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Evidence for Christianity

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Evidence for Christianity contains hundreds upon hundreds of solid arguments and established, credible, and need I add irrefutable facts that successfully demonstrate and prove (yes, prove) not only the validity of both the Old and New Testaments, but the existence of God as Yeshua the Nazarene.

There is, however, one major-and I do mean major-problem within this publication: The chapter on Messianic prophecies is so lacking in clarity that I fear Talmudic scholars trained in the `refutation of Christianity' will ultimately laugh in triumph when they read the chapter by itself. Joshua McDowell only lists about 50 prophecies, many of which outwardly have nothing to do with the Messiah when applied in modern Rabbinical context of the OT (although McDowell does list many interpretations from Targum, which satisfactorily demonstrate the ancient Hebrew exegesis of these Scriptures) McDowell fails to list all of the Messianic prophecies, and doesn't analyze the ostensive modern-Judaic responses and arguments to Christian Scripture usage; arguments of which, may I add, have all been refuted by many, many Christian and Messianic Jewish scholars unsurpassed in their fields, some of whom were even trained Talmudists. Unless you explain why Messianic prophecy in the OT is interpreted the way it is by Christians and Messianic Jews (and there are numerous legitimate reasons), Rabbis will ultimately accuse the NT of twisting and perverting Scripture, which in actuality is not the case at all. Simply listing references from Targum is not enough-there are plenty of Messianic prophecy interpretations in Gemara that can definitely be used to counter rabbinical claims that Yeshua is not Messiah. McDowell also fails to explain why the majority of Jews today disbelieve that Yeshua is Messiah. Unless all of these aspects, arguments, and refutations are compiled, Messianic prophecy correlated into the NT looks abysmally foolish to the trained rabbinical scholar. For this reason, I must deduct a star. Fortunately, there are many arguments and historical proofs scattered throughout this compilation that, if organized, would lead rabbis down the serious road of doubt, if not lead them to renounce Rabbinism altogether.

By trying to discredit the information within this compilation, atheists would be attempting to undermine years and years of historical and archeological facts obtained from an overwhelming number of secular sources. This work also contains a great assortment of philosophical and theological arguments for Christ Yeshua being God as well, although I quiver at the works of many modern Christian theologians and pseudo-apologetics: Many skeptics, whether atheist or Judaic, argue the question "If filled with God's Holy Spirit why don't Christians have sound, irrefutable answers to all inquiries?" The answer: most Christians haven't even scratched the surface, let alone have been truly baptized by the Holy Ghost. Besides, many Christian scholars are unfamiliar with the Talmud and the Jewish arguments against Christ. Although this compilation is sound for the most part, the author could have done so much more to prove the existence of Christ to Jewish unbelievers. Overall, I'm satisfied with this scholarly work; it will indubitably frustrate skeptics and atheists alike. My experience in Christ Yeshua precludes any possibility of Him not being God anyway.

Josh McDowell's books over the years have been a great resource for Christians seeking to defend their faith. In our age of secular tolerance, McDowell offers proof positive of the uniqueness of both Jesus Christ and the Bible in order to defend Christianity. In this updated form of various books from McDowell into this one volume edition, McDowell once again does a great job of showing the abundent evidence that exists if one will open their mind in their search for the truth. Truth is not "out there" but is found in the Lord Jesus and in the Bible (John 14:6). As Christians we must be able to defend our faith against the tide of unbelief, secular humanism, and other religions (1 Peter 3:15-16).

This book is well worth the price and every disciple of Jesus should read and study this book.

Evidence For Christianity
Josh McDowell

Josh McDowell's Evidence For Christianity is a conglomeration of material gleaned from his earlier apologetic works with some new material thrown in. The book is meant as a sourcebook more than a work read cover to cover. The book is full of interesting information gleaned from archeology and other sources. If one is not familiar with F. F. Bruce of Norman Geisler, you will be by the time you wade through this material.
In its better moments, the book has some fascinating historical tidbits. However, it is an apologetic work, not a book by or for the historian.

Like many apologists, McDowell often relies on circular reasoning to get to certain points. The Biblical texts are often cited as proof of themselves. After reading this the evidence will show you that the early Church believed that Christ was God and rose again on the third day, but nothing can actually prove the case. That is a matter of faith.

