CHRIST FILES
HOW HISTORIANS KNOW
WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT JESUS
JOHN DICKSON
The Christ Files
Copyright © 2005, 2010 by John Dickson
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dickson, John P., 1967–
The Christ files: how historians know what they know about Jesus / John Dickson.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-310-32869-8 (softcover)
1. Jesus Christ—Historicity. I. Title.
BT303.2.D49 2010
232.9ʹ08—dc22
2010037946
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
All photos are courtesy of the Centre for Public Christianity and were taken by Allan Dowthwaite, Paul Moss, Mal Hamilton, and John Dickson. For more information, see publicchristianity.org.
Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Cover design: LUCAS Art & Design
Cover images: Allan Dowthwaite, Paul Moss, Mal Hamilton, and John Dickson
Interior design: Melissa Elenbaas
my friend and fellow explorer of the historical Jesus
Introduction: The Da Vinci Code Factor?
CHAPTER 1 THE GAME OF SCHOLARSHIP
How to Read between the Headlines
Jesus in Ancient Pagan Writings
CHAPTER 4 DECEIVER AND MAGICIAN
Jesus in Ancient Jewish Writings
CHAPTER 5 BEHIND THE NEW TESTAMENT
Background Sources for the Study of Jesus
Conclusion: Reading the Gospels Seriously
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR THE FOUR-SESSION VIDEO CURRICULUM
SESSION 3 Lost Sources and Oral Traditions
SESSION 4 Archaeologists and Artefacts
“CONFESSING ONE IS AN ANCIENT HISTORIAN,” IT HAS BEEN SAID, “is something of a conversation stopper at a party.” Having taught ancient history at university for thirty-seven years (without saying how many conversations have been stopped), I am sure this book will put ancient history into the conversation-starter category for anyone at all interested in the historical evidence for the origins of the Christian faith.
John Dickson has many lives: husband, father, musician, pastor, teacher, to name a few. But to me and ...
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About The Christ Files: How Historians Know What They Know about JesusUniquely among the world’s religions, the central claims of Christianity concern not just timeless spiritual truths, but tangible historical events. At the heart of the of the Christian faith are things that are meant to have happened in Palestine between 5 BC and AD 30. It’s as if Christianity happily places its head on the chopping block of public scrutiny and invites anyone who wants to come and take a swing. Some of Christianity’s claims are so spectacular that they provoke a firestorm of questions, scrutiny, debate, and misinformation whenever they are discussed. The popularity of The Da Vinci Code and the frequent airing of TV documentaries delving into the darker uncertainties of Christianity show that such skepticism flourishes in the Western world today. In The Christ Files you will learn how historians know what they know about Jesus. Historian John Dickson embraces the need to examine Christianity’s claims in the light of history, opening readers to a wealth of ancient sources and explaining how mainstream scholars—whether or not they claim Christian faith personally—reach their conclusions. Christianity arrived on the historical scene at a time of great literary activity. While many texts penned by ancient philosophers, historians, poets, and playwrights can reliably inform us about Jesus himself and about the culture in which he lived, others are not so credible. Dickson skillfully highlights both types of sources along with the historical methods used to study Christianity’s claims. He also shows how historians assess the reliability of available data, and provides an honest but informed perspective on where historical issues are clear-cut and where personal faith comes into play. The Christ Files is a must-read for those looking to expand their understanding of early Christianity and the life of Jesus. |
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