Can We Trust the Gospels?

Recently I have been reading a lot on bibliology, it has been a steady and refreshing diet. The guys whom I have been reading tend to be guys who think and articulate things like I would, or at least how I try to. So when I picked up a book from Mark Roberts, a professor at Fuller Seminary I figured that I was meandering a bit out of my familiar neighborhood.

Mark Roberts is the senior pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church and he blogs at www.markdroberts.com. This book is a ‘blook’ that is, it is a series of articles that appeared on his blog and were of such a quality that Crossway approached him about publishing the series as a book.

Roberts received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard and this book is written from the perspective of a guy who was reared in this system. However, there is a substantial difference, Roberts is actually arguing for the veracity of Scripture!

From the beginning Roberts lets us know that he is writing the book to himself or a guy like himself from 30 years ago. For some reason I did not make the connection that this guy, to whom the book was written, was not me (perhaps a little insight as to why I have walked through Harvard Square countless times but never been invited in for a class). As a result of this my presuppositional apologetical antennae were on high alert from the outset. Roberts continued to demonstrate the historical and literary veracticy of the Scriptures through logic, consistency, and historical standards. I just wanted him to pitch his tent in 2 Timothy 3.16-17 and go for it. I was reminded at the conclusion of the book that, while he agrees with me on these things, he was not going to do this in this book, for the scope of it was to interact with the Harvard-type guy in a readable, respectable, and consistent way.

So from this perspective it is a great book. As I sat in a Starbucks swigging down my Venti Red-Eye I came to enjoy the work and care that Roberts put into this book.

For example, his tone is apologetic in anticipating many of the common objections levied at the Gospels. He writes the following chapters:

Can We Know What the Original Gospel Manuscripts Really Said?

Did the Evangelists Know Jesus Personally?

What Sources did the Gospel Writers Use?

Are There Contradictions in the Gospels?

Do Miracles Undermine the Reliability of the Gospels?

Overall, as I mentioned, I did enjoy this book and I think Roberts did a good job. I actually have a couple of people in mind that I may send a copy for Christmas.

Westminster Bookstore has copies on sale if you are interested.

Possibly Related posts:

1. Book Review- The Truth War
2. Book Review: The Faithful Preacher
3. For Us and For Our Salvation
4. Book Review-A Tale of Two Sons
5. The Battle Belongs to the Lord

One Response to “Can We Trust the Gospels?”

1. Cheryl Hagedorn says:

   November 21, 2007 at 10:02 am

   Thanks to your post I was able to add another blook to my blog about blooks (I mentioned you!). I realize that you were reading Roberts’ blook for a specific reason but wondered if you knew that Gordon Atkinson had also written a blook - RealLivePreacher.com.