The Isaiah 9:10 Judgment – Jonathan Cahn

Elliott Nesch — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:20:41 +0000

Keith Green- Devotion or Devotions?

Elliott Nesch — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:34:46 +0000

An Outstanding Warning to All Men by Zac Poonen

Ethan Nesch — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:17:59 +0000

In Judges, Chapter 13, we read of the family of Manoah that did not have any children. The angel of the Lord appeared to them one day and told them that they would have a son, and that he should be brought up as a Nazirite. Samson was born. The Lord blessed him and the Spirit of God began to move upon him (Judges 13:25) – the anointing – that was the secret of the power of all these leaders. But unfortunately we read that Samson also backslid, very early in his life. Whenever he saw a pretty woman, he just could not control his lusts. He would forget all about his calling to serve the Lord and would go after that woman – whether she was a Jew or a Gentile made no difference to him, so long as she was good-looking! This was his weakness throughout his life. God used him no doubt, but he had a tremendous weakness for pretty women – like many a preacher today. Samson’s behaviour stands in great contrast to Joseph’s. Joseph lived before the Law was given and had much less revelation on God’s ways than Samson had. Yet he stood true to God repeatedly – and has, therefore, been an outstanding example for young men for thousands of years. Samson, on the other hand has been an equally outstanding warning to all men for thousands of years!

We read in Judges 14:5,6, “Samson went down to Timnah and a young lion came roaring towards him and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily so that he caught the lion and tore the lion to pieces.” Like we would tear up a piece of paper, Samson tore up that lion to pieces. He was so humble about it that he didn’t tell anyone– not even his father and mother. Samson knew that it was the power of the Holy Spirit that had enabled him to do that. In Judges 14: 10, we read that his father went down to meet the Philistine woman whom Samson liked and got Samson married to her. This was a direct disobedience of God’s Law that had clearly commanded that the Israelites were never to marry non-Israelites. Samson’s was an up-and-down life – sometimes up but mostly down. We read in Judges 16:1 that he went down to Gaza. He saw a harlot there and liked her and committed fornication with her. When he was caught, he pulled out the gates of the city and walked off with them! Later, he met another Philistine woman called Delilah and fell in love with her (Judges16:4). God must have spoken to his conscience many a time, but he would not listen. He probably rejoiced in the fact that God was USING him – just like many do today. Many will come to the Lord in the last day and remind Him of the time He had used them in various ministries. But the Lord will cast all of them into hellfire, because they lived in sin in their private lives (Matt.7:22,23). If we keep on rejecting God’s gentle warnings to our conscience, we too can destroy ourselves like all those preachers.

Samson finally put his head on Delilah’s lap and revealed the secret of his strength to her. She cut off his hair promptly and that was the end of his ministry. What a tragedy! A man who was such a mighty deliverer, was enslaved to his own lusts and passions. Paul says in 1Corinthians 9:27, “It is possible for me to preach to others and still be disqualified myself, if I don’t keep my body in subjection.” The Living Bible paraphrases that verse as, “making my body do what it should do, and not what it wants to do.” That means that we are to make our body eat what it should eat and not what it wants to eat; sleep as much as it should sleep, and not how much it wants to sleep. We must control our eyes so that they look only at what they should look at and not at what they want to look at. We must control our tongues so that they speak what they should speak and not what they want to speak.

If we don’t control our bodily passions, we may preach wonderful messages and yet be cast out by the Lord in the final day. So much depends on our disciplining our bodily passions. That is the message we get from the story of Samson who had a wonderful ministry that blessed so many people, but finally he himself was disqualified. So many great preachers have fallen a prey to pretty women. Don’t be impressed by the gifts that such men exercise or by the vastness of their organisations!! A leader falling into sin is a far more serious thing than an ordinary believer falling into the same. To whom more is given, from them more is required as well.

