JOSH McDOWELL
EVIDENCE
THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT
VOLUME IHISTORICAL EVIDENCES FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Go to: section I
79
section II __
the academy
awards-if Jesus was not God,
then He
deserved
an OscarThis section is extremely important because it deals with the Person of Jesus
Christ. Who is He? Is He God's Son? The answer is crucial because if He is who
He claimed to be, the Messiah, the Son of God, then one's eternal relationship
with God will depend upon his relationship with Christ in the world. These
notes will show that Jesus was a SuperSaviour, not a Superstar.
82
... (Chron. ii. 30.6).
2C. LUCIAN OF SAMOSATA
A satirist of the second century, who spoke scornfully of Christ and the
Christians. ....3C. FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS (born A.D. 37)
A Jewish historian, became a Pharisee at age 19; in A.D. 66 he was the
commander of Jewish forces in Galilee. ....
83
4C. SUETONIUS (A.D. 120)
Another Roman historian, court official under Hadrian, annalist of
the Imperial House, says: "....5C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS, PLINY THE YOUNGER
Governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor (A.D. 112), Pliny was writing the
emperor Trajan seeking counsel as to how to treat the Christians.
He explained that he had been killing both men and women, boys and
girls. There were so many being put to death that he wondered if he
should continue killing anyone who was....6C. TERTULLIAN
Jurist-theologian of Carthage, in a defense of Christianity (A.D. 197)
before the Roman authorities in Africa, mentions the exchange
between Tiberius and Pontius Pilate:
"....
84
....
7C. THALLUS, THE SAMARITAN-BORN HISTORIAN
One of the first Gentile writers who mentions Christ is Thallus, who
wrote in 52 A.D. However, his writings have disappeared and we only
know of them from....8C. PHLEGON, A FIRST CENTURY HISTORIAN
His Chronicles have been lost, but a small....9C. LETTER OF MARA BAR-SERAPION
85
10C. JUSTIN MARTYR
About A.D. 150, JM, ....11C. THE JEWISH TALMUDS (See page 53.)
86
... that Jesus performed signs and
miracles (Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22) but they....
".... Even Paul the Apostle (Gal. 3:13)
expounds the passage '...'
(Deut. 21:23) as applicable to Jesus."
87
12C. ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA
3/145BIBLIOGRAPHY
- 1968.
- 1972.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica. ..., 1974.
- 1923.
- 1925.
- 1964.
- ... Moody Press, 1968.
- ... by Palm Beach Post-Times, Sunday, Feb. 13,
1972, "...."
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chapter 6 __
Jesus-
God's
Son1A. DIRECT CLAIMS
1B. Introduction
"Obviously who is Christ, is as important as what He did." So we ask
who is Christ? What type of person is He?
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2B. The Trial
Mark 14:61-64
"But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest
asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on
the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the
high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further
witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all
condemned him to be guilty of death" (KJV).
... (citing
John 10:33).
..., is just a Greek idiom
for ‘Yes’ (compare ‘I am’ in Mark 14:62 with ‘Thou hast said’ in Matthew
26:64)." 31/277
... (Lev. 10:6, 21:10), but when acting
as a judge, he was....
91
... (Matthew 27:43). 40/125
Thus, we see that Jesus was crucified for being who He really was, for
being the Son of God. ....
1. He was the Son of the Blessed.
2. He was the one who would sit at the right hand of power.
3. He was the Son of man who would come on the clouds of heaven.
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... (John
19:7). 21/453B. Other Claims
1C. EQUALITY WITH THE FATHER
1D. John 10:30-33.
"I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to
stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed
you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The
Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not;
but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest
thyself God" (KJV). 22/409
From A. T. Robertson we find:
"One (hen). Neuter, no masculine (heis). Not one person (cf. heis in
Gal. 3:28), but one essence or nature."
93
...by stoning
(Lev. 24:16).
...
will refer back to their previous attempt at stoning (John 8:59)."
