Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
The gospel accounts were written by Christians. Does that necessarily mean they can't be trusted as reliable historical evidence for Jesus's life, death, burial, and resurrection?
Key Points:
- Many dismiss the gospel accounts because they were written by Christians (this is a form of the ad hominem fallacy). The truth or untruth of an event is not determined by a person’s belief or lack of belief. Historical claims must be verified regardless of biases.
- Paul was an early Christian who claimed to be a Christian because he saw Jesus long after he was crucified. Paul was formerly an enemy of the church who was responsible for the persecution of Christians (Acts 7:1-8:3; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16). He became a Christian missionary who endured incredible hardship and eventually death for his faith in Jesus.
- The letters of Paul are independent of the gospels. There is no indication that these letters are relying on the gospels as sources or that the gospels are relying on Paul’s letters as sources.
- When the same events are mentioned in different sets of independent sources, there is good reason to believe that those sources are accurate. This doesn’t prove Jesus did the things the gospels say. It proves that the earliest Christians said he did them very soon after his ministry ended. And if they were there, why would they say it if they hadn’t seen it? Especially since so many of them suffered and died for their testimony.
Quote This:
Galatians 1:15-17 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you think the New Testament (NT) is a reliable historical source? Explain why or why not.
- Read Galatians 1:15-17. How do these verses support the idea that Paul’s writings were independent of the gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)?
- “Historical claims must be verified regardless of biases.” How does this statement apply to the Bible?
- Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. Why would a successful Jewish leader like Paul leave his life behind to suffer for a hated teacher like Jesus of Nazareth?
- Why would the early Christians believe in Jesus’s resurrection and allow themselves to suffer persecution for that belief?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
