Risen Jesus: Recent Episodes

Mike Licona

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies.

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This episode examines the Gospel of Thomas, discovered in full in 1945, through an interview with Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Elaine Pagels. Pagels, dating this work to the 80s or 90s AD, sees this text as a companion piece to be read alongside the three synoptics, which reveal secret teