12/24/2016 SomeBibleQuestions|ReasonableFaith

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SomeBibleQuestions

SomeBibleQuestions

withWilliamLaneCraig

SomeBibleQuestions
Dr.CraiganswerssomeBiblequestionsconcerningtheauthorshipofthegospels,thedateofJesus'birth,the
BartEhrmandebate,andwhethertoday'sChristiansaretotithe.

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Time:00:19:31
Date:08152011

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TranscriptSomeBibleQuestions

KevinHarris:WelcometotheReasonableFaithpodcastwithDr.WilliamLaneCraig.I'mKevinHarris.Dr.
Craig,wehavesomeBiblequestionstoday.Weusuallydealwithmorephilosophical/theologicalquestions
butoccasionallywegetsomegoodBiblequestions,andifyou'rereadywe'lltakealookatsomeofthese.

Dr.Craig:Okay.

KevinHarris:ThiscomesfromtheUK:

Ihaverecentlyseenargumentsonthevalidity/reliabilityoftheGospelsbycomparingthetwonativities,
mainlybyIslamicwebsitesandevenatheistssuchasChristopherHitchens.Theybothstate,Lukesaysheis
bornaround4A.D.butMatthewdateshim4B.C.andusescholarlyworktoprovethisandstatethatcertain
eventsinthenativityneverhappened,asthereisnoevidenceandsoon.I'mfindingithardtogetevidence
forthisandstrugglingtofindanythingasarebuttalagainstthesearguments.Couldyoupleasehelpmeout?

Dr.Craig:I'mnotsurewhyhewouldsaythattheGospelsdatetheeventsdifferently,especiallywiththis
kindofspecificity.BecausetheGospelsdon'tenableyoutodeterminedateslikethis.Theydorepresent
Herodashavingnotyetdied.SoJesuswasbornpriortothedeathofHerod.ButI'mnotawareofanysortof
inconsistencyinmorespecificdatesbetweenMatthewandLuke.Andthebestplacetolookwouldbesimply
insomegoodcommentariesontheGospelofLukeortheGospelofMatthew.IthinkveryoftenIfind
laypeoplearen'tawarethattherearethesemassivecommentariesthatarewrittenbybiblicalscholarson
thesesortsofsubjects.Sotheyoughttogooutandget,say,forexample,DarrelBock'scommentaryonthe
GospelofLuke,andreadwhathehastosayaboutthesepassages.GetCraigKeener,hiscommentaryonthe
GospelofMatthew,seewhathehastosayaboutthese.Thesecommentariesaretremendouslyvaluable
sourcesofinformationabouttheGospels.AndeveryChristianoughttohaveafewofthesecommentariesin
hislibrary.AnotherreallygoodbookisTheDictionaryofJesusandtheGospelseditedbyScottMcKnightet
al.publishedbyInterVarsityPress.ThisoughttobeoneveryChristian'sbookshelfTheDictionaryofJesus
andtheGospelspublishedbyInterVarsity.Andthereyou'llfindarticlesonthebirthofJesus,includingthe
historicityofthetriptoBethlehemandthecensusorderedbyCaesar,andsoforth.Sothosewouldbea
coupleofresourcesthathemightwanttoconsult.

KevinHarris:Okay.Agoodcommentaryclearsupsomanythings.Andninetypercentofthequestions,
really,thatwegetgetagoodcommentarybecausetheworkisthere,theworkhasbeendone,andsoon.
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We'llbegladtotrytopointthoseouttoyou.

Dr.Craig:AndifImightadd,Kevin,Ifindworkingthroughacommentarycanbeveryhelpfulinone's
personaldevotionallife.Forexample,Iwouldhighlyrecommendasanexerciseinyourpersonaldevotional
reading,totaketheGospelofMark,forexample,andreadoneparagraph,justoneparagraphaday,andthen
readthecommentaryonthatparagraphbyWilliamLanesimilarnametomine,butnorelationWilliam
Lane,fineNewTestamentscholar,wroteacommentaryontheGospelofMark.Anditisveryilluminatingto
simplyreadthepassage,andthenreadLane'scommentaryonthepassagefortheday.Andthatwillreally
makethatGospelcomealivetoyouinawaythatjustreadingitwithoutacommentarywouldn'tenableyou
toseetheinsights.