If you are not faithful in your relationship with the opposite sex, don’t dishonour God’s name by trying to be an elder or a leader. Don’t fool the people that you are a holy man of God, when you are living in sin. God will expose you publicly one day, if you continue to live like that. You may think you are clever enough to hide your sin. But you are not clever enough for God. He will expose you more than you have ever been exposed thus far.

Who Will Lead Us? by Steve Gregg

Elliott Nesch — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:26:36 +0000

Steve Gregg is host of radio and internet ministry The Narrow Path.

“Who Will Lead Us?” is part 5 and part 6 of an audio series entitled “Some Assembly Required”, a critical examination of the “Institutional Church” and an appeal for a return to a more biblical model for the Body of Christ. Visit his website for archives of past radio broadcasts, and recorded lectures (mp3 files) of topical biblical lectures and of verse-by-verse teaching through the entire Bible.

Who Will Lead Us part 1

Who Will Lead Us part 2

Early Christians on Entertainment

Elliott Nesch — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:59:57 +0000

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Then, again, at every heathen festival celebrated in honor of the idols, these men are the first to assemble; and to such a pitch do they go, that some of them do not even keep away from that bloody spectacle hateful both to God and men, in which gladiators either fight with wild beasts, or singly encounter one another.Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg. 324

We are forbidden so much as to witness shows of gladiators, lest we become partakers and abettors of murders. But neither may we see the other spectacles, lest our eyes and ears be defiled, participating in the utterances there sung. For if one should speak of cannibalism, in these spectacles the children of Thyestes and Tereus are eaten; and as for adultery, both in the case of men and of gods, whom they celebrate in elegant language for honors and prizes, this is made the subject of their dramas. But far be it from Christians to conceive any such deeds; for with them temperance dwells, self-restraint is practiced, monogamy is observed, chastity is guarded…Theophilus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.115

But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles. How, then, when we do not even look on, lest we should contract guilt and pollution, can we put people to death? Athenagorus (A.D. 137) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.147

The Instructor will not then bring us to public spectacles; nor inappropriately might one call the racecourse and the theatre “the seat of plagues;”…Let spectacles, therefore, and plays that are full of scurrility and of abundant gossip, be forbidden. For what base action is it that is not exhibited in the theatres? Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.289

Among us nothing is ever said, or seen, or heard, which has anything in common with the madness of the circus, the immodesty of the theatre, the atrocities of the arena, the useless exercises of the wrestling-ground. Why do you take offence at us because we differ from you in regard to your pleasures? If we will not partake of your enjoyments, the loss is ours, if there be loss in the case, not yours. We reject what pleases you. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 46

It is from you the exhibitors of gladiatorial shows always get their herds of criminals to feed up for the occasion. You find no Christian there, except simply as being such; or if one is there as something else, a Christian he is no longer. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg.50

Well, we never find it expressed with the same precision, “You shall not enter circus or theatre, you shall not look on combat or show;” as it is plainly laid down, “You shall not kill; you shall not worship an idol; you shall not commit adultery or fraud.” But we find that that first word of David bears an this very sort of thing: “Blessed,” he says, “is the man who has not gone into the assembly of the impious, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of scorners.” Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 80-81

Well, how shall this be made to accord with the shows? For the show always leads to spiritual agitation, since where there is pleasure, there is keenness of feeling giving pleasure its zest; and where there is keenness of feeling, there is rivalry giving in turn its zest to that. Then, too, where you have rivalry, you have rage, bitterness, wrath and grief, with all bad things which flow from them – the whole entirely out of keeping with the religion of Christ. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 86

For all licentiousness of speech, nay, every idle word, is condemned by God. Why, in the same way, is it right to look on what it is disgraceful to do? How is it that the things which defile a man in going out of his mouth, are not regarded as doing so when they go in at his eyes and ears–when eyes and ears are the immediate attendants on the spirit–and that can never be pure whose servants-in-waiting are impure? You have the theatre forbidden, then, in the forbidding of immodesty. If, again, we despise the teaching of secular literature as being foolishness in God’s eyes, our duty is plain enough in regard to those spectacles, which from this source derive the tragic or comic play. If tragedies and comedies are the bloody and wanton, the impious and licentious inventors of crimes and lusts, it is not good even that there should be any calling to remembrance the atrocious or the vile. What you reject in deed, you are not to bid welcome to in word. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg.87

