Shows
Risen JesusThe Resurrection Standoff: Licona vs. Ehrman on the Unbelievable PodcastThis episode is taken from the Unbelievable podcast with Justin Brierly in 2011 when Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Michael Licona address the question: Is there good biblical evidence for the resurrection? Dr. Licona’s answer is yes, and he begins the defense of this conclusion by referring to three minimal facts that he says virtually all scholars agree upon: 1) that Jesus died by crucifixion, 2) that after this, his followers had experiences, both individually and in groups, that they believed were appearances of the risen Christ, and 3) that Paul, while he was an enemy of the church, had a similar experience wh...
2025-10-221h 13Risen JesusAfter the Crucifixion, was Jesus Resurrected or Rescued? Licona vs. AllyThis episode is a 2016 debate held at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Shabir Ally, president of the Islamic Information and Dawah Centre International in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Licona presents a case for Jesus’ death by crucifixion and his resurrection, contending that there exists substantial evidence for this but that Islam offers none to the contrary. Dr. Ally argues that Jesus was taken off the cross before he died, placed in the tomb, and then assumed into heaven before he died. Ally bases this on his belief that the gospel’s resurrection narratives show evolution and le...
2025-10-082h 02Risen JesusThe Historical Perspective vs. The Theological Perspective on the Resurrection: Are Both Valid?This episode is a discussion between Dr. Mike Licona and then PhD candidate Laura Robinson on the Capturing Christianity podcast. While both scholars are Christians who claim belief in the resurrection of Jesus, they differ in what they believe can historically be shown about it. Robinson questions the wisdom and validity of applying the historical perspective to this topic as she contends that our evidence is not as strong as Christians claim. Rather than focusing on what happened, this scholar promotes a theological account of the resurrection, interpreting the resurrection narratives after the fact. Licona disagrees, stating that their discussion...
2025-10-012h 04Risen JesusFaith Journeys: Similar Road, Different Conclusions - A Licona Ehrman DiscussionOn the Risen Jesus podcast today, Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman join Justin Brierly on his Unbelievable podcast to discuss their faith journeys. Both men experienced crises of faith when their scholarly studies led them to question the inerrancy of the Bible. Though not the cause for his abandonment of the Christian faith, Ehrman says this was the first step in a domino effect that ended in his disbelief in Christ and the Christian God. Licona, on the other hand, has retained in Christ, the Christian God, and the inerrancy of the Bible. How did they reach these...
2025-09-241h 21Risen JesusThe Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 2In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018 at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Licona begins by defining historical reliability as related to the gospels, stating that the gospels, ancient biographies, got things right when focusing on the larger biographical narrative of Jesus. The specifics of the various stories may differ between books, but that is due to the literary conventions of the genre at that time. Licona then lists six criteria for historical reliability, including:the author’s intent to be accurate,a go...
2025-09-101h 29Risen JesusThe Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 1In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018 at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Licona begins by defining historical reliability as related to the gospels, stating that the gospels, ancient biographies, got things right when focusing on the larger biographical narrative of Jesus. The specifics of the various stories may differ between books, but that is due to the literary conventions of the genre at that time. Licona then lists six criteria for historical reliability, including:the author’s intent to be accurate,a go...
2025-09-031h 04Risen JesusMike Takes on World Ranked Debator on the Topic of Jesus' Resurrection from the DeadDr. Shane Pucket was ranked the 32nd best debater in the world in 2012. That year, he faced off against Dr. Michael Licona at Monroe Baptist Church in Louisianna on whether Jesus rose from the dead. Licona argued the affirmative case using the historical method to examine facts derived from the writings of Paul, especially 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. Dr. Pucket’s negative case centered on the gospels, the unreliability of oral tradition, upon which the gospels are based, and the existence of other Jesus-like figures in the world with similar life details such as virgin birth and rising from the dead. In th...
2025-08-271h 47Risen JesusFighting on Different Hills: Licona and Ally on the Resurrection of Jesus - Part 2In 2004, Islamic scholar Dr. Shabir Ally and Dr. Mike Licona met at Regent University to debate the physical resurrection of Jesus. Both cases, a lively Q&A between the scholars and an audience Q&A make up this week’s episode. Dr. Licona presents a positive case for Jesus’ resurrection based on three nearly universally agreed-upon facts about Jesus’ death and resurrection taken from the earliest historical sources. Dr. Ally presents the negative, citing Muslim beliefs about God’s forgiveness and the testimony of the Quran on Jesus’ crucifixion, as well as varying gospel testimony, which he believes changed over time to su...