3/5242D. John 5:17,18
2C. "I AM"
John 8:58: "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am" (KJV).
94
"From such Old Testament references as Ex. 3:14, Deuteronomy
32:39 and Isaiah 43:10 it is clear that this is no new idea which Jesus is
presenting. ...." 4/12
...by
stoning Jesus (Leviticus 24:13-16).3C. JESUS IS DUE THE SAME HONOUR AS THAT GIVEN TO GOD
John 5:23,244C. TO KNOW ME
John 8:195C. BELIEVE IN ME
John 14:1
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6C. HE WHO HAS SEEN ME . . .
John 14:97C. I SAY UNTO YOU . . .
Matthew 5:20,22,26,28, etc.
words of God (John 3:34). He said,
'...'" (Mark 13:31). 37/114B. He asked for and accepted worship as God
1C. WORSHIP RESERVED FOR GOD ONLY
1D. To fall down in homage is the greatest act of adoration and worship
which can be performed for God (John 4:20-22; Acts 8:27).2D. Adoration in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
3D. "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God" (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8).
2C. JESUS RECEIVED WORSHIP AS GOD AND ACCEPTED IT
1D. "there came a leper and worshipped [H]im..." (Matthew 8:2).
2D. The man born blind, after being healed, (John 9:35-39).
3D. The disciples (Matthew 14:33).
4D. Thomas (John
20:27-29).3C. JESUS CONTRASTED WITH OTHERS
1D. The centurion Cornelius falls at the feet of Peter and "... him[,]"
and Peter reproves him saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a
man" (Acts 10:25-26, KJV).2D. Before the angel of the Apocalypse, John fell at his feet to "...
him[,]" and the angel told him that he was a "fellowservant" and
that John was to "worship God" (Revelation 19:10).4C. As we see, Jesus commanded and accepted worship as God.
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5B. What Others Said
1C. PAUL
1D. Philippians 2:9-11
2D. Titus 2:13
2C. JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Luke 3:22, KJV).3C. PETER
1D. Probably Peter's most famous affirmation is found in Matthew
16:15-17:2D. Peter again affirms his belief in Acts 2:36:
4C. THOMAS
witness found in John 20:28:
(John 20:26-29).5C. FROM THE WRITER OF HEBREWS
Hebrews 1:8
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6C. STEPHEN
Acts 7:596B. Conclusion
(John 20:30, 31, KJV).2A. INDIRECT CLAIMS
JESUS IS JEHOVAH
Of Jehovah Mutual Title or Act Of Jesus Isa. 40:28 Creator John 1:3 Isa. 45:22; 43:11 Saviour John 4:42 I Sam. 2:6 Raise dead John 5:21 Joel 3:12 Judge John 5:27, cf. Matt.
25:31 ff.Isa. 60:19-20 Light John 8:12 Exodus 3:14 I Am John 8:58, cf. 18:5,6 Ps. 23:1 Shepherd John 10:11 Isa. 42:8; cf. 48:11 Glory of God John 17:1,5 Isa. 41:4; 44:6 First and Last Rev. 1:17; 2:8 Hosea 13:14 Redeemer Rev. 5:9 Isa. 62:5 (and
Hosea 2:16)Bridegroom Rev. 21:2, cf. Matt.
25:1ff.Ps. 18:2 Rock I Cor. 10:4 Jer. 31:34 Forgiver of Sins Mark 2:7,10 Ps. 148:2 Worshiped by angels Heb. 1:6 Throughout O.T. Addressed in Prayer Acts 7:59 Ps. 148:5 Creator of angels Col. 1:16 Isa. 45:23 Confessed as Lord Phil. 2:11
(Nor. Gei., Christ: The Theme of the Bible, Moody Press, 1969, ed., p.
48)
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1B. He Claimed to Be Able to Forgive Sins as Evidenced in Mark 2:5 and
Luke 7:48
This is seen from Mark 2:7.
