Our “Quick Shot” series offers brief answers to common objections to the Christian worldview. Each response is limited to one paragraph. These responses are designed to (1) answer the objection as concisely as possible, (2) challenge the objector to think more deeply about his or her claim, and (3) facilitate a “gospel” conversation. In this article, we’re offering “Quick Shot” responses to the objection, Quick Shot: “Jesus was just a man.”
Response #1:
“How do we know what we know about Julius Caesar? Isn’t it because we rely on (and trust) the historical accounts that describe him? How do we know what we know about Jesus? Don’t we also rely on the historical record? Did you know that the records related to Jesus are far more reliable than the records we have for Caesar? We have more historical records related to Jesus, and these accounts are far more ancient (closer to the action) than the records we have describing Caesar. If you trust what history tells us about Caesar (who was just a man), why wouldn’t you trust what history tells us about Jesus (who was described as God incarnate)? Be honest, is your skepticism based on a bias against the supernatural?”
If you trust what history tells us about Caesar (who was just a man), why wouldn’t you trust what history tells us about Jesus (who was described as God incarnate)? Click To Tweet
OR
Response #2:
“The best and most thorough documents we have describing Jesus are the New Testament gospels. It sounds like you trust what the historical record says about the existence of Jesus, but not what the historical record says about the nature of Jesus. Why would you trust one aspect of the record, but not the other? These accounts clearly describe Jesus as more than just a man. Since you’re not skeptical about some aspects of these accounts (related to the existence of Jesus), why do you doubt the supernatural elements in these records? Is it just a bias against anything supernatural? Have you thoroughly tested the accounts to discover if they are reliable?”
It sounds like you trust what the historical record says about the existence of Jesus, but not what the historical record says about the nature of Jesus. Why would you trust one aspect of the record, but not the other? Click To Tweet
Our “Quick Shot” series was written specifically for the Cold-Case Christianity App (you can download it on Apple and Android platforms – be sure to register once you download the App). When confronted with an objection in casual conversation, App users can quickly find an answer without having to scroll beyond the first screen in the category. Use the App “Quick Shots” along with the “Rapid Responses” and Case Making “Cheat Sheets” to become a better Christian Case Maker.
For more information about the reliability of the New Testament gospels and the case for Christianity, please read Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels. This book teaches readers ten principles of cold-case investigations and applies these strategies to investigate the claims of the gospel authors. The book is accompanied by an eight-session Cold-Case Christianity DVD Set (and Participant’s Guide) to help individuals or small groups examine the evidence and make the case.
J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline featured Cold-Case Detective, Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Adj. Professor of Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and Forensic Faith, and creator of the Case Makers Academy for kids.
Subscribe to J. Warner’s Daily Email
Pingback: Quick Shot: “Jesus was just a man” | Cold Case Christianity – Elders Scrolls