KevinHarris:Yeah,youknow,PaulsaidthatGodhasgiftedthechurchwithteachers,resourcesandthings
likethat.So,absolutely.

DearDr.Craig,I'vebeenanactiveChristianforthreeyears.Myfamilystartedgoingtomychurchandkept
goingforafewmonths.ThemessageontithingonSundayafterSundaymademyfamilyquitchurchand
theirChristianwalkaltogether.Mychurchisabigadvocatefortithing.Theyfeellikemostpastorsareinit
forthemoney.Well,thisleftmereallyupset.IstudiedtheScripturesandconcludedthattithingisnotfor
today.Pleasegivemeyourinputonwhethertithingisfortoday,ornot.Thankyouforyoutime.

Dr.Craig:It'satragedyabouthisparents,thattheywouldwalkawayfromchurch,evenChristianityitself,
simplyoveranissuelikethis.Iwonderwhatwaswrongwiththemspirituallythattheywerenotabletohave
thediscernmenttosay,Thispastoriswronginhisemphaseshe'sallaboutmoneylet'sgotosomeother
church.[1]

KevinHarris:Yeah,andevenifheisinitforthemoney,doesthatmeanthateverybodyis?

Dr.Craig:ThatChristianityisn'ttrue?ThatJesusdidn'trisefromthedead?Imeanthatdoesn'tevenmake
sense.Youshouldattributethefaulttothepastorandgosomewhereelse.But,toanswerthequestion,I
wouldsayno,tithingisnotfortoday.TithingisanOldTestamentmodelforIsrael.Andthepatternfor
givingtoday,Ithink,isfoundin1Corinthians8wherePaulistakingthecollectionforthepoorin
Jerusalem,thechurchthat'sstrugglingthere.AndthedirectionsPaulgivesisthatastheLordprospersyou,
youlayasidewhatyoucantogivetotheLord'swork,andthatyoushouldbeasgenerousasyoucan,asGod
blessesyou,thenyouletthisflowovergenerouslytoothers.Now,Kevin,whatIbelievethatmeansformost
AmericanChristiansisthatweoughttobegivingtwentyfive,thirtypercentofourincomeaway.SoIthink
thattithingisanexcuseforgettingoffthehook.Ratherthanthinkthatwhenyougivetenpercentyou're
doingsomethinggenerousIthinkforanAmericanChristianthat'sreallyprobablyprettypenurious,andthat
weoughttobegivinglotsmoreofourmoneyawaytotheLord'swork.Soontheotherhand,whenyou're
notbeingblessed,whenyou'reunemployed,whentimesarehard,youmaynotbeabletogivetenpercent
duringthosetimesbecausethenyou'renotprospering.SotheprincipleistogiveasGodhasblessedyou,and
tobeagenerousandcheerfulgiver.AndIcantestifypersonallythatinourlivesJanandIhavefoundthisto
beoneofthemostexhilaratingandhappypartsoftheChristianlifetogivetothesupportofChristian
workersandmissionarieswhomweknowpersonallyandhaveastakeintheirministries,andfollowthem
andprayforthem.It'swonderfultobeabletogivetofolkslikethatwhoseworkyoubelievein.Sodon'tjust
putthemoneyintheofferingplate.Getinvolvedinthelivesofpeoplethatyouknowpersonallywhose
ministriesareeffectiveandwhomyouwanttosupport,andIthinkthatcanbeagreatjoy.