In Matthew 9:5,6, Jesus has just healed a....2B. Jesus Is Immutable
Hebrews 13:8 compares
with Malachi 3:6.3B. Jesus Claimed to Be "Life"
In John 14:6 Jesus claimed to be4B. In Him Is Life
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..." (I John 5:11, 12).
5B. Jesus Has Authority
(John 5:27).3A. TITLES
1B. YHWH -- Lord
1C. SACRED TO THE JEWS
The more literal translation of YHWH is Yahweh.
100
2C. CHRIST SPEAKS OF HIMSELF AS THE JEHOVAH
(Exodus 3:14) basically means ....
In the 8th Chapter of John's Gospel we find: V. 24; V.
28; V. 58. His
use of the I Am connects with Exodus 3:14 where God reveals Himself
to Moses:
In Matthew 13:14,15, Christ...
(Isaiah 6:8-10). 24/15
(Exodus 3:14; John 4:26; 6:35; 8:12; 10:9; 11:25). 30/60
In John 12:41, Christ is ... in Isaiah
6:1.
(Isaiah 40:3, KJV).
(John 4:42,
KJV). From the Old Testament this can only designate the
Jehovah-God. Hosea 13:4 declares: "..." (KJV).2B. Son of God
...
used of men (Hosea 1:10) and of angels, in the Old Testament (Gen. 6:2;
Job 1:6; 38:7). But in the New Testament, the title ....
...
they declare His explicit claim of equality with the Father and formulate
the truth of the Trinity (John 10:33-38; 3:35; 5:19-27; 6:27; 14:13; Mark
13:32; Matthew 23:9,10).
Jesus complimented Peter on his knowledge of Him as the Son of God
101
when Peter confessed at... (Matthew 16:16,17, KJV). 40/124
(Matt. 26:29).
(Luke 24:49).
(Matt. 25:34).3B. Son of Man
Jesus makes use of the title "Son of man" in three distinctive ways:
- Concerning His earthly ministry
1) Matthew 8:20
2) Matthew 9:6
3) Matthew 11:19
4) Matthew 16:13
5) Luke 19:10
6) Luke 22:48- When foretelling His passion
1) Matthew 12:40
2) Matthew 17:9,22
3) Matthew 20:18- In His teaching regarding His coming again
1) Matthew 13:41
2) Matthew 24:27, 30
3) Matthew 25:31
4) Luke 18:8
5) Luke 21:36quoted His words (John
12:34), and in the one instance of Stephen's, '...'
(Acts 7:56, KJV). It is
clearly a Messianic title, as the Jews recognized" (John 12:34). 40/120
102
..." (Daniel 7:13,14). 30/9,10
In Mark 14:61-64 Jesus applies Daniel 7:13,14 and, alongside of it, Psalms
110:1 to Himself as something that is going to....4B. Abba -- Father
... (Psalms 103:13, KJV).
...
(John 5:18) ...." 40/97
103
chapter 7 __
the
trilemma-
Lord, liar or lunatic?1A. THE QUESTION: WHO IS JESUS OF NAZARETH?
Jesus considered who men believed Him to be of fundamental importance.
....
104
2A. IS JESUS CHRIST GOD? [yes]
(Mark 8:29)3A. WAS HE A LIAR? [no]
105
Mark 14:61-64
John 19:7
106
4A. LUNATIC? [no]
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5A. LORD!!
Who you decide Jesus Christ is must not be an idle intellectual exercise. You
cannot put Him on the shelf as a great moral teacher. That is not a valid
option. He is...the Lord. You must make a choice.
(Jonn 20:31).
The evidence is clearly in favor of Jesus as Lord. ....BIBLIOGRAPHY
- 1868.
- Anderson, Robert. The Lord from Heaven. London: ..., 1910.
- 1971.
- Unpublished
Th.M. Thesis: Dallas Theological Seminary, ..., Jan. 1948.- Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology. Dallas Theological Seminary
Press, 1947.- 1914.
- 1924.
108
- Lut.
