Does Jesus Still Matter?
Detective J. Warner Wallace listened to a pastor talk about Jesus and wondered why anyone would think Jesus was a person of interest.
Wallace was skeptical of the Bible, but he’d investigated several “no-body, missing person” cases in which there was no crime scene, no physical evidence, and no victim’s body. He successfully identified and convicted the killers in these cases, even without evidence from the scene.
Could the historical life and actions of Jesus be investigated in the same way? Could the truth about Jesus be uncovered even without a body or a crime scene? In Person of Interest, Wallace describes his own personal investigative journey from atheism to Christianity, as he employs a unique investigative strategy to confirm the historicity and deity of Jesus—without relying on the New Testament manuscripts.
Imagining a scenario in which every New Testament document has been destroyed, Wallace carefully sifts through the evidence from history alone to reconstruct the identity of Jesus as the world’s most important person of interest. Purchase the book TODAY!
Person of Interest will:
• Invite readers into the life of a cold-case detective as he uncovers the truth about Jesus, using the same approach he also employs to solve a real murder case
• Teach readers how to become good detectives, using an innovative and unique “‘fuse’ and ‘fallout'” investigative strategy they can also use to examine other claims of history
• Show how Jesus changed the world and why He still matters today
• Help readers to explore common objections to Christianity
Creative, compelling, and unique in its approach, Person of Interest will strengthen the faith of believers, while engaging those who are skeptical and distrusting of the New Testament. Here’s what others are saying:
“Hands down, Jesus is the most explosive figure ever to step into history. But with the Gospel accounts under more scrutiny than ever, my friend J. Warner Wallace crafts an original defense for the claims of Christ, applying the unique set of skills he picked up as a detective. In Person of Interest, J. Warner not only wields his investigative wit but his narrative expertise. You’ll be glad you came along for this case!”
– Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship and author of Billy Graham: The Man I Knew
“In this innovative new book, America’s foremost cold-case detective uses his astute mind and sharp investigative skills to explore the evidence for Jesus outside the Bible and why he remains so relevant even in our increasingly skeptical culture. This is a creative and eye-opening work that carves a unique niche. You’ll be captivated as Jim takes you on a thrilling journey of discovery into the most influential individual ever to walk the earth. Just as criminals can’t escape Jim’s pursuit when he tackles the most difficult cases, truth can’t hide from his investigative acumen. Follow the clues and emerge encouraged!”
– Lee Strobel, best-selling author and founder of the Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University
“What explosive event split world history in two? What single individual had such an unparalleled, thoroughgoing, and decisive impact on virtually every area of modern culture—literature, architecture, music, the arts, higher education, world literacy, even science—that he remains, irrevocably, the one man who cannot be erased from history, even if every ancient manuscript detailing his life disappeared from existence? J. Warner Wallace answers those questions, taking the reader—once again—on a fascinating journey of first-class detective work applied to the remarkable influence of Jesus of Nazareth. His approach to the question of the historical Jesus is absolutely original and unique, and the results are spectacular. The stunning conclusion of this master cold-case homicide detective’s meticulous research, analysis, and deliberation will leave Christians delighted and skeptics devastated. Person of Interest is a decisive vindication of the confidence placed in the accuracy of the Gospels and pounds the final nail in the coffin of Jesus mythicists. Wallace’s Person of Interest is an eye-opener. It forcefully fortified my own convictions about Jesus and will certainly do the same for many others.”
– Gregory Koukl, president of Stand to Reason (str.org), author of Tactics and The Story of Reality
“People of think of the Christian faith as a matter of personal preference. That’s a mistake. Either the foundational details of Jesus life, death, and resurrection happened within history and must be reckoned with, or they did not happen, and Christianity falls apart. Once again, the brilliant detective J. Warner Wallace demonstrates, by using standard and reliable methods of investigation, that Jesus Christ is Who He claimed to be.”
– John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center and host of BreakPoint
“As Christians, we are all called to study the life of Jesus. J. Warner Wallace’s Person of Interest challenged me to look at the historical Jesus from a different angle—from the perspective of God the Father who planned the arrival of Jesus at the exact right time in history, at the exact right place on earth, and under the exact right conditions of culture. Using his knowledge as a forensic detective, Jim takes the reader on a step-by-step journey, showing how Jesus is the only person able to fulfill every Old Testament prophesy of the coming messiah, and what systems needed to be in place for the savior’s message to spread throughout the known world for the rest of history. It’s the fine-tuning argument filtered across history.”