KevinHarris:Absolutely.Churchesareoftenafraidofholdingtoanythingotherthantithing.Ihadaguyask
melastweekhesaid,Kevin,tellmeiftithingisfortodayIjustreallyneedtoknow.Andhesaid,I
steppedoutonfaiththeotherdayIwrotethechurchacheck,andthecheckbounced.Nowthey're
recommendingmeforfinancialcounselingandthingslikethat.AndIsaid,Well,buddy,Godisnotaslot
machinethatyouputinsomemoneyandhopetogetsomethingbackoutbypullinghisarm.Whilehe
wouldappreciateyoursteppingoutandyourdependence,Jesussaid,Don'tbuildatowerunlessyouknow
youhavethefundstobuildit.Don'tgoagainstanarmyunlessyouknowyouhaveenoughsoldierstogo
againstthekingandhisarmy.AndsoItoldhimbasicallywhatyoujustsaidthere.Idoappreciatethefact
thathesteppedoutonfaith,Bill,butit'sjustkindofalawoftheuniversethatyoudon'twriteahotcheck
youknowwhatImean?

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Dr.Craig:[laughter]Yes,Ido.Youhavetoberesponsible.OntheotherhandIreallydothinkthatas
Americanswearesoconsumeristicandmaterialisticthatalotofpeoplewouldrathergiveuptheirgivingto
theLord'sworkratherthangoouttoeatlessyouknowwhatImean?andthat'snottherightpriorities.I
thinkthatweneedtoprioritizegivingtotheLord'swork,andputthatrightatthetopofourbudgetingalong
withthemortgagepaymentandthecarpaymentandotherresponsibilities,andcutbackinotherareaswhen
timesgethardratherthancutbackonourgiving.It'samatterofwhereyourheartisthatJesussaidwhere
yourtreasureistherewillyourheartbealso.AndsoweneedtoprioritizegivinggenerouslytotheLord's
work.

KevinHarris:Okay.ThisquestionisfromIndia,Dr.Craig.Andthisalsogoesalongtogettingaholdofa
goodcommentary.Hesays,

IliveinIndiaandIhavebeengreatlyinfluencedbyyourworks.InyourdebatewithDr.BartEhrmanonthe
resurrectionofJesushesaidMatthew,MarkandLukewerenotwrittenbyMatthew,MarkandLuke,but
otherGreekscholarsmanyyearslate.Inthedebateyoudidnotaddressthisissue,sopleaseaddressthisissue
andtelluswhetherheisrightornot.

Dr.Craig:ThereasonwhyIdidn'taddressitisbecauseitdoesntmatter.Thenamesoftheauthorsof
Matthew,MarkandLukedoesn'tmatter.[2]IftheywerenamedHoraceandSusannaandJoakim,what
differencewoulditmake?Itdoesn'tmakeanydifferencewhattheirnamesare.What'scriticalisthatMarkis
anextremelyearlyGospelthatembodiestraditionsinitlikethepassionstoryofJesusthatgorightbackto
thefirstyearsoftheearlyJerusalemchurch,andisthereforeavaluablesourceofhistoricalinformation.
LukewaswrittenbyatravelingcompanionoftheapostlePaulasweknowfromtheuseoffirstpersonplural
pronounsinthebooksofActsfromthesixteenthchapteron.AndassuchhetraveledwithPaulonhis
missionaryjourneybacktoCesareainPalestineandthentoJerusalemwhichmeansthattheauthorof
Luke/ActswasjustashesaysintheprologuetotheGospelabletointervieweyewitnessestothelifeof
Jesus.Soitdoesn'tmatterwhatthisman'snamewas.Whatcountsisthatwehavehereatraveling
companionofPaulwhowasincontactwitheyewitnessestothelifeandministryofJesus,andableto
interviewtheminwritinghisGospel.SotheauthorshipoftheGospelsissimplynotthekeytotheir
historicalcredibility.Whatwillbekeywillbetheearlinessofthetraditionsthattheyembody,thedateof
writing,andtheirpersonalclosenesstotheeventsdiscussed.Andonthatbasiswehaveverygoodgrounds
forthinkingthatMatthew,Mark,andLukearevaluablesourcesforthelifeofJesus.