Book Concern, 1942.- Bible
Truth Depot, 1943.- Scripture Press Publications,
Inc., 1970.- The Christian Victory Publishing Co., 1960.
- Moody Press, 1962.
109
- New York: American Tract Society, 1913.
- Unpublished dissertation. Dallas Theological
Seminary, May, 1962.
112
1A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO HAVE AN
UNUSUAL ENTRANCE INTO THIS LIFE1B. Testimony Concerning the virgin Birth.
1C. THE CONCEPT
The first prophecy...is in Genesis 3:15.
A clearer prophecy occurs in Isaiah 7:14....
This, most logically, refers to the woman in Genesis 3:15.
Isaiah 7:14. So did
Matthew when he quoted this prophecy (Matt. 1:23) as being fulfilled
in the virgin birth of Christ."Also, in Isaiah 7:14, the birth is said to be a "sign" from....
2C. RELIABILITY
3C. AGREEMENT IN TESTIMONIES
113
1D. Agreement versus discrepancy of the narratives
"....1E. Jesus was born in the last days of Herod (Matt. 2:1,13; Luke
1:5).
2E. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost (Matt. 1:18,20; Luke 1:35).
3E. His mother was a virgin (Matt. 1:18,20,23; Luke 1:27,34).
4E. She was betrothed to Joseph (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:27; 2:5).
5E. Joseph was of the house and lineage of David (Matt. 1:16,20;
Luke 1:27; 2:4).
6E. Jesus was born at Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4,6).
7E. By divine direction He was called Jesus (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31).
8E. He was declared to be a Saviour (Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11).
9E. Joseph knew beforehand of Mary's condition and its cause
(Matt. 1:18-20; Luke 2:5).
10E. Nevertheless, he took Mary as wife and assumed full paternal
responsibilities for her child (Matt. 1:20,24,25; Luke 2:5ff.).
11E. The annuciation and birth were attended by revelations and
visions (Matt. 1:20, etc.; Luke 1:26,27, etc.).
12E. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary dwelt in Nazareth
(Matt. 2:23; Luke 2:39)."...
throne (see Jeremiah 22:30; ..., II Kings 24, and
...in Matthew 1:11 are the same person). However, ...
of the woman, Mary (Luke 3:23).2D. The Witness of Mark, John and Paul:
114
(cf. John 20:30).
in John 3:16.
(I Peter 1:3),
(John 1:1,14).2B. Historical Evidence Surrounding the virgin Birth Other Than the
Gospel Accounts
115
1C. TIME
1D. How did the concept of a virgin birth arise so soon if it was not
based on fact?2D. If the Gospels were not historical, how were they accepted so
universally at such an early date?
(Isaiah 7:14).2C. WITNESS OF EARLY CHURCH FATHERS
116
3C. THE EARLY JEWISH WITNESS
117
in Mark 6:3:
4C. THE KORAN
[omit]
118
[omit]
3B. Summation by Various Writers
(Luke 1:35).2A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO BE
WITHOUT SIN1B. First of All, We Look at His Witness of Himself
John 8:46
"Which of you convinceth [M]e of sin?"
He also said, "..." (John
8:29).
119
2B. The Witness of His Friends
1C. THEY LIVED IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH JESUS FOR ABOUT
THREE YEARS2C. THEY WERE JEWS AND SINCE BIRTH HAD BEEN MADE
AWARE OF THEIR OWN SIN NATURE AND THAT OF OTHERS3C. THEIR TESTIMONY TO HIS SINLESSNESS IS INDIRECT
His closest associates, Peter and John, attest to His being without sin.
I Peter 1:19
I Peter 2:22
I John 3:5
(I John 3:5).
(Matthew 27:3,4).
(II Corinthians 5:21).
120
3B. More Important, Perhaps, Than the Witness of His Friends Is That of
His Enemies
In
Luke 23:41,
(Luke 23:22).
(Luke 23:47).
(Mark
14:55,56).
Mark
(in 2:1-3:6).