2025-08-201h 21Risen JesusFighting on Different Hills: Licona and Ally on the Resurrection of Jesus - Part 1In 2004, Islamic scholar Dr. Shabir Ally and Dr. Mike Licona met at Regent University to debate the physical resurrection of Jesus. Both cases, a lively Q&A between the scholars and an audience Q&A make up this week’s episode. Dr. Licona presents a positive case for Jesus’ resurrection based on three nearly universally agreed-upon facts about Jesus’ death and resurrection taken from the earliest historical sources. Dr. Ally presents the negative, citing Muslim beliefs about God’s forgiveness and the testimony of the Quran on Jesus’ crucifixion, as well as varying gospel testimony, which he believes changed over time to su...
2025-08-131h 16Risen JesusDid Man Create God? Licona vs YothmentThis episode is a 2006 debate between Dr. Michael Licona and Steve Yothment, the president of the Atlanta Freethought Society, on whether man created God. Yothment takes the positive side. He proposes that ancient gods like Thor are myths and that every religion claims their gods to be the real ones and the others false. This then clearly means some of these gods, if not all, have been invented by humans. He also focuses on Christianity, disputing the Bible as the infallible word of God. Citing scientific evidence that appears to contradict Genesis' report of the age of man and the...
2025-08-061h 24Risen JesusWhat Do Statistical Mechanics Have to Say About Jesus' Bodily Resurrection? Licona vs. Cavin - Part 2The following episode is a debate from 2012 at Antioch Church in Temecula, California, between Dr. Licona and philosophy professor Dr. R. Greg Cavin on whether Jesus rose from the dead. Licona presents a historical case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus based on a set of almost universally agreed-upon facts and the methodology by which historians determine which explanation for an event is the most likely. Dr. Cavin finds Licona's arguments weak and contends that the Resurrection hypothesis fails to provide the explanatory scope, explanatory power, avoidance of ad hoc, and plausibility necessary to be the best hypothesis for the...
2025-07-301h 16Risen JesusWhat Do Statistical Mechanics Have to Say About Jesus' Bodily Resurrection? Licona vs. Cavin - Part 1The following episode is a debate from 2012 at Antioch Church in Temecula, California, between Dr. Licona and philosophy professor Dr. R. Greg Cavin on whether Jesus rose from the dead. Licona presents a historical case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus based on a set of almost universally agreed-upon facts and the methodology by which historians determine which explanation for an event is the most likely. Dr. Cavin finds Licona's arguments weak and contends that the Resurrection hypothesis fails to provide the explanatory scope, explanatory power, avoidance of ad hoc, and plausibility necessary to be the best hypothesis for the...
2025-07-231h 24Risen JesusAn Ex-Christian Disputes Jesus' Physical Resurrection: Licona vs. Barker - Part 2In this episode , we have Dr. Mike Licona's first-ever debate. In 2003, Licona sparred with Dan Barker at the University of Wisonsin-Madison. Once a Christian evangelist and missionary, Barker declares that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and then asserts that there is not even ordinary evidence for the bodily resurrection. The former believer claims there was no eyewitness testimony to the resurrection or any 1st-century corroboration. Furthermore, Peter's testimony can't be trusted because he was a liar, and the gospels were written anonymously and, therefore, cannot be verified. Instead, Barker states that the disciples believed the resurrection was spiritual, and the...
2025-07-1658 minRisen JesusAn Ex-Christian Disputes Jesus' Physical Resurrection: Licona vs. Barker - Part 1In this episode, we have Dr. Mike Licona's first-ever debate. In 2003, Licona sparred with Dan Barker at the University of Wisonsin-Madison. Once a Christian evangelist and missionary, Barker declares that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and then asserts that there is not even ordinary evidence for the bodily resurrection. The former believer claims there was no eyewitness testimony to the resurrection or any 1st-century corroboration. Furthermore, Peter's testimony can't be trusted because he was a liar, and the gospels were written anonymously and, therefore, cannot be verified. Instead, Barker states that the disciples believed the resurrection was spiritual, and the...
2025-07-091h 36Risen JesusThe Resurrection: A Matter of History or Faith? Licona and Pagels on the Ron Isana ShowIn this episode, we have a 2005 appearance of Dr. Mike Licona on the Ron Isana Show, where he defends the historicity of the bodily resurrection of Jesus against Princeton professor Dr. Elaine Pagels' contention that not all early Christians believed Jesus was physically raised from the dead. Stating that spiritual experiences can be real, Pagels asserts that the gospels contain different versions of Jesus' appearances. It wasn't until the late 2nd century AD that the idea of a physical resurrection became the dominant understanding. A self-proclaimed Christian, Pagels agrees that all Christians believed that the resurrection was important, but they...
