Andreas J. Köstenberger - Truth in a Culture of Doubt: Engaging Skeptical Challenges to the Bible

Together Kstenberger, Bock, and Chatraw put up a rigorous rebuttal of celebrity skeptic Bart Ehrman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ehrman has made many extravagant claims about Scripture as textually corrupted, fraught with contradictions, partly forged, and unable to provide meaningful answers to the question of human suffering. In response, these authors take up Ehrmans challenge and show that, on closer reflection, Ehrman is telling a very selective and skewed story. Truth matters, and this trio of authors succeed in showing that the truth of the Christian faith can stand up to the most arduous of critics. A great resource for sobering up people who are drunk on new wine from Cha pel Hill.

Michael F. Bird, lecturer in Theology, Ridley Melbourne Mission and Ministry College, Australia

Disturbed by the numerous attacks on the historic Christian faith by Bart Ehrmans revisionist writings? This wonderful book offers a one-stop-shopping refutation of virtually all of them. Never heard of Ehrman but concerned about how the Bible originated, how faithfully it was copied, if it is full of contradictions, how to respond to the problem of evil and related questions? Kstenberger, Bock, and Chatraw demolish the main contentions of skepticism in each of the areas they addressessential reading!

Craig L. Blomberg, distinguished professor of New Testament, Denve r Seminary

I cant stress how needed Truth in a Culture of Doubt is. It hits the bulls-eye by targeting the exact questions so many people are asking today. Im so thankful for trusted, scholarly, but very practical responses to these critical questions. I hope as many people read this book as possible, as so much is at stake. What a wonderful resource for th e church.

Dan Kimball, pastor, Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz, California

Over the last number of years, Bart Ehrman has proven to be one of Christianitys most persistent critics. In book after book, he has challenged Christianitys most cherished beliefs about Jesus and the reliability of the New Testament. I am so thankful that we now have this excellent full-length response to his claims. Kstenberger, Bock, and Chatraw dismantle the attacks of Ehrman one by one, showing not only that the New Testament is historically reliable but also that its teachings are coherent and consistent. In our current cultural climate of doubt and skepticism, this volume is a must read for every C hristian.

Michael J. Kruger, president and professor of New T estament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina

Jesus said, while praying to the Father, Your word is truth (John 17:17). Many are skeptical about this claim, and one of the most famous skeptics is Bart Ehrman. The authors of this useful and accessible book demonstrate that belief in the Scriptures does not represent the sacrifice of ones intellect. Many will be strengthened in their faith and encouraged in reading t his work.

Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theologica l Seminary

Christian engagement with todays culture requires attention to both truth and tone. Believers must be prepared to answer skeptical questions about Christian belief but to do so with winsomeness and civility. Truth in a Culture of Doubt helps Christians do that. These top-notch scholars respond convincingly to the arguments and assumptions of a skeptic. The result is a tool that will encourage believers in their faith and equip them to engage cynic and seeker with respect and persuas iveness.

Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research

It is an odd thing no doubt, but nonetheless true, that some biblical scholars today subscribe to an upside-down form of the Reformation principle. The Reformation principle, you may remember, insisted on justification by faith. Many academics, such as Bart Ehrman, turn this on its head and insist on justification by doubt. By this I mean that they mistakenly identify critical thinking or real scholarly work with the ability to doubt something or dismiss it as historically improbable. Furthermore, an antisupernatural bias (or a pro-purely naturalistic one) is assumed to be the basis of the modern scholarly study of history. To compound the error, this is called objectivity or unbiased critical thinking! What Ehrman fails to tell you is that the assumption or statement miracles dont happen because they cannot happen is itself a faith statement. No one has such exhaustive knowledge of reality that they could confidently make such a truth claim, much less assume that is the truth. In Truth in a Culture of Doubt a variety of good and competent scholars take on some of the basic claims of Bart Ehrmans various books, including the more academic ones, at the historical, theological, and philosophical level. The result is that it appears the scholarship that is most suffering from truth decay is Ehrmans and the works of those like him, not that of more traditional Christian scholars.

Ben Witherington III, Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theologica l Seminary

In every generation, some manage to ride skepticism of the Bible to fame and even riches. This book calmly, carefully, and convincingly dismantles some of the major claims of Bart D. Ehrman. It will be valuable for college and seminary students who are assigned Ehrmans widely used New Testament introduction. For anyone impacted by the gaudy claims Ehrman makes to have discredited the whole Christian movement and its scriptural basis, this book provides helpful counter-arguments and better ways of viewing the evidence. In that sense it even serves as a discipleship guide to deepen informed Christian belief. It confirms that, skeptics old or new notwithstanding, there are good reasons for continuing to affirm that the Bible is the Wor d of God.

Robert W. Yarbrough, professor of New T estament, Covenant Theologica l Seminary

Truth in a Culture of Doubt

Copyright 2014

by Andreas J. Kstenberger, Darrell L. Bock, and Joshua D. Chatraw

All rights reserved

978-1-4336-8404-3

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification:

Subject Heading:

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Printed in the United States of America

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From Andreas:

For David as you head towa rd college

For Timothy as you head toward h igh school

You are the best sons a father could ask for. I love you!

I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth ( 3 John 4).

And for my students and mentees over the past two decades of full-time teaching, with gratitude for your faithfu l service.

Fro m Darrell:

To all the Hendricks Center Table podcast team at Dallas Seminary: Andy, Pam, Kym, Mikel, Katie, Heather, Ryan, and Jonathan. You all know what these topics mean to people.

From Josh:

For Tracy. I love you.

From all of us:

To the people at LifeWay: Jim Baird, David Schroeder, Chris Cowan, Jeremy Howard, and Mi cah Carter

To ministries like Cru, Young Life, Navigators, Ratio Christi, Campus Outreach, and Christian Union, plus other campus organizationsyour work on university campuses impacts ge nerations.

Preface

P erhaps youve seen one of Bart Ehrmans debate performances against a variety of opponents. Maybe youve read one of his many best-selling books. You may even have taken a class with Professor Ehrman. Or perhaps youve never even heard of him. No matter what your level of acquaintance with Bart Ehrman and his writings, the issues he raises are important for the faith.