Evidence for the Resurrection [Hardcover]

Josh McDowell (Author), Sean McDowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2009

When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed that all had been lost. Death had won. But after three days in a rich man's tomb, Jesus appeared…alive! The news was so shocking that His followers refused to believe it until they saw Him with their own eyes and touched His wounds with their own hands. Then Jesus made an amazing claim: In the future, they too would have resurrected bodies like His, bodies that would never deteriorate, age or perish. They would have new life without death or pain in the presence of a loving God forever.  But can we really believe His promise? For that matter, can we really believe that the promise was made by a Man who rose from the dead? In this fascinating look at the claims of the Gospel writers and 2,000 years of believing Christians, bestselling author Josh McDowell and his son Sean examine the compelling evidence and conclude that Jesus Christ conquered death and the gravel in clear, concise and accessible chapters, Josh and Sean present the fact s about the resurrection and what it means for readers today.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed that all had been lost. Death had won. But after three days in a rich man’s tomb, Jesus appeared . . . alive! The news was so shocking that his followers refused to believe it until they saw him with their own eyes and touched his wounds with their own hands. Then Jesus made an amazing claim: In the future, they would have resurrected bodies like his, bodies that would never deteriorate, age or perish. They would have new life without death or pain, in the presence of a loving God forever. But can we believe his promise? For that matter, can we really believe that the promise wasmade by aman who rose fromthe dead? In this fascinating look at the claims of the Gospel writers and 2,000 years of believing Christians, bestselling author Josh McDowell and his son Sean invite you to examine the compelling and abundant evidence that Jesus Christ conquered death and the grave. And they challenge you to answer this question: If Jesus rose from the dead 2,000 years ago, what does it mean for me today?

About the Author

After almost four decades of ministry, JOSH MCDOWELL is still reaching millions of skeptical youth and adults. Through live events, such as "Why Wait?" "Right from Wrong" and "Project 911," he has touched the lives of more than seven million young people in 84 countries. To date, Josh has written or co-written 77 books on topics ranging from Christian apologetics to common problems facing youth, including the bestselling Evidence that Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter. For 30 years, Josh and his wife, Dottie, have partnered in what he considers his first ministry: family. They have four children and live in Dallas, near the Josh McDowell Ministries headquarters.  SEAN MCDOWELL graduated summa cum laude from Talbot Theological Seminary and is the head of the Bible department at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools. He co-teaches with Mark Matlock at the Planet Wisdom Student Conferences and is the national spokesman for Wheatstone Academy, an organization committed to training young peole in a biblical worldview. Sean is coauthor of Understanding Intelligent Design (with William A. Dembski) and Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World. He has appeared as a guest on radio shows such as Family Life, Focus on the Family, Point of View, The Michael Reagan Show, Converse with Scholars and Stand to Reason, and is the general editor for the Apologetics Study Bible for Teens. Sean and his wife, Stephanie, have two chidren, Scottie and Shauna, and live in San Juan Capistrano, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Regal (February 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830747850
• ISBN-13: 978-0830747856
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title, October 2, 2009

By 

Rufus123 (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evidence for the Resurrection (Hardcover)

I concur with another review. The title of this book is misleading. Most of the book builds the Biblical reason for needing Jesus. Which is great! But less than 1/4th is devoted to actual evidence of the resurrection.

I should of read some of this book before buying it. I already know why I need Jesus. Instead I wanted some academic reasons to prove the resurrection. What I got is a evangelistic book that shows why people need Jesus.

This book should be titled, "Why You Need Jesus."

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well said, April 19, 2009

By 

servant (TN or VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Evidence for the Resurrection (Hardcover)

This book makes it clear how one accepts God greatest gift, Jesus Christ as Savior. A good read for a new Christian or for someone searching for meaning in his/her life.

9 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Up for the Challenge, February 17, 2009

By 

JP Holding - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evidence for the Resurrection (Hardcover)

Sad to say, in spite of Lucy's rather inane prose in the last review, the poor little fellow has a point. The title for this book ought to have actually been, "Evidence for What Happens When Some People Believe in the Resurrection" -- because indeed, the McDowells spend far more time on the "fringe benefits" of belief in the Resurrection than they do on the Resurrection as a historical event

The McDowells may not have chosen the title (usually, publishers do that), but whoever did choose it, it is inappropriate. Only one chapter truly is about "evidence for the Resurrection." There are also chapters about such things as historical knowledge and miracles, which are not specific to the Resurrection (though I am glad they are there). Most of the rest of the book is essentially an extended personal testimony feature, explaining why the Resurrection (assuming it happened) gives your life meaning and purpose, and shows just how much God (sentimentally) loves you. Nice. But it isn't "evidence for the Resurrection," not one bit of it.

The irony here is that the McDowells are taking this approach out of what is likely a perceived necessity. The selfish, "me me" generation -- which they recognize as a serious problem -- doesn't want to hear about history; they want to hear about what's in it for me -- er, them. Not that this approach is surprising. As when I interviewed him years ago, Josh McDowell remains convinced that personal testimony and experience is what converts people, as it did him. In contrast, Sean seems to have a much more realistic and practical perspective in the sections of the book he wrote, placing more emphasis on the Resurrection as a historical fact. I am wondering if we have him to thank for whatever depth this book has, which is still not very much. You won't see anything here to seriously prepare anyone for such challenges as The Empty Tomb and Carrier's two-body hypothesis, or even the "copycat savior" thesis. It is as though we're still dealing with objections dealt in the 1950s.

I would say that the utility of this book will be extremely limited -- perhaps to youth -- and may even do more harm than good without a following program of discipleship; otherwise, those who read it will continue to think "God did it for me, me, me" is the best part of the whole scheme. Yes, I'm happy to see this coming out of part of a special project by McDowell's ministry to teach in churches about the Resurrection; but I am also filled with dread at knowing that so many -- as happened with Evidence That Demands A Verdict -- will think they're getting the final word from McDowell, and will find themselves in a mental jam when someone pops modern critical arguments into the picture.

I really wish the McDowells had done a better job, but that will apparently have to be done by someone else.