– Hillary Morgan Ferrer, President, Mama Bear Apologetics
“As a cold case detective-turned Christian thinker, J Warner Wallace has become one of the most trusted, accessible, and recognizable guides to the reliability of the New Testament accounts about Jesus. In Person of Interest, J Warner does something new and remarkable. He shows why history itself was divided into two eras by the person of Jesus. Even if the New Testament had never been written, the case for Jesus’ unique claim to be the Son of God can still be made powerfully by the historical evidence that preceded his arrival and the indelible mark he has left ever since. This is one of those books I will return to again and again. The scope is comprehensive, the argumentation is convincing and the delivery compelling. If a sceptic wants to know whether the story of Jesus makes sense, give them this book and they’ll discover that Jesus makes sense of history itself.”
– Justin Brierley, Unbelievable? radio show & podcast host, and author of Unbelievable? Why, after ten years of talking with atheists, I’m still a Christian
“In Person of Interest, J. Warner Wallace invites his reader to much more than a mental exercise, but rather engages their questions with insight, careful process, personal testimony, and creative visuals that ultimately lead those who believe to a richer faith, and those who don’t —to wonder and welcome.”
– Ruth Chou Simons, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Beholding and Becoming and GraceLaced, artist, and founder of gracelaced.com
“J. Warner Wallace sifts through thousands of years of history looking for clues, explaining his findings like Sherlock Holmes recounting his reasoning to Watson. The events that prepared the way for Jesus and the impact of his life and teachings bear all the marks of a divine storyline. Jesus is the ultimate Person of Interest.”
– David Wood, Founder of the Acts 17 Apologetics Ministry, and Host of the Acts17Apologetics YouTube Channel
“J. Warner Wallace turns his vast investigative skills on history’s all-time, #1 Person of Interest. Bring your doubts, bring your skepticism – but if you bring them in open-minded honesty… be prepared to render a shocking verdict.”
– Scott Hanson, Host of NFL RedZone
“I’ve often pondered the question, what would we know about Jesus if every New Testament suddenly ceased to exist? In Person of Interest, J. Warner Wallace has combined an impressive depth of research with his sharp detective skills to answer this question from a unique and interesting perspective. If you read this book, you will have to reckon with Jesus, not just as a historical person, but as Lord and Savior. This is not your typical apologetics book!”
– Alisa Childers, author of Another Gospel: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity, and host of the Alisa Childers Podcast
“Person of Interest is a brilliant book. I’ve been studying the historical Jesus for decades, and Detective Wallace made some fresh insights I had not thought of before. It’s perfect for a skeptic open to considering the evidence for Jesus or for a believer who wants to go deeper in his or her faith. I could not recommend this book more highly.”
– Sean McDowell, Ph.D., Biola University Professor, Speaker, and author of Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture
“There’s a reason why J. Warner Wallace’s books are my go-to recommendations for those looking to learn the evidence for the truth of Christianity: All of them offer unique insights that you just won’t find anywhere else. Person of Interest is not only unique, but in many ways, a work of art. This approach to the investigation of Jesus’s identity is novel, the amount of research is breathtaking, the narrative is compelling, and the visuals are incredible. What a gift to the church this book will be!”
– Natasha Crain, speaker, blogger, podcaster, and author of Talking with Your Kids about Jesus and Faithfully Different
“Like all of J. Warner Wallace’s books, Person of Interest is a fast-paced investigation that leads to a crystal-clear conclusion. Drawing on his years of personal experience as a police detective, he probes the experiences of the arts, humanities, sciences — and even all the major religious traditions of the past two millennia! Wallace gathers the evidence that will leave you beyond a reasonable doubt.”
– Michael J. Behe, Ph.D., Biochemist, Professor at Lehigh University, and Author of Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
“Person of Interest is a thought-provoking analysis of the appearance of Jesus Christ. J. Warner explores the evidence, both circumstantial and factual. His fuses and fallouts analogy provides the most logical explanation for historical events from his well-reasoned inferences. It is rarely one item of evidence that defines a story but rather the totality of strands that fit together. As methodical as his homicide investigations, J. Warner builds a compelling case for why Jesus’ significant place and contribution matter.”
