Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Grow stronger in your faith in light of the historical reliability of the Gospels

• Engage in rich discussions with skeptics

• Provide others with a more informed and accurate view of the Gospels

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: Overcoming Objections to the Gospels

• Introduction

• The Basis of the Biblical Text

• Interacting with the Earliest New Testament Manuscripts

• The Problem of Variants

• Investigating Textual Differences in 1 John 1:4

• The Purpose of Translations

• Testing the Validity of the Bible: Archaeological and Historical Proof

• Testing the Validity of the Bible: External and Internal Sources

• Confirming Scripture: Undesigned Coincidences & Canonization

• The Criteria and the Debate of Canonicity

• Comparing Early Canonical Lists

Unit 2: The Authorship of the Gospels

• The Question of Authorship, Beginning with Mark

• Common Objections to Mark’s Authorship

• Examining the Authorship of Luke

• Finding the “We” Sections in Acts

• Examining the Authorship of John

• Further Examination of the Authorship of John

• Examining the Authorship of Matthew

• The Comparison and Relevance of Authorship in Context

Unit 3: Dating the Gospels

• Dating the Gospel of Mark

• Dating the Gospel of Matthew and Luke

• Dating the Gospel of John

• Handling the Gap

Unit 4: Eyewitness Accounts Preserved through Oral Tradition

• Eyewitness Testimony

• Protective Anonymity

• The Formality of the Oral Tradition

• The Integrity of the Oral Tradition

Unit 5: Considering Miracles

• Miracles through a Scientific Lens

• Hume on Miracles

• Probability, History, and Miracles: A Look at Bayes’ Theorem

• Evidence of Miracles

• Evidence of a Supernatural Realm

• Parallels: Examining Pagan Influence and Causal Connections

• Parallels: Examining Desire, Myth, and Evidence

• Considering Bias

Unit 6: Redaction with a Purpose

• The Truth about Contradictions

• Spotting Discrepancies in the Gospels

• The Influence of Genre

• The Purpose of Redaction: Clarifying the Text

• Handling Differences in Communication Styles

• The Teaching and Application of Ancient Writing Techniques

• Examples of Redaction in the Gospels

• Introducing Secular Examples of Redaction in Ancient Biographies

• Examples of the Accepted Practice of Transferal

• Examples of the Accepted Practice of Literary Spotlighting

• Examples of the Accepted Practice of Simplification

• Remembering Genre

Conclusion

• Concluding the Course

Product Details

• Title: AP113 Objections to the Gospels

• Instructor: Michael R. Licona

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2016

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 1

• Video Hours: 6