Answering the Critics: The Final of a 3-Part SeriesCritics level countless charges against the Bible to question its credibility. We’ve addressed many of these claims before. The charges often center on the following: Continue reading
In Part I of this three-part series, we explored some of the external evidence supporting the Bible’s historical reliability. However, being reliable does not make a book the inspired and inerrant Word of God. To help demonstrate inerrancy, we now look at the internal evidence to see if the Bible displays the unique fingerprints of God’s influence. And we find signs of his inspiration all throughout the Bible. Continue reading
Probably the most basic, and most important, question one can ask about the Bible is “how do we know it’s true?” After all, other religious books also claim to be true. So why should we believe the Bible is any better or different from them? Continue reading
The Scribe, George Cattermole, 1800-1868, from The Cooper Gallery
Critics have tried for at least 2,000 years to discredit the biblical texts. One of their most common charges is that the Bible is full of contradictions that prove it is neither “divinely inspired” nor “inerrant.” Rather, it is just another example of fictional literature, produced by primitive people trying to explain the world around them. Is the Bible really “full of contradictions” as some claim? Or are there reasonable explanations for these textual difficulties that can maintain the Bible’s credibility and authority? Let’s take a look. Continue reading
The city of Carthage, now a suburb of Tunis in Tunisia, was the site of the Synod of Carthage in 397 A.D. It was a key city in the Roman Empire at the time.
A favorite charge brought by some “scholars” and atheists is that the New Testament is not reliable because it was assembled hundreds of years after the birth of Christianity at the third Synod of Carthage in 397 AD. They further claim that by then, politics and power struggles had more to do with the selection of New Testament books than reliable theology. As such, certain books were “deemed” Holy Scripture and other, more accurate books (e.g. the Gospel of Thomas) were cast away and banned.
Therefore, they assert, Christian practice and doctrine today look very different from the early church and from what Jesus intended. This claim cuts to the very core of Christianity. Does the New Testament accurately reflect Jesus’ teachings or is it merely a collection of the most politically expedient books that happened to “win out” at the time? Let’s take a look. Continue reading
The Christmas Tree, Albert Chevalier, 1911, via Wikimedia Commons
In so many ways, Christmas is the best time of the year. People seem friendlier and more generous, decorations and parties abound, delicious food is served in abundance, and most people get to enjoy a much needed vacation. But many of the traditions associated with Christmas, including Christmas trees, gift giving, Santa Claus, and even the date of December 25th, have no direct biblical basis. Some are even rumored to have strongly pagan roots and may be actually opposed to Christianity! As a result, some Christians criticize these traditions while some non-Christians point out that they are just more examples of what makes Christianity fraudulent in their minds.
Well, what is the truth? Continue reading
Eastern Orthodox icon depicting the First Council of Nicea (325).
A central and defining tenet of Christianity is that Jesus is more than just a good teacher or even a prophet; He is God incarnate. This fact is traceable to claims and evidences offered directly from Jesus himself. However, certain fringe academic circles such as the “Jesus Seminar” and popular authors like Dan Brown have popularized the idea that Jesus never claimed to be divine. They contend that this perception of Jesus was a product of much later “mythologizing,” and would have been roundly rejected by Jesus and early Christian followers.
A review of scripture and history tells a very different story. Continue reading
Roman relief of the deity, Mithras, slaying a bull. This sculpture is in the Louvre in Paris.
A popular argument used by some to discredit Christianity is that the story of Jesus is simply a compilation or retelling of earlier “god man” or “dying and rising god” myths taken from pagan religions at the time. People making this argument typically offer a long and very compelling list of similarities that seem to make their case unassailable. To someone who has never heard this argument, or its counters, it can sound convincing that Christianity is just a fairy tale that is copied from other fairy tales. Continue reading
Why is there so much suffering in this world? If God really exists, why do bad things happen to good people? This is one of the most significant questions asked by both atheists and believers. This single question has caused millions to deny the existence of God or ultimately reject the God in which they once believed.
Antonio Ciseri’s depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Christ to the people: Ecce homo! (Behold the man!). Painted 1871.
Christianity, in its broadest sense, is the world’s largest religion with over two billion followers. However, because of the many denominations and varying beliefs and traditions, the term can be confusing and often means different things to different people.
So, especially for those who are newly exploring the faith, it’s important to answer the question: “At its core, what is Christianity all about?” Continue reading