All told it is not a bad book. There is some very useful information in it. Some of this information would have been useful when I attended college. However, if you intend to debate someone who has a more liberal philosophy be careful using some of the arguments here. My professors would have poked holes in many of the arguments found here. While I agree with McDowell's beliefs, some of his reasoning will leave you open to easy rebuttal.

Read the book and glean the data. Find your own arguments.

This work (compendium, really) was not intended to be read straight through. It was intended to bring together the basics of the evidence for the Christian faith. All of the historical evidence cannot be contained in one book, and the author does not try. He instead lays out a logical outline that helps the reader find what he's looking for, and gives easily-understood information and excellent citations of the top scholars, secular and Christian, in that particular area.

Although there is enough material for a lifetime of discussion and argument in this book, the reader is warned by McDowell that the evidence he has pulled together is not the primary focus. That focus should not be on winning arguments by throwing out evidence, but on the valid questions people bring to the table in their spiritual journey, and how the evidence can help address those questions. For the seeker, then, this book represents a treasure trove of sources to investigate on one's own or with a friend.

For the Christian layman, if approached as intended, this book will be a wonderful resource for answering specific questions concerning historical evidences for the Bible and Christianity. It is not intended to teach one how to debate non-Christians. It will be very helpful, though, in addressing the distressing lack of historical knowledge about Christianity so prevalent in our churches and society at large today.

I find this book continually open on my desk as I prepare papers, lessons for Sunday School, or Bible study. The beauty of this book is that I don't have to read several pages in order to jump into the author's stream of thought. This book should be on every pastor's and lay leader's bookshelf.

There are some worldviews that outlaw critical analysis. Christianity invites your hard questions. Invites the magnifying glass. Josh McDowell has made it his life's work to write books like this. At 630 pages it is very through. Indeed some may considered McDowell to be obsessed with his chosen field of expertise. He knows the score, and he knows what he knows. He is not satisfied if there is a shadow of a chance of leaving any lingering doubts about weather or not he didn't explain something to the fullest extent. That is why I give this helpful book I go back to time and again, 5 stars. Maybe a little back ground check into this man is in order.

McDowell left the church because in the words of his father who farmed in Michigan, "If something doesn't work, chuck it." Josh put religion into that category. In university he was surprised by a believer who challenged him to intellectually examine the claims of Christianity. Not necessarily the Church, but more specifically Jesus Christ himself. He was so irritated by Christians who held their convictions with absolute rock solid assurance, that he left university to gather information to prove Christianity is a sham. But the more he researched the more he realized he was being intellectually dishonest with himself in ignoring what he called the "overwhelming evidence" of the claims of Christ. The rest is as they say, history.

As of the date of the printing of this book, 2006, he has 42 million book sales, from the 100 books he has authored or co-authored. He is considered one of the most sought after and popular speakers in the world today, having spoken in 65 countries.

The invitation is not a forced one, just like the nature of Jesus, it is gentle. "To him who has an ear to hear let him hear." Heaven is not for those who are successful at "faking it" for the rest of the world. It is not for those who believe it's all in the scales of good done while in the body, verses the bad. It's not in comparisons to and with "the other guy." You need to examine your own heart. McDowell now knows what his Christian friends tried to tell him. Let him explain the details. Christ gives a peace that is real and truly satisfies. Heaven is for those who bow down to the truth of who they are, and who God is. Read this book at the very least as a study guide. Every one owes it that much.

Read it. You have nothing to lose. The information here is presented without bias. It is a mere record of historical facts. This is not an argument to convince people of the genuineness of Christianity. It is a presentation of the history on which biblical Christianity is based. It is a very thorough, factual, historical resource. Know the facts!