– Mark E. Safarik, Criminal Profiler, Behavioral Analysis Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Ret.)
“With characteristic brilliance, Cold Case Detective J. Warner Wallace demonstrates the reality and relevance of Jesus to a skeptical post-Christian world. He fingers a Messiah whose ancestry was marked, and birthplace foretold. Circumstances surrounding his death prophesied before crucifixion was even invented. The date of his visitation predicted within historically narrow time parameters. An extraordinary worker of miracles who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. And a light to the Gentiles so that salvation would go out to the ends of the earth. Moreover, as demonstrated by Wallace, from credible external witnesses, it is possible to piece together highlights of the life and passion of Christ wholly apart from Scripture. Person of Interest is a masterpiece of intrigue identifying Jesus as the quintessential person of history.”
– Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast
“J. Warner Wallace is the most creative and intrepid detective I’ve ever met. Having worked with him on the production of several episodes of NBC Dateline, I’ve seen first-hand his uncanny ability to discover clues where no one else sees them. “Hiding in plain sight” as he likes to say. Wallace’s unique skill set and capacity to piece together a case to make sense of what happened, has resulted in several complex crimes being solved. Cases that few imagined would ever see justice served. Now Wallace tackles perhaps his toughest case ever: solving a deeply personal mystery involving his own religious faith. For years Wallace was a longtime skeptic of Christianity and its power. But his doubts also fueled his curiosity. Needing answers, Wallace has applied many of his very same detective techniques, as he has embarked on a fascinating journey of self-discovery. In Person of Interest, he cleverly intertwines the story of a highly challenging crime he cracked as a parallel to his own personal quest. Skillfully uncovering clues, connecting the dots, Wallace makes the case to himself that being a true believer is his true calling.”
– Robert Dean, Producer NBC News Dateline
“Cold Case Detective J. Warner Wallace takes a unique approach by investigating Jesus’ existence as a ‘missing person’ case and shows how – without relying on the New Testament manuscript evidence – we have sufficient evidence in human history to testify to the truth about Jesus.”
– Josh D. McDowell, author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World
“No other historical figure influenced human history like Jesus of Nazareth. In Person of Interest, Why Jesus Still Matters in a World That Rejects the Bible, J. Warner Wallace makes a convincing case for the historicity and deity of Jesus without relying on the New Testament manuscripts. With over 400 illustrations, Person of Interest helps to understand why Jesus still matters today, even for those who are skeptical of the Christian scriptures.”
– Kevin Sorbo, actor and author of True Faith: Embracing Adversity to Live in God’s Light
“Jesus changed my life forever, but I’m not the only one who was transformed by the Son of God. In Person of Interest, J. Warner Wallace explains how Jesus changed the world in a way that confirmed His existence and demonstrated His Deity. Jesus matters to me and He ought to matter to you as well. Filled with hundreds of illustrations and employing J. Warner’s unique cold-case investigative approach, Person of Interest will help you understand why Jesus can change your life just as He changed mine – and just as He changed all of human history.”
– Darryl Strawberry, legendary baseball player and author of Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life
“Every so often a really novel approach to Christian apologetics comes along. Several years ago this occurred when Jim Wallace burst onto the scene and applied his years of highly successful police detective work, using these techniques to inquire about the truth of Christianity. Add to this that Jim previously had been a card-carrying atheist well into his adult life and what emerged was a new angle that has excited the world of apologetics ever since. I am more than pleased to endorse fully the excellent research that has resulted, including Jim’s latest work on the historical Jesus: Person of Interest. What a boost to the field of Christian evidences!”
– Gary R. Habermas, Ph.D., Distinguish Research Professor, Liberty University, and author of The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ
“Because of my background – the many arrests and trials I experienced – evidence is of major interest to me in proving anything to be real and believable. My entire walk with Christ has been based on the viable evidence that demonstrates Jesus lived, died and rose from the dead. In Person of Interest, J. Warner investigates the evidence for Jesus and shows why Jesus still matters, even to people who are skeptical of the New Testament. J. Warner provides clear and convincing evidence to prove the deity of Jesus from nothing more than Jesus’ unparalleled impact on human history. If you think Jesus is irrelevant, you’re wrong. Read Person of Interest and allow Jesus to change your life the way He changed mine.”
