You may or may not be aware of the debates surrounding the historicity of the Gospel of John. Many scholars have suggested that John’s Gospel contains unhistorical embellishments or is “metaphorically” but not historically true as are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This accusation has serious implications for our understanding of Jesus and His teachings, as well as for the reliability of the New Testament as a whole. Did John truly alter the facts and put words in Jesus’ mouth to serve his own theological goals? Analytic philosopher Lydia McGrew refutes these claims in The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage, arguing in detail that John never invents material and that he is robustly reliable and honestly historical.

Resources:

• Dr. McGrew’s website
• The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage by Lydia McGrew

Do you want to transmit your faith to the next generation and leave behind a legacy that your children and grandchildren will be proud of? Substack bestseller and strategist Johann Kurtz joins us to discuss how to build a virtuous family dynasty which serves the local community. We discuss the true meaning of Christian charity and how to practically love your neighbor and become a servant leader in your community. We discuss how to help the next generation without breeding entitlement and while instilling a deep sense of Christian and family duty.

Is the archetype of the crucified and resurrected God present in religions other than Christianity— particularly in religions predating Christianity? Apologetics debates often bring up pre-Christian resurrection and crucifixion myths as evidence that the Christian accounts of Jesus' bodily resurrection are at best unremarkable and at worst copied from older accounts. We dive into primary sources in this episode to discuss three pre-Christian examples: the alleged spiritual resurrection of King Thoulis of Egypt, the Osiris myth, and the myth of the Hindu deity Krishna.