Can We Trust the Bible on the Historical Jesus?

In this book, two eminent scholars of early Christianity, Bart Ehrman and Craig Evans, come head to head in an epic debate about whether the New Testament provides a historically reliable account of Jesus. Much is at stake on this, for history, for religion, and neither holds back in setting forth the case for or against the Jesus of the Gospels. Informative, riveting, and truly eye-opening. History buffs and the religiously minded will enjoy this book. Rev. Dr. Michael F. Bird, Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia

In this highly readable presentation of a discussion between two well-respected biblical scholars, readers encounter two different approaches to the reliability of the Bible for historical veracity. Ehrman is more skeptical, Evans more trusting of how much actual historical fact is presented in the New Testament about, for instance, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Their two positions are well-presented and clearly argued, with assurances of mutual respect. Their discussion is framed by an introduction and conclusion by the moderator, Robert Stewart, who introduces attention to theory and philosophy of historiography, as well as more recent developments in historical Jesus studies. The book is a short but fair illustration of a long-running and still lively modern disagreement. Dale B. Martin, Woolsey Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, Yale University

What happens when two seasoned, informed, and confident scholars weigh in from different angles about the historical Jesus and the reliability of the Gospels? In this splendid volume you will not find acrimony but reasoned, balanced, and charitable arguments from both sides leading in this book to a demonstration of what we need most: civil discourse! Bravo. Rev. Canon Dr. Scot McKnight, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary

Bart Ehrman and Craig Evans are two of the most highly respected scholars working in the field of historical Jesus studies today. They agree on a great deal, but render strikingly different verdicts on the reliability of historical information reported in the New Testament Gospels. This book allows us to listen in on their lively discussion more dialogue than debate and to decide not only what we think but also why it matters. Many Christian believers will want to engage these questions, and Robert Stewart has provided us with a helpful guide for doing so.   Mark Allan Powell, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary

This book features a learned and fascinating debate between two great Bible scholars about the New Testament as a reliable source on the historical Jesus. Bart Ehrman, an agnostic New Testament scholar, debates Craig Evans, an evangelical New Testament scholar, about the historical Jesus and what constitutes "history." Their interaction includes such compelling questions as: What are sound methods of historical investigation? What are reliable criteria for determining the authenticity of an ancient text? What roles do reason and inference play? And, of course, interpretation? Readers of this debate―regardless of their interpretive inclinations and biases―are sure to find some confirmation of their existing beliefs, but they will surely also find an honest and well-informed challenge to the way they think about the historical Jesus.

The result? A more open, better informed, and questioning mind, which is better prepared for discovering both truth and contrivance. The debate between Ehrman and Evans along with Stewart's introductory framework make this book an excellent primer to the study of the historical Jesus, and readers will come away with a deeper appreciation for the ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.

Bart D. Ehrman is a highly acclaimed scholar of the New Testament and the history of early Christianity. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author or editor of over thirty-one books and has been featured in the New Yorker and Time. In addition to appearances on the National Geographic channel, the History channel, the Discovery channel, BBC, and NPR's Fresh Air, Ehrman has written five New York Times bestsellers, including How Jesus Became God. With preeminent academic credentials, he is the editor and Greek-to-English translator of both volumes of The Apostolic Fathers in the Loeb Classic Library.

Craig A. Evans is an esteemed, internationally recognized biblical scholar, author, and a regular guest on TV documentaries. He is John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Theological Seminary. He was formally Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College. Before coming to Acadia, Evans taught at Trinity Western University in British Columbia for twenty-one years, where he directed the graduate program in biblical studies and founded the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books and hundreds of articles and reviews. Evans has lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, Durham, and Yale. He also regularly lectures and gives talks at popular conferences and retreats on the historical Jesus, archaeology, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Bible.

Robert B. StewartisProfessor of Philosophy and Theology and the Greer-Heard Chair of Faith and Culture at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Stewartwasthe Director of the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum in Faith and Culture, whichbroughtworld-renowned scholars together in conversation and debate. Stewart hasauthored oreditedtwelvebooks,ten of which weredebatesordialogues, which include numerous contributing essays by other highly respectedscholars, such as JohnDominic Crossan, Alister McGrath, Daniel Dennett,William Lane Craig,Ben Witherington III, Craig Evans, Bart Ehrman, and others.