We shall now see how the Scriptures condemn the amphitheatre. If we can maintain that it is right to indulge in the cruel, and the impious, and the fierce, let us go there. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg.87

So it strangely happens, that the same man who can scarcely in public lift up his tunic, even when necessity of nature presses him, takes it off in the circus, as if bent on exposing himself before everybody; the father who carefully protects and guards his virgin daughter’s ears from every polluting word, takes her to the theatre himself, exposing her to all its vile words and attitudes; he, again, who in the streets lays hands on or covers with reproaches the brawling pugilist, in the arena gives all encouragement to combats of a much more serious kind; and he who looks with horror on the corpse of one who has died under the common law of nature, in the amphitheatre gazes down with most patient eyes on bodies all mangled and torn and smeared with their own blood. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 88

Let them tell us, then, whether it is right in Christians to frequent the show. Why, the rejection of these amusements is the chief sign to them that a man has adopted the Christian faith. If any one, then, puts away the faith’s distinctive badge, he is plainly guilty of denying it. Tertullian (A.D. 198) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.3 pg. 89

Revolution of Love by George Verwer (excerpt)

Elliott Nesch — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:50:15 +0000

There is, I believe, a basic ingredient which is largely lacking in Christianity today, and the lack of it is the source of most of our problems. It is the cancer which is eating away at the church, but it is no secret. In fact, it is so non-secretive that it is written on almost every page of the New Testament. And yet, because the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, and because we are so bent on our own way, we do not see (or seeing we do not believe) that the basic message of the New Testament is LOVE!

It is my absolute conviction that most of us miss this most obvious and most repeated message, even while laying great emphasis on “sound doctrine.”

Well, I would like to ask you, “What is sound doctrine?” We have long discussions on the Second Coming, on the Atoning Work of Christ, on the Church, the Holy Spirit, etc., etc. But what about love and humility and brokenness? These usually go into a separate category, but I want to tell you that if your doctrine does not include love and humility and brokenness, then your doctrine is not sound.

There are thousands, even millions, of people who claim to be “orthodox Christians” because they cling to a certain set of beliefs in accord with the Bible. They are aware that they do not practice much humility, but they do not think that makes them any less orthodox. They are aware that they do not really love the brethren in Christ (especially those who are different from them), but that does not cause them to think their doctrine is not sound.

They admit that they know nothing of “laying down their lives ” for the brethren and esteeming the other as better than themselves, and yet they consider themselves fundamental orthodox Christians.

Oh, what an error this is! This false concept – thinking we can be orthodox without having humility, thinking we can be sound in doctrine without having love, thinking we can be fundamental evangelicals though our lives do not show forth the fruit of the Spirit – this is the greatest error that has hit Christianity even before or since the reformation!

Doctrine cannot be separated from practical living. Brethren, I do not see Jesus Christ as a dual personality, partly doctrine and partly moral, trying to bring to separate realms of truth into our minds. He was not on the one hand trying to teach us what we call doctrine, and on the other hand trying to make us morally upright. It is completely wrong to think of doctrine as being apart from living.

“Oh,” someone says, “there is a good, evangelical Christian . . . he has good sound doctrine. He does not have much love for others and he is not very humble, but he’s very sound in doctrine.” He is not sound in doctrine if he does not love the brethren. What do we read in 1 John 4:8? “He that loveth not knoweth not God.”

There is no sounder doctrine than love, and apart from love there is no sound doctrine. This is the basis of all Bible doctrine. You take the base out and everything you build will eventually collapse.

Classic Sermons of the 20th Century from Sermon Index

Elliott Nesch — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:48:56 +0000

Sermon Title	Speaker
In Everything By Prayer	A.W. Tozer
Kingdom of God is Not in Words	A.W. Tozer
Miracles that follow the plow	A.W. Tozer
Spiritual Treason	A.W. Tozer
What Is It To Accept Jesus	A.W. Tozer
Beginning Of The End	Alan Redpath
Beginning to Sink	Alan Redpath
Chosen to be Holy	Alan Redpath
Inexhaustible Resources In Christ	Alan Redpath
Lend Me Your Life	Alan Redpath
A Call to Apostolicity	Art Katz
Mark of a True Prophet	Art Katz
Martyrdom	Art Katz
Resurrection of the Dry Bones	Art Katz
Sowing and Reaping	Art Katz
Nearness of Jesus	Basilea Schlink
Pearl Of Great Price	Basilea Schlink
Repentance	Basilea Schlink
Weapons For Temptation	Basilea Schlink
Canaan On The Air	Basilea Schlink
Canadian Revival Story	Bill McLeod
Commit	Bill McLeod
Fear Of Man	Bill McLeod
Love – The Heart Of Christian Experience	Bill McLeod
Recognizing And Dealing With Occult Involvement	Bill McLeod
A Gospel of Slaughter	Carter Conlon
A Message for America and Its Cultural Religion	Carter Conlon
Beware of the Angry Watchmen	Carter Conlon
Overcoming in the Time of Fallen Towers	Carter Conlon
Reprobates and Trembling Nations	Carter Conlon
The People Used by God	Chuck Smith
Beware of Ambition	Chuck Smith
Be Filled with the Holy Spirit	Chuck Smith
False Prophets	Chuck Smith
The Ministry	Chuck Smith
Door of Repentance	Corrie Ten Boom
Effectual Fervent Prayer	Corrie Ten Boom
Gods Love	Corrie Ten Boom
How To Forgive	Corrie Ten Boom
Powerful Testimony	Corrie Ten Boom
Receiving The Holy Spirit	David Wilkerson
A Call to Anguish	David Wilkerson
A Fire In My Bones	David Wilkerson
God’s People Will Never be Ashamed in the Time of Calamity	David Wilkerson
Hell, What Is It Like?	David Wilkerson
The Incomparable Christ	Denny Kenaston
Gelassenheit Complete Surrender	Denny Kenaston
The Holy Art of Training Children	Denny Kenaston
Behold the Lamb	Denny Kenaston
Others	Denny Kenaston
Action And Obedience	Duncan Campbell
Can Two Walk Together Except They Be Agreed	Duncan Campbell
Heart preparation for revival	Duncan Campbell
Revival On The Isle Of Lewis	Duncan Campbell
Then the Fire of The Lord Fell	Duncan Campbell
A body for the Holy Spirit	Erlo Stegen
Christ in us	Erlo Stegen
Doing the will of God	Erlo Stegen
Experiencing Pentecost	Erlo Stegen
Fulfilling your calling	Erlo Stegen
Apathy	George Verwer
Balance, Not Tangents	George Verwer
How Blind Is The Church	George Verwer
Hunger for God	George Verwer
Playing At Soldiers	George Verwer
Clean Hands, Pure Heart	Gerhard Du Toit
Devotional Life	Gerhard Du Toit
Holy Spirit In The Life Of The Believer	Gerhard Du Toit
Humility VS Pride	Gerhard Du Toit
The Burden of God brings brokenness	Gerhard Du Toit
Become an inward Christian	Hans R. Waldvogel
Casting All Your Care upon Him	Hans R. Waldvogel
Christ in Me	Hans R. Waldvogel
Following Jesus: The Straight Gate	Hans R. Waldvogel
I Waited Patiently	Hans R. Waldvogel
Dr. Orr’s Testimony	J. Edwin Orr
How the Spirit Sends Revival	J. Edwin Orr
The Place of Prayer in Revival	J. Edwin Orr
The Role Of Prayer In Spiritual Awakening	J. Edwin Orr
What is Conscience	J. Edwin Orr
