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth? Did he really even live in first-century Galilee and Judaea, or is he a figure of legend?
In this timely book, historian Dr John Dickson unpacks how the field of history works, giving readers the tools to evaluate for themselves what we can confidently say about figures like the Emperor Tiberius, Alexander the Great, Pontius Pilate, and, of course, Jesus of Nazareth.
He presents the evidence, methods, and conclusions of mainstream scholars—both Christian and not—and asks some pertinent contemporary questions, without offering any pushy answers: If Jesus really did exist, what are we to make of his own claims and those of his followers, and what would any of it mean for us today?
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- Explores ancient writings as well as modern methods
- Examinates the role of "faith" or "trust" in all academic endeavors, including science
- Outlines what can be confidently said about historical figures who overlapped on their careers in the late 20s and early 30s (fist century)
- History And Reality
- “Faith” in History
- How To Make Me Eat My Bible
- Historical Quests For Jesus
- Liberal Prophet, Sacrificial Martyr
- What Alexander The Great Can Teach Us About History
- Scraps About Jesus
- Paul: Skeleton Key To Jesus
- Digging Stuff Up
- Raised Expectations
John Dickson is one of our most reliable guides today to the historical background of the life of Jesus. He blends the scholarship of an academic with the down-to-earth accessibility of the best of teachers. This book is full of insights; it may well surprise many to know how much the historical record actually shows us about the man who stands at the center of the faith of over two billion people today.
—Sam Allberry, Author and Speaker
John Dickson combines top-notch scholarship with an accessible, conversational style as he explains the ancient evidence surrounding the historical Jesus. Is Jesus History? compares how we trust statements from our family, friends, and news outlets with how we trust ancient testimonies of all sorts, including Aristotle’s The Art of Rhetoric, Luke’s Gospel, and Pliny the Younger’s Letter 6 about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Dickson’s even-handed approach towards the evidence invites readers to draw their own conclusions about the Jesus of history.
—Dr. Lynn Cohick, Provost and Dean, Denver Seminary
With characteristic clarity and excellence of scholarship John Dickson examines the historical evidences for Jesus. His accessible style and bang up to date sources make this a must read for anyone who is serious about investigating Jesus.
Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, Director, OCCA The Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics
Is Jesus History? is a provocative little book. John Dickson writes engagingly and personably—as you read, you can imagine having a coffee (or a pint) with him and laughing over the idiosyncrasies of the field of biblical studies, even while appreciating the hard work scholars do. Indeed, this book reads with deep appreciation for scholars, and thus serves as a translation of the current state of conversations in the field that can complicate the average person’s understanding of who Jesus of Nazareth might have been. His summaries of the various perplexing questions people have about Jesus are erudite and disarming, inviting people to reevaluate their assumptions and reencounter the Jesus of history in the Jesus of the Bible.
Mariam J. Kovalishyn, Assistant Professor, New Testament Studies, Regent College, Vancouver
In the Logos Reader Edition, this volume is enhanced to best fit the content. Scripture references are hand-tagged to integrate with powerful functionality in Logos Bible Software. Page milestones and internal citation tagging provide accurate points of reference. Search important words across resources to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive tools for reading digital content are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.