– Michael Franzese, former New York mobster and caporegime of the Colombo crime family, and author of Blood Covenant: The Story of the “Mafia Prince” Who Publicly Quit the Mob and Lived
“Anything I say about Person of Interest will sell short how good of a book this really is. The riveting narrative illustrates the amazing impact of Jesus as history’s ultimate person of interest and does so in such a fascinating way that I read it straight through, stopping only to eat. Person of Interest is exquisitely detailed in showing how prophecies about Jesus match up with the unique time in history in which Jesus appeared, setting in motion stunning changes in the world that continue to benefit us today in everything from education to science to the arts. Even the case notes at the end of the book are a goldmine. Person of Interest is a fresh wind in my own thinking about the impact of Jesus followers in history, even up to the present time.”
– Jeff Myers, Ph.D., President of Summit Ministries and author of Unquestioned Answers: Rethinking Ten Christian Clichés to Rediscover Biblical Truths
“My agenda has always been to exalt Jesus every time I shared the gospel. Without Him there is no way, there is no truth, and there is no life. That’s why I was delighted to find that my friend J. Warner Wallace had written Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World That Rejects the Bible. It’s my prayer that God uses this book to reach millions with the glorious gospel.”
– Ray Comfort, evangelist, President of Living Waters, and author of Faith Is for Weak People: Responding to the Top 20 Objections to the Gospel
“Person of Interest is an instant classic about the most influential human being in history: Jesus of Nazareth. J. Warner has not only done an unbelievable job collecting and communicating the enormous impact Jesus has had on the world, he has beautifully illustrated how this has occurred with over 300 illuminating drawings. The second you pick this book up, you will not want to put it down. And you shouldn’t. Without relying on the Bible, J. Warner shows you why Jesus should be the central person of interest in your life now and for eternity.”
– Frank Turek, D.Min., President of CrossExamined.org, and author of I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and Stealing from God
“This is an amazing book! Unlike anything that I have ever read. If you are tired of the dreary academic apologist writing in a hard-to-comprehend English dialect, then this is the book for you. Wallace makes an engaging and compelling case for Jesus of Nazareth and his deity, but without using the New Testament. You can rightly ask, How can that be done? Leave to a murder detective. This is accomplished in a winsome and easily comprehended manner, with sketches on every page. Plus, it is an almanac of diverse minutiae regarding Jesus, the history that bookends his birth, all the way to present-day notables who love this God-man. Such information has never been compiled anywhere else. If you want sheer enjoyment with routine punches of power-filled Jesus facts, your pleasurable evenings are before you with this book in hand.”
– James Tour, Ph.D., Chemist, Nanotechnologist, and Professor of Chemistry, Materials Science, NanoEngineering, and Computer Science at Rice University (www.jmtour.com)
“I could hardly put this book down. As always, J. Warner’s writing style pulls you into the narrative; you can’t help but join his exploration as a detective. And also, as always, J. Warner provides a fresh angle. With its panoramic perspective, this book offers a fascinating journey into some lines of evidence most of us hadn’t even considered!”
– Craig S. Keener, Ph.D., F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, and author of The Historical Jesus of the Gospels
“In J Warner Wallace’s new book, Person of Interest, Wallace has once again delivered an exceptional case for the reliability of the Christian Faith. The imagery and the unique delivery that Wallace uses, makes the book feel like you’re reading an intriguing mystery, while also being educated on less known facts surrounding the Christian Faith at the same time. What I love about Wallace and his new book, is his ability to show the strength of the biblical evidence through a real-life investigative scenario, which helps to remind the reader just how viable and compelling evidence for the Christian Faith there really is. Given how accessible this book is to the layman, while also not compromising on facts and truth, I have added this book to my short list of recommended books on the historicity and deity of Christ. I would recommend this book for all those who are new to investigating the Christian Faith, as well as seasoned readers who would like to hear the evidence presented from a fresh, unique perspective.”
– Jon McCray, Creator and host of the Whaddo You Meme?? YouTube Channel
“J. Warner Wallace is one of those rare breeds. His ability to take heavy content and break it down for others is second to none. His illustrative genius bleeds through the pages of his work, arresting readers with a special ability to connect the head and the heart. If you’re looking for a read that is both investigative and illustrative in nature, look no further! In Person of Interest, Wallace takes his readers on a journey you’ll never forget.”
– Bobby Conway, Ph.D., Founder of the OneMinuteApolgist.com and author of Doubting Toward Faith