Cain-like or Christ-like	J. Glyn Owen
A Tree And Its Fruit	J. Glyn Owen
Authority In Praying	J. Glyn Owen
Christ Is All: Christ-Centered Life	J. Glyn Owen
Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the poor in spirit	J. Glyn Owen
Pratical Ways To Learn The Bible	J. Vernon McGee
Read the Bible	J. Vernon McGee
Spirit of God Makes It Real	J. Vernon McGee
Justification By Works	J. Vernon McGee
Revival In the Bible	J. Vernon McGee
Arrogant, Overfed, and Unconcerned	Jackie Pullinger
Dying (Bilingual)	Jackie Pullinger
God Uses Foolish Things	Jackie Pullinger
Good News To The Poor	Jackie Pullinger
Intimacy	Jackie Pullinger
A Mighty Minority	K.P. Yohannan
Called To Authentic Christianity	K.P. Yohannan
Christ’s Call	K.P. Yohannan
Dependence On God	K.P. Yohannan
His and His Alone	K.P. Yohannan
A Warning To American Christianity	Keith Daniel
Absolute Surrender	Keith Daniel
Americas Only Hope	Keith Daniel
Husbands Love Your Wifes!	Keith Daniel
My Godly Father	Keith Daniel
A Burning Heart	Leonard Ravenhill
A Three-Fold Vision	Leonard Ravenhill
Are We Longing for Repentance?	Leonard Ravenhill
Judgment Seat of Christ	Leonard Ravenhill
Choosing Rather to Suffer	Leonard Ravenhill
A Grain of Wheat	Major Ian Thomas
Available to God	Major Ian Thomas
Christ Imparts Life	Major Ian Thomas
How Much Are You Worth	Major Ian Thomas
Knowing Jesus	Major Ian Thomas
Condition of the Church of Laodicea	Manley Beasley
Examine Yourselves	Manley Beasley
Faith	Manley Beasley
Great White Throne of Judgement	Manley Beasley
Interceding for others	Manley Beasley
The Harlot Church	Milton Green
The Escaped Remnant	Milton Green
Personal Testimony	Milton Green
Spiritual Warfare_How We Are Decieved	Milton Green
Bearing Fruit For God Or The Devil	Milton Green
Can We Have a Revival?	Oswald J. Smith
Christ Lord and Master	Oswald J. Smith
The Calling of God	Oswald J. Smith
The Spirit Filled Life	Oswald J. Smith
The Supreme Task of the Church	Oswald J. Smith
Dangers of Third Generation Religion	Paris Reidhead
Except Ye Repent	Paris Reidhead
God’s New Thing	Paris Reidhead
God’s Work To Be Done God’s Way	Paris Reidhead
Ten Shekels and a Shirt	Paris Reidhead
Regeneration – Ezekiel 36	Paul Washer
We Have Forgotten that the Way is Narrow	Paul Washer
A Sermon That Has Angered Many – Examine Yourself	Paul Washer
Modern American Christianity	Paul Washer
Ten Indictments Against The Modern Church	Paul Washer
Forgiving and Being Forgiven	Roy Hession
Jesus As The Lamb	Roy Hession
Spiritual Famine	Roy Hession
The Snare of the Folwer	Roy Hession
Vine Branches	Roy Hession
Paradoxes of the Spiritual Life	Stephen Kaung
Christ And Him Crucified	Stephen Kaung
The Headship Of Christ	Stephen Kaung
How Can We Be Ready Spiritually?	Stephen Kaung
John’s Ministry of Recovery	Stephen Kaung
A Final Shaking	T. Austin-Sparks
A Pearl of Great Price	T. Austin-Sparks
Blessedness of the Unoffended	T. Austin-Sparks
God’s Standard of Values	T. Austin-Sparks
Oil for the Light	T. Austin-Sparks
Be Alert For The Lord’s Return	Zac Poonen
Driving out the money changers	Zac Poonen
Eight Ways Of Deceiving Ourselves	Zac Poonen
Freedom From This World System	Zac Poonen
Only One Life Will Soon Be Past	Zac Poonen

