The Bedrock of Christianity by Justin W. Bass has recently been published by Lexham Press. Bass is a professor of New Testament at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary in Amman, Jordan. He is also known for debating Bart Ehrman, Richard Carrier, and others.
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The Bedrock of Christianity
The subtitle of this book is The Unalterable Facts of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. That’s exactly what Bass provides in this book.
He provides a really neat graphic in his introduction that shows how scholars from different backgrounds and beliefs actually agree on bedrock facts concerning Jesus Christ. This is very extraordinary! Clearly it doesn’t lead them to the same conclusions, as they are interpreting those bedrock facts very differently, but it is astounding that they can agree on the facts that Bass is providing in this book.
Bass gives the reader an excellent understanding of how to rightly handle historical data. He interacts with non Christians (a whole lot with agnostic Bart Ehrman) and shows how historians with varying backgrounds agree on how to approach history. All historians are looking for reliable sources!
The Historian’s Wish List
Bass, as he interacts with Ehrman, mentions that every historian desires four distinct items that can be called the historian’s wish list:
- early dating;
- eyewitnesses;
- corroboration; and
- unbiased sources.
Most of world history cannot supply those four items, and yet we often assume that what we have been taught is reliable and certain. Bass goes on to supply all of those four items in his time traveling to show how reliable Christainity is.
My Honest Opinion of The Bedrock of Christianity
I was very impressed with Bass’s knowledge of history (he appeals to Scripture as historical documentation as well as extra-biblical literature). I also appreciated his interaction with non Christians and his charitable tone toward them.
Bass looks at the Apostle Paul, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the appearances of Jesus to others. In Bass’s conclusion, when the bedrock facts that are laid out in this book are considered (and again, these facts are believed upon by non Christians), then Bass concludes this: “I am absolutely convinced the best explanation of these bedrock facts is that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead and began appearing to his followers with ‘many convincing proofs’ and he was alive and Lord of the world.”
That should leave you wanting to know what these bedrock facts are. And with that, I will highly recommend that you read the book to find out what they are.
Tolle lege, take up and read!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Lexham Press for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Other Book Reviews by Lexham Press:
- The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart
- In Season and Out: Sermons for the Christian Year
- Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans
- Ever in Thy Sight: 31 Devotions on the Psalms
- Journeys of the Apostle Paul
- Introduction to the New Testament
- Who God Is: Meditations on the Character of Our God
- The Lexham English Septuagint
- Demons: What the Bible Really Says about the Powers of Darkness
Reviews of Commentaries by Lexham Press:
Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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