2025-07-0234 min
The Uncertainty PodcastCan a Historian Prove the Resurrection? | #39 Dr. Mike LiconaDr. Mike Licona, professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University, joins me to discuss the philosophy of history, whether a historian can determine if an event like the resurrection of Jesus happened, and then, if they can, whether the evidence is in fact sufficient to conclude that two-thousand years ago, Jesus rose from the dead.Check our Dr. Licona's book, "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach."To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating.Feel free to follow me on Instagram or Twitter.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:01:15 Is the resurrection history or theology?00:05:29 Methodological naturalism00:24:46 S...
2025-06-291h 28Risen JesusBodily Resurrection vs Consensual Realities: A Licona Craffert DebateIn today’s episode, Dr. Mike Licona debates Dr. Pieter Craffert at the University of Johannesburg. While Dr. Licona provides a positive case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus based on facts and historical method, Dr. Craffert proposes that the reports of the risen Jesus recorded in the New Testament are best explained as experiences of altered states of consciousness by those who claimed to see, touch, speak, and eat with the Messiah. Craffert calls this a case of consensual reality, meaning that these experiences were “real” for those involved, but a physical Jesus did not exist in them. Instead, cultur...
2025-06-251h 09Risen JesusLicona vs. Fales: A Debate in 4 Parts – Part Four: Licona Responds and Q&AToday is the final episode in our four-part series covering the 2014 debate between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Evan Fales. In this hour-long episode, Licona spends 15 minutes responding to Fales's presentation from part three, addressing the claims that miracles are metaphysically impossible and arguing that Hume’s criteria for miracle testimony are too strict. Following this segment, the two professors spend 45 minutes answering audience questions.
2025-06-181h 07Risen JesusLicona vs. Fales: A Debate in 4 Parts – Part Two: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?The following episode is part two of the debate between atheist philosopher Dr. Evan Fales and Dr. Mike Licona in 2014 at the University of St. Thoman in St. Paul, Minnesota. In the first 30 minutes, Dr. Licona provides his positive case for the resurrection and then evaluates it alongside Dr. Fales’ hypothesis that Jesus did not rise from the dead but instead, the stories of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus recorded in the gospels are myths designed by the authors to provide both the Romans and Jews with solutions to their political problems. He finishes the session with a 30-m...
2025-06-041h 04Risen JesusLicona vs. Fales: A Debate in 4 Parts – Part One: Can Historians Investigate Miracle Claims?In this episode, we join a 2014 debate between Dr. Mike Licona and atheist philosopher Dr. Evan Fales on whether Jesus rose from the dead. In this first segment of the four-part debate, Dr. Licona answers the question, “Can historians investigate miracle claims?” He gives a resounding “yes” as he defines miracles, discusses how to identify them, provides examples, and addresses objections to miracles. After delivering an approximately 30-minute presentation, Dr. Licona finishes this session by taking audience questions.
2025-05-281h 02
PaulogiaResurrection is a 3 BODY PROBLEM? (Mike Licona response)The bizarre world of alien invasions and lunar messages collides with the resurrection debate between Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman. Let's explore the parallels between Licona's outlandish hypothetical scenarios and the Netflix sci-fi series "3 Body Problem," questioning the validity of using such far-fetched examples to support the resurrection. === LICONA vs EHRMAN RESURRECTION DEBATE http://www.tinyurl.com/BartDebate===Support Paulogia athttp://www.patreon.com/paulogiahttp://www.paypal.me/paulogiaPaulogia Channel Wish-Listhttps://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/YTALNY19IBC8?ref_=wl_share
2025-05-2713 minRisen JesusLicona and Martin Talk about the Physical Resurrection of JesusIn today’s episode, we have a Religion Soup dialogue from Acadia Divinity College between Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Dale Martin on whether Jesus physically rose from the dead. Dr. Licona presents a positive historical case for physical resurrection based on the following five historical facts:Paul was an eyewitness to the risen Jesus.Paul knew the apostles personally.Paul checked with Peter and other apostles to verify that he was preaching their gospel.Both individuals and groups reported experiences that they believed were encounters with the risen Jesus.These encounters were of a physical Jesus.Dr. Martin argues ag...