These sermons are provided in part by the Ministry of SermonIndex.net
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Planned Parenthood’s abortion prayer

Elliott Nesch — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:27:46 +0000

By Jordan Sekulow and Matthew Clark

Pro-life advocates have long complained that Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider, worships at the altar of abortion, but did you know that the abortion industry actually prays for abortion?

Perversely reminiscent of 40 day pro-life prayer vigils, Planned Parenthood is promoting it’s own “40 days of prayer,” March 18th through April 27th, for abortion. This is not their usually disguised promotion of abortion as “preventative care,” “family planning,” or “contraceptive services.” No, they throw those typical euphemisms out and directly pray for abortion

A prayer guide found on PlannedParenthood.org ,40 Days of Prayer Supporting Women Everywhere , encourages pro-abortion supporters to offer prayers of “thanks for abortion providers” and the “sacred care” they provide.

Each day, Planned Parenthood suggests a prayer, for example:

· “We give thanks for the doctors who provide quality abortion care.”

· We pray for a cloud of gentleness to surround every abortion facility.”

· We pray for all the staff at abortion clinics around the nation. May they be daily confirmed in the sacred care that they offer women.”

Some of the prayers, like those above, are for the abortionists. Others are for all “women to access . . . abortion,” and one is to “give thanks and celebrate that abortion is still safe and legal.”

Still other prayers are against pro-life advocates. They pray that women on the way to have an abortion would be “shielded” from the lifesaving message of pro-life sidewalk counselors and “give thanks for abortion escorts who guide women safely through the hostile gauntlets of protesters.” In another, “we pray for women who have been made afraid of their own power [of choice, i.e. abortion] by their religion. May they learn to reject fear and live bravely.”

Read entire article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/religious-right-now/post/planned-parenthoods-abortion-prayer/2012/04/18/gIQABL46RT_blog.html

HBP Note:

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Proverbs 15:8).

“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).

True Christianity by Leonard Ravenhill

Elliott Nesch — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:02:55 +0000

A Closer Look: The Historical Reliability of the New Testament by Craig Blomberg

Ethan Nesch — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:53:24 +0000

The New Testament (NT) contains four biographies of Jesus (the Gospels), one history book of the early church (Acts), twenty-one letters (Romans to Jude), and an apocalypse (Revelation). While the letters and the apocalypse contain references to historical events, the Gospels and Acts are written as straightforward historical narratives. These are the NT books about which it makes particularly good sense to ask the question, “Are they historically reliable?” Twelve lines of evidence converge to suggest strongly that the answer is “yes.”

First, we have over 5,700 Greek manuscripts representing all, or part, of the NT. By examining these manuscripts, over 99 percent of the original text can be reconstructed beyond reasonable doubt. We also discover that no Christian doctrine or ethic depends solely on one of the doubted texts. These facts do not prove that the NT is true, but it does mean we know what the original writers wrote. Without this assurance, the question of historical reliability is pointless.

Second, the authors of the Gospels and Acts were in an excellent position to report reliable information. Matthew and John were among the twelve disciples Jesus Himself chose; Mark was a close companion of Peter and Luke (who also wrote Acts) and traveled extensively with Paul. Even critical scholars who doubt the traditional attributions of authorship agree that these five books were written by followers of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which still puts them in a good place to tell the stories accurately.