Now,asyousaid,ifyoudowanttoseeadefenseofthetraditionalauthorshipgetanyNewTestament
introductionsuchastheonebyDougMooandLeonMorrisorDonaldGuthrie'sNewTestamentIntroduction
andalloftheseissuesofauthorshipwillbethoroughlydiscussed.Youmightalsolookatcommentarieson
theseGospels.Acommentarywilltypicallyhavealongintroductorysectionontheauthorshipanddateof
theseworks.So,forexample,RobertGundry'scommentaryontheGospelofMarkhasalengthydiscussion
ofMarkanauthorship,andhebelievesthattheGospelofMarkwaswrittenbyMark,whowasatraveling
companionofPeter,andservedasakindofinterpreterforPeter,andthereforesomeonewhowasinvery
closeproximitywiththeeventsthathenarrates.

KevinHarris:WeenvisionMatthewsittingdownwithwritingtoolsandjustwritinghiswholethingout,and
itwasMatthewthetaxcollector.WhatdisturbsBartEhrmanorwhatdisturbedhimsomuchthathe
becameagnosticoratheististhattherearenuancestothetransmissionoftheseGospelsthatdidn'tfitwith
hisideaofinerrancy,authorshipandthingslikethat,anditblewhimoutofthewater.EvenifMatthew
and,again,youcanlookatthecommentaries,particularlyMoo(Ilovethatguy)evenifitcameoutof
communitywithMatthew'ssuperintendence,perhaps,orsomethinglikethat,areyousayingthatdoesn't
negatethevalueandtheinspirationoftheGospelofMatthew?

Dr.Craig:Right,itjustisn'trelevant.AndBartEhrmanknowsthis.Heknowsthatitdoesntmatterwhether
LukewaswrittenbysomeonenamedLukeornamedHorace.

KevinHarris:Bob?

Dr.Craig:Itdoesn'tmakeanydifferencewhathisnamewas.Whatcountsiswhohewas.Andhewas,asI
say,atravelingcompanionofPaulwhowenttoJerusalemwherehehadtheopportunitytointerview
eyewitnesses,andweknowfromsecularhistorythatthebookofActsisimpeccableinitshistorical
accuracy,becausethebookofActsoverlapssignificantlywiththesecularhistoryoftheancientworld.And
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12/24/2016 SomeBibleQuestions|ReasonableFaith

againandagainandagain,theauthorofActswhateverhisnamewasgetsitright.Andithelpsustohave
confidencethatwhenhebeginstodiscusseventsinthelifeofJesusthatwerenotcoveredbysecularhistory
andthereforecan'tbefactchecked,thatthisauthorisexercisingsimilarcareinwritinghisbiographyof
JesusthatheexercisedinwritinghishistoryoftheearlychurchandtheActs.

ThereasonIdidn'trespondtothisinthedebatehesays,Whydidn'tyourespond?isbecauseitdoesn't
matter.AndBartEhrmanknowsthatitdoesn'tmatterforthehistoricityoftheeventsthatarenarratedby
theseauthors.I'mnotinanywaysuggestinghisnamewasn'tLuke.

KevinHarris:Yeah,okay.

Dr.Craig:Theauthorisnotidentifiedintheworkitself.Hedoesntsay,I,Luke,havewrittenthis
narrative.Soitisbaseduponearlychurchtraditionthatthisman'snamewasLuke.[3]Andthosesortsof
traditionscanbefallible.ButIthinkinthiscasethere'snoreasontodenythemordoubtthem.The
traditionaltitles:TheGospelAccordingtoLukewasappendedvery,veryearlytotheseGospels.Andsoon
thebasisofexternaltestimonyIthinkprobablyhisnamewasLuke.Butitdoesn'tactuallysaysointhe
GospelsorinActsitdoesn'tsay,I,Luke,havecomposedthisnarrative.Andsoitdoesn'tmatter.

KevinHarris:Andthatwascommonintheancientworld.