2025-05-211h 58Risen JesusLicona and Martin: A Dialogue on Jesus' Claim of DivinityIn this episode, Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Dale Martin discuss their differing views of Jesus’ claim of divinity. Licona proposes that “it is more probable than not that Jesus claimed to be God in some sense.” He bases this on the fact that the earliest Christians, those most plausibly connected to the apostles, held this view and that the best explanation is that Jesus said so himself. Licona cites passages equating Jesus with God and Jesus using “Son of Man, divine and co-equal with God, as his preferred way to refer to himself. Dr. Martin concedes that Jesus may have claim...
2025-05-141h 55Risen JesusCan Historians Prove that Jesus Rose from the Dead? Licona vs. EhrmanIn this episode, Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off for the second time on whether historians can prove the resurrection. Dr. Ehrman says no. Given that 1.) historians work to establish what most probably happened in the past and that 2.) miracles are, by definition, the least probable occurrence of an event, historical proof is impossible since the least probable occurrence of an event cannot also be, at the same time, the most probable. Dr. Licona disagrees, answers Ehrman, and makes his case for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.
2025-05-072h 06Risen JesusLicona vs. Shapiro: Is Belief in the Resurrection Justified?In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Lawrence Shapiro debate the justifiability of believing Jesus was raised from the dead. Dr. Shapiro appeals to Bayes' Theorem and the unverifiability of the alternative hypotheses for the post-death appearances to argue against justifiability. Dr. Licona retorts that Bayes’ Theorem, which states that the less likely something is to happen, the stronger the evidence for it must be to convince us of its truth, is primarily inapplicable in historical studies since it requires that the probabilities for an event’s prior occurrence to be known. He also disputes Shapiro’s claims that the al...
2025-04-301h 35Risen JesusThe Plausibility of Jesus' Rising from the Dead Licona vs. ShapiroIn this episode of the Risen Jesus podcast, we join Dr. Licona at Ohio State University for his 2017 resurrection debate with philosopher Dr. Lawrence Shapiro. Dr. Licona argues that believing that Jesus rose from the dead is justifiable and that Dr. Shapiro’s arguments to the contrary fail as they present a flawed view of the gospels, do not consider evidence from New Testament scholarship, and neglect the most substantial proof available, Paul’s writings. Dr. Shapiro disagrees that the details of the New Testament are essential to this question, asserting that the postulation that Jesus came back to life is n...
2025-04-231h 30
Her Renewed Strength | Bible Study, Christian Theology, Christian Women243: Did Jesus Experience a PHYSICAL Resurrection? Unpacking the Evidence with Dr. Mike LiconaWelcome back to the show! Today’s episode is a special treat I reserved for this last week of Lent, which we call holy week. As we approach Resurrection Sunday and celebrate the FACT that our Lord, Jesus Christ, IS RISEN, I’m excited to share a conversation with Dr. Mike Licona on the Resurrection of Jesus.
Dr. Licona is no stranger to the show. I had the privilege of hosting him on the podcast during our All Things Apologetics Series when he answered the question “If the Bible is trustworthy, why are there contradictions in the...
2025-04-1948 minRisen JesusMythos or Logos: How Should the Narratives about Jesus' Resurreciton Be Understood? Licona/Craig vs Spangenberg/WolmaransDr. Mike Licona and Dr. Willian Lane Craig contend that the texts about Jesus’ resurrection were written to teach a physical, historical resurrection because when understood in their first-century Jewish Palestinian context, there is no other way the writers would have conceived of them. Dr. Spangenberg and Dr. Wolmarans disagree, arguing that they are later developed stories and myths taken as fact. This episode of the Risen Jesus podcast features a 2010 debate between the four scholars on this important topic.
2025-04-161h 25Risen JesusDid Jesus Rise from the Dead? Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Abel Pienaar DebateIs it reasonable to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Dr. Michael Licona claims that if Jesus didn’t, he is a false prophet, and no rational person should follow him. In this episode, Licona argues a case for the resurrection using the historical method and based on five facts gleaned from Paul’s writings. Former Christian minister, now agnostic philosopher and writer Dr. Abel Pienaar disagrees, citing biblical discrepancies, a pre-scientific worldview, the lack of hard evidence, and parallel stories of ancient gods and heroes coming back to life, as indicating that the resurrection of Jesus is a myth...
2025-04-022h 12Risen JesusThe Resurrection - Argument from Personal Incredulity or Methodological Naturalism - Licona vs. Dillahunty - Part 2In this episode, Dr. Licona provides a positive case for the resurrection of Jesus at the 2017 [UN]Apologetic Conference in Austin, Texas. He bases his argument on contentions that 1) empirical data strongly suggests that reality has a supernatural dimension and 2) that historical data strongly suggests that Jesus rose from the dead. Mr. Dillahunty, an atheist activist and former Christian, disagrees, positing that there is not sufficient evidence for this conclusion. Instead, those who believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection are committing the fallacious argument from personal incredulity. This means they take on this belief because they can’t find a better expl...