Third, these five books were almost certainly written in the first century, within sixty to seventy years of Jesus’ death (most likely in a.d. 30). Conservatives typically date Matthew, Mark, and Luke-Acts to the 60s and John to the 80s or 90s. Liberals suggest slightly later dates, typically placing Mark in the 60s or 70s, Matthew and Luke-Acts in the 80s, and John in the 90s. Even if one accepts the later dates, the amount of time separating the historical events and the composition of the five books is very short as compared to most ancient historical and biographical accounts, where many centuries could intervene between events and the books that narrated them.

Fourth, ancient Jews and Greeks meticulously cultivated the art of memorization, committing complex oral traditions to memory. Even before the Gospels or any other written sources about Jesus were compiled, Jesus’ followers were carefully passing on accounts of His teachings and mighty works by word of mouth. This kept the historical events alive until the time they were written down.

Fifth, the ancient memorization and transference of sacred tradition allowed for some freedoms in retelling the stories. Guardians of the tradition could abbreviate, paraphrase, prioritize, and provide commentary on the subject matter as long as they were true to the gist or meaning of the accounts they passed on. This goes a long way to explaining both the similarities and the differences among the four Gospels. All four authors were true to the gist of Jesus’ life, yet they exercised reasonable freedom to shape the accounts in ways they saw fit.

Sixth, the fact that these writers had distinct ideological or theological emphases does not mean they distorted history, as is often alleged. Oftentimes the very cause that a historian or biographer supports requires them to write their accounts accurately, for they know that their cause will be undermined if they are charged with bias or distortion. The first Christians had the uphill battle of promoting a crucified Messiah and His bodily resurrection. Had they been known to have falsified the details of their accounts to any significant degree, their movement would have been squelched from the outset.

Seventh, Luke’s prologue (Lk 1:1-4) closely parallels the form and content of other works of generally reliable historians and biographers of antiquity, most notably Josephus, Herodotus, and Thucydides. The Gospel writers clearly believed that they were writing historically accurate works, not fiction or embellished history.

Eighth, the so-called hard sayings of Jesus support their authenticity. If the Gospel writers felt free to distort what Jesus originally said in order to increase the attractiveness of Christianity, why would they preserve unmodified His difficult and easily misunderstood teachings about hating family members (Lk 14:26) or not knowing when He would return (Mk 13:32)? The fact that they let these teachings stand indicates their faithfulness to recount true history.

Ninth, the fact that the NT does not record Jesus speaking about many of the topics that arose after His earthly life, during the time of the early church, supports its historical accuracy. For instance, early Christians were divided over how or whether the laws of Moses applied to Gentile converts (Ac 15). The easiest way to settle the controversy would be to cite Jesus’ teachings on the matter, but the Gospels record no such teachings. This silence suggests that the Gospel writers did not feel free to play fast and loose with history by putting on the lips of Jesus teachings that could solve early church controversies.

Tenth, the testimony of non-Christian writers supports the details of the Gospels and Acts. About a dozen ancient Jewish, Greek, and Roman writers mention Jesus. Taken together, their writings attest to the basic contours of Jesus’ life. Many names of people and places, as well as the exploits of first-century political and religious leaders, are attested in other writings of the day.

Eleventh, archaeology regularly confirms details about geography, topography, customs, artifacts, buildings, tombs, inscriptions, and graffiti that are mentioned in NT–the Gospels and Acts in particular.

Twelfth, the portions of the NT that were written before the completion of the Gospels and Acts confirm the historicity of these five books. For instance, Paul, James, and Peter show multiple signs of quoting or alluding to teachings and actions of Jesus in letters they wrote before the Gospels were written. Their quotes and allusions agree with what we find in the Gospels. This indicates that the Gospels are in tune with the very earliest writings about Jesus–the NT epistles. These earliest writings were in turn dependent on the authoritative oral traditions that were passed on by eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life. Paul expresses this in 1Co 15:3-8, where he lists the beliefs he had “received” from these eyewitnesses when he became a Christian no more than two years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. These are no late, slowly developing legends he is reporting!