As a PhD candidate in English, I find this book thoroughly researched with an extensive bibliography added with both believers and nonbelievers. Anyone who denies the historicity of the Old and New Testaments is simply denying the facts of modern research and archeology. McDowell began his journey for truth as an atheist but with a legal and inquiring mind collected irrefutable evidence to not only convince himself of the truth of the Bible and the resurrection of Jesus Christ but compels the rational reader to also arrive at the same conclusion. The crux of Christianity, which separates it from all over false beliefs, is the resurrection of Christ. It boils down to this: His enemies had no reason to remove the crucified body of Christ. The disciples were powerless and fearful of their own lives to attempt such an insurmountable task. The only possible explanation is that of a supernatural event. Most people who read the overwhelming evidence of this book begin their criticism with a presupposition of antisupernaturalism which even modern scientists are beginning to debate. In McDowell's own words, "If you read the exhaustive evidence presented in this detailed research and support of Christianity and scripture and you still don't believe that Christ is the Messiah than it is simply because you are UNWILLING to believe. There is no preacher's tone to this book. It is factual and convincing through and through. Many are called but few are chosen.

To be honest the book is "loaded" with so much information it overwhelmed me a bit.I guess I expected a more concise demonstration of evidence.If I were an atheist or skeptic this book would raise questions that would not be easily answered in my mind.Hopefully it will persuade some to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

This book is in essence, a compendium of valuable evidence and source for the validity of Christianity and must be viewed in the framework. The book is divided Christian sources for the historical veracity Jesus' existence, using both the New Testament, and other Christian texts. It also uses a number of non-Christian texts and archeological findings to augment the supposition that Christian beliefs are founded in evidence and is not illusory. There are even pagan sources cited but not all sources will be seen as conclusive by all readers. There is a substantive bibliography, which can be used to verify the facts presented in the book.

It must be noted that the objective of "Evidence of Christianity" is to provide the reader ample evidence to conclude there was a historical Jesus and Christianity is not founded on myth but legitimate belief in light of accessible evidence. Ultimately, "Evidence of Christianity" does succeed and for that effort it needs to be recognized. Furthermore, the book is not intended to provide a historian or professional a peerless catalogue of research but is directed towards lay persons for indispensable knowledge regarding the validity of Christian belief. As such, the book must be reviewed in that light and not as a pure scholarly work.

As an aside, there have been statements made by some individuals to be able to 'refute' the information contained in this book. In my view, this is merely a manifesting of self-rationalization, for without providing said refutation, why such braggadocio? This is no better than saying 'God is real' without affording some substantiation, which is the point of this book. Ostensibly, this position of skepticism is in vogue for many but is also refuge of the intellectually enervated, who are seeking to relieve the strain of their cognitive dissonance.

So many times we hear about skeptics of Christianity and/or the Christian rant and rave on YouTube-like sites and various discussion boards. Some skeptics have already made their mind up because they were hurt by someone in the past. Therefore arguing is therapeutic for such people. However if you are a person who desires honest answers and technical/detailed evidence, which goes beyond the noise of semantic bantering and false analogies typical of many "so-called" free thinkers, you will love this book. This book should be a basic part of everyone's personal library. So much powerful evidence to make even the most outspoken skeptics of Christianity into some of its most ardent defenders and become devoted followers of Christ. The exhaustive amount of archeological finds, historical accounts, and ancient cultural evidence presented by this book debunks a myriad of objections proliferated by the academic elites within our secular universities by presenting just raw evidence and facts. While bible skeptics invent allegations and devise speculations that were never supported by the archaeological evidence, this book methodically supplies real evidence and hard data that would hold up in a court room. If you once considered yourself a Christian but now have labeled yourself an atheist or agnostic because you thought Christianity was just a bunch of "made-up stories" and is not supported by any real evidence, you will be pleasantly surprised that it is those supporting facts and hard evidence presented by "Evidences for Christianity" that set Christianity apart from every world religion and the religion of atheism.

Those who claimed see the risen Christ and His ascension would not put their lives on the line if they actually knew it was not true. Those who analyze the vast amount of prophetical fulfillment wrought by Christ, and acknowledge the fact that He violated Hebrew culture and expectations of what their messiah should do by NOT SEEKING to conquer the Roman Empire, will find it difficult to convince even themselves that these JEWISH converts would have just "made up" the story about Jesus when even those who persecuted Christians not only verified Jesus' existence but even confirmed what those early Christians believed about Him and the sufferings they faced for those beliefs.

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