2025-03-261h 14Risen JesusThe Resurrection - Argument from Personal Incredulity or Methodological Naturalism - Licona vs. Dillahunty - Part 1In this episode, Dr. Licona provides a positive case for the resurrection of Jesus at the 2017 [UN]Apologetic Conference in Austin, Texas. He bases his argument on contentions that 1) empirical data strongly suggests that reality has a supernatural dimension and 2) that historical data strongly suggests that Jesus rose from the dead. Mr. Dillahunty, an atheist activist and former Christian, disagrees, positing that there is not sufficient evidence for this conclusion. Instead, those who believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection are committing the fallacious argument from personal incredulity. This means they take on this belief because they can’t find a better expl...
2025-03-191h 17Risen JesusJesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 2In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that are strongly evidenced and acknowledged by the majority of scholars: 1) Jesus’ death by crucifixion, 2) the empty tomb, and 3) the experiences of Jesus’ disciples and his enemy Saul that they believed were appearances of the risen Jesus. Carrier contends that the earliest Christians only held that Jesus’ soul was exalted and that the idea of a bodily resurrection, and the gospel testimony in favor of this, came later through Paul. Who makes the stronger case?
2025-03-121h 03Risen JesusJesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 1In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that are strongly evidenced and acknowledged by the majority of scholars: 1) Jesus’ death by crucifixion, 2) the empty tomb, and 3) the experiences of Jesus’ disciples and his enemy Saul that they believed were appearances of the risen Jesus. Carrier contends that the earliest Christians only held that Jesus’ soul was exalted and that the idea of a bodily resurrection, and the gospel testimony in favor of this, came later through Paul. Who makes the stronger case?
2025-03-051h 05Risen JesusJesus’ Death By Crucifixion - Fact or Fiction: Michael Licona vs. Yusuf IsmailIf Jesus did not die by crucifixion, there was no atonement for sin, and Christianity is a false religion. If he did, Islam is the erroneous faith. In this episode, Dr. Michael Licona debates Muslim apologist Yusuf Ismail at the University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Dr. Licona tackles Ismail’s claims of an absence of eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ death in the gospels, Jesus’ time on the cross being too short to have killed him, evidence of individuals surviving modern-day crucifixions in the Philippines, and documented occurrences of live people being mistaken for dead. He also provides six reasons why Jesus’...
2025-01-222h 10
The Stone Chapel Podcast'Jesus Contradicted' With Mike LiconaDr. Michael Licona, Professor of New Testament at Houston Christian University, joins David Capes on the Stone Chapel Podcast. After coming through a period of doubt and questioning in his own life, Mike found his way back to an even better, more informed type of faith. Now he reads the Gospels like what they were, ancient biographies. He has written an important book Jesus Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Stories Differently. If you've ever wondered "why?", this will be a great book for you. The Stone Chapel Podcast is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network. ...
2024-10-2221 minHer Renewed Strength | Bible Study, Christian Theology, Christian Women229: All Things Apologetics Part 1... If the Bible is Trustworthy, Why Are There Contradictions in the Gospel Accounts? with Dr. Mike LiconaWelcome back to the show! In this episode, I sat to speak with Dr. Mike Licona, a New Testament scholar, professor of New Testament studies, author and speaker. We discussed his most recent book, Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently, which addresses contradictions in the gospels and offers, what he believes to be, more plausible approaches to understanding those differences.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to leave a review for the show on Apple Podcasts and email a screenshot of your review to erika@herrenewedstrength.com to be entered t...
2024-10-1556 min
Theology on AirIs the Bible Even Right? Exploring Contradictions with Dr. Mike Licona.Dr. Mike Licona of Houston Christian University joins Sarah and Evan to look at his new book, Jesus, Contradicted. The book is an easier to read version of Licona's doctoral work that challenges the assertions of unbelievers concerning "contradictions" in the New Testament. Licona argues that the Gospels are ancient biographies and, as such, have content that reflects that genre. Thanks to Dr. Licona for joining us!
2024-09-131h 04Risen JesusGospel Contradictions? w/ Mike LiconaMike Licona is one of the world’s most recognized experts on the resurrection. Join us live to hear his toughts abou the gospels, inerrancy, historical evidences, and the validity of the gospels. We are so excited to host this conversation and be sure to join us during the call in section and hop into the conversation!
2024-09-041h 48