(Mark
2:17).4B. Last, We Have Available the Witness of History
122
5B. With the Witness of History We Find the Testimonies of Some of the
World's Most Reknowned Skeptics3A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO
MANIFEST THE SUPERNATURAL IN THE FORM OF MIRACLES1B. The Scriptural Witness
(Luke 7:22).
123
MIRACLES OF PHYSICAL HEALING
A leper, Matthew 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-15
A paralytic, Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26
Fever (Peter's mother-in-law), Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-31
Nobleman's son healed, John 4:46-53
Physical infirmity, John 5:1-9
A withered hand, Matthew 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11
Deafness and dumbness, Mark 7:31-37
Blindness at Bethsaida, Mark 8:22-25; in Jerusalem, John 9;
Bartimaeus, Mark 10:46-52
Ten lepers, Luke 17:11-19
Malchus' severed ear, Luke 22:47-51
Hemorrhage, Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48
Dropsy, Luke 14:2-4MIRACLES IN THE NATURAL REALM
Water converted to wine [grape juice] at Cana, John 2:1-11
Stilling of a storm, Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25
Supernatural catch of fish, Luke 5:1-11; John 21:6
Multiplying food: 5,000 fed, Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke
9:11-17; John 6:1-14; 4,000 fed, Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9
Walking on water, Matthew 14:22,23; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:19
Money from a fish, Matthew 17:24-27
Fig tree dried up, Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14MIRACLES OF RESURRECTION
Jairus' daughter, Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:41-56
Widow's son, Luke 7:11-15
Lazarus of Bethany, John 11:1-44 48/5002B. Comments and Quotes on His Miracles
124
3B. Early Jewish Witness
125
4B. To Silence the Critic
(John 11:48).
(Matthew 12:24).
(Matthew 12:25,26).4A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO HAVE AN
ACUTE SENSE OF DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER MEN [p. 126]1B. The Witness of Friends
2B. What the Antagonists Say [p. 128]
5A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN CERTAINLY HIS WORDS WOULD BE
THE GREATEST EVER SPOKEN [p. 129]1B. Jesus Himself said,
(Luke 21:33).
Luke 4:32 tells us that
(John 7:46).2B. The Greatest Words Ever Spoken
(Luke 4:32).
(John
7:46).
(Acts 20:35).
132
6A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO HAVE A
LASTING AND UNIVERSAL INFLUENCE
134
The famous essay, "One Solitary Life," states:
135
"The Incomparable Christ," another vivid essay:
....7A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO SATISFY
THE SPIRITUAL HUNGER IN MAN
(Matthew 5:6).
(John 7:37).
(John 4:14).
(John 14:27).
(John 6:35).
(Matthew 11:28).
(John
10:10).
137
8A. IF GOD BECAME MAN, THEN WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO EXERCISE
POWER OVER DEATH1B. Death
It is seen that Jesus was not forced to give up His life. As evidenced in
Matthew 26:53,54, He had the power....
It is in John 10:18 that we find the answer: "...."
(Luke 23:46). . . . Luke and John use
verbs which can only be2B. Burial
(Matthew 27:57,58).
(John 19:39).
(Mark 15:46,47).
(Luke 23:56).
(Matthew 27:66).3B. Resurrection
138
In John 2:19 He says,
(John 11:25; 14:19).
(Romans 8:11).
(Acts 9:40,41).
(Hebrews 13:8) and that "..."
(Acts 1:11).
....BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Faith Press, Ltd., 1935.
- United Church Press, 1967.
- Westminster Press, [p. 139]
1950.- N.J.: American Tract Society.
- Good News Publishers, n.d.
- in Christian Century. Vol. 87, Oct.
1970, p. 1249.- Scripture Press
Publications, Inc., 1967.- Christian Heritage Inc., 1948.
- Christian Culture Press,
1905.- Sword of the Lord
Publishers, 1966.- Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge, 1936.- Back to the [p. 140]
Bible Broadcast, 1960.Go to: section II chapter 9
Go to: section II chapter 10
Go to: section III