Dr.Craig:Right,itjustdoesntmatterwhathisnamewasforthehistoricalcredibilityofhisnarrative.In
someofPaul'slettershedoessay,I,Paul,greetyou,andheidentifieshimselfastheauthorthat'sbecause
thesearelettersfromonepersontoanotherchurchorindividual,andsohedoesidentifyhimselfasthe
authoroftheletter.ButintheGospelswhereyou'rewritingabiographytheauthordoesntgivehisnameas
towhoheis.

KevinHarris:Onemorequestion,Dr.Craig.Hesays,

Dr.Craig,firstofall,I'dliketothankyouforthepodcastsyou'vepostedtoyourpageI'vebeenlisteningto
thematwork,andevenonroadtripswithmyfriends.Myquestionissimple:intheDefenderspodcast
series,intheDoctrineofChrist,youcomparedtheatonementasvictoryviewtoafishhookconcealedby
fishbait.WhenSatantakesJesusasransom,itisasafishtakingthebait.YouevengoontosaythatSatan
wouldnothaveacceptedtheransomifheknewwhatwouldhappen.However,Matthew16:2124seemsto
showSatan'sawarenessoftheplan.Howcantheatonementbecomparedtothefishhook?

Dr.Craig:Well,Matthew16:2124says:

FromthattimeonJesusbegantoexplaintohisdisciplesthathemustgotoJerusalemandsuffermanythings
atthehandsoftheelders,thechiefpriestsandtheteachersofthelaw,andthathemustbekilledandonthe
thirddayberaisedtolife.

Petertookhimasideandbegantorebukehim.Never,Lord!hesaid.Thisshallneverhappentoyou!

JesusturnedandsaidtoPeter,Getbehindme,Satan!Youareastumblingblocktomeyoudonothavein
mindtheconcernsofGod,butmerelyhumanconcerns.

Well,IthinkthatthereaderhereisjustcompletelywrongtothinkthatthatsuggeststhatSatanknewGod's
providentialdesignsinthedeathofChrist.

KevinHarris:Ican'tgetthatoutofit.

Dr.Craig:Ican'timagine.HereJesusjustcallsPeterSatan.Why?BecausePeterisbeingastumbling
blocktoJesus,tryingtosay'youshan'tgotothecross,'andSatanistheonewhoopposesGod,andsoPeter
isassumingasortofSatanicrolehere.AndsoJesusrebukeshimassuch.Butthere'snothinginthispassage
thatsuggeststhatSatanunderstoodGod'sprovidentialplaninthedeathofChrist.Infactmybasisfor
appealingtothiswas1Corinthians2:8wherePaulsays,noneoftherulersofthisageunderstoodthis.For
iftheyhadtheywouldnothavecrucifiedtheLordofGlory,whichwouldgivesomegroundsforthinking
thatGoddupedtheSatanicpowersandprincipalitiesinsuchawaythattheyhadthoughttheydefeated
Christingettinghimcrucified,notrealizingthatthiswasactuallythemeansofhisvictory.
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12/24/2016 SomeBibleQuestions|ReasonableFaith

KevinHarris:PaulalsosaysthatGodmadeaspectacleofthem.

Dr.Craig:Yes,inColossians,paradingthemintriumphonthecross.

KevinHarris:Alright,thankyou,Dr.Craig.Andyouwhoarelistening,therearemorewaystogetinvolved
withReasonableFaith.GotoReasonableFaith.org.Partnerupwithusbecomeafinancialpartnerwithus
andkeepusexpanding.Andobviouslywedesireyourprayers.Letusknowwhatwecandoforyou.Youcan
donateyourgiftandsomuchmorewhenyougotoReasonableFaith.org.Andbesurethatyou'resignedup
forthenewsletterthere,aswell.That'sitReasonableFaith.org.We'llseeyounexttimeonReasonableFaith
withDr.WilliamLaneCraig.[4]

[1]5:04

[2]9:59

[3]15:05

[4]TotalRunningTime:19:30(Copyright2011WilliamLaneCraig)

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