Shows
The Humble SkepticReconciling the Resurrection AccountsIn 1833, Thomas Starkie observed, “It so rarely happens that witnesses of the same transaction perfectly and entirely agree in all points connected with it, that an entire and complete coincidence in every particular…engenders suspicion.” On this special Easter edition of the podcast, Shane airs an interview he recorded with Lydia McGrew about differences that exist between the four Gospels related to Jesus’ resurrection, and whether those differences can be reconciled.SHOW NOTESArticlesConsidering Alternatives to the Resurrection, Shane RosenthalJoanna: Luke’s Key Witness? Shane RosenthalBart Ehrman on Jesus & The Claim of Resurrection, Shane RosenthalPassover & The Last S...2025-04-2036 min
The Humble SkepticDealing with DiscrepanciesHow should we deal with discrepancies as we piece together evidence on important matters of interest? On this episode Shane talks with retired cold-case detective, J. Warner Wallace about following the evidence wherever it leads, whether in attempting to solve murder cases, resolving disputed claims about the past, or even when it comes to challenging our beliefs about the nature of reality itself. J. Warner Wallace is the author of Cold-Case Christianity, Forensic Faith, and most recently, The Truth in True Crime. SHOW NOTESRecommended BooksCold Case Christianity, J. Warner WallaceThe Truth in True Crime...2024-10-0142 min
The Humble SkepticQuestioning The Fourth GospelMany scholars over the centuries have questioned the historical value of John’s Gospel. Since it is assumed to be very late, it’s often argued that John’s narrative contains “theology, not history.” Richard Bauckham argues that the author of this text should be seen as a credible eyewitness of the events he reports, but that a careful look at both the internal and external evidence reveals that this Gospel was written by a lesser-known figure named John the Elder. Shane discusses this with Professor Bauckham and interacts with other scholars (including D.A. Carson, Craig Blomberg, Andreas Kostenberg...2024-04-0246 min
The Humble SkepticThe Gospels as Eyewitness TestimonyMany New Testament scholars argue that the Gospels were told orally for the better part of a century before they were finally written down, and as such, they tell us more about later Christian beliefs than they do the life of Jesus. Cambridge scholar Richard Bauckham has argued that this entire approach to Jesus research has officially reached a dead end and that the Gospels are rooted in reliable eyewitness testimony. Shane discusses these claims with Dr. Bauckham.SHOW NOTESRecommended BooksJesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard BauckhamJesus: A Very Short Introduction, Richard BauckhamThe Testimony of the...2024-03-2732 min
The Humble SkepticAuthenticating the Book of ActsIs the book of Acts a collection of stories and legends about the lives of the apostles, or is it a trustworthy and reliable history of the earliest days of the church? Is there any external evidence that helps to corroborate its claims? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Dr. Lydia McGrew, author of Hidden in Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts.SHOW NOTESRecommended BooksHidden in Plain View, Lydia McGrewTestimonies to the Truth, Lydia McGrewThe Mirror or The Mask, Lydia McGrewThe Eye of the Beholder, Lydia McGrewThe Book of Acts, F.F...2023-07-1150 min
The Humble SkepticFake or Authentic? (Part 2)How can we tell whether a painting signed by Claude Monet is authentic or not? Similarly, how can we know for certain that the New Testament Gospels aren’t fictional stories, but real historical accounts of the life of Jesus? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation of this subject with Dr. Lydia McGrew, author of Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels.SHOW NOTES• For further reading on this topic, check out Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels, and Hidden in Plain View by Lydia McGrew. See...2023-02-1450 min
The Humble SkepticFake or Authentic? (Part 1)How can we know whether the New Testament Gospels are authentic accounts of the life of Jesus, as opposed to fictional documents written as a part of some larger hoax or conspiracy? Shane Rosenthal discusses this question with Dr. Lydia McGrew, author of Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels.Click here to begin Part 2SHOW NOTES• Click here to order a copy of Lydia McGrew’s new book, Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels, and here to read an article by Shane Rosenthal that outlines his interpretation of t...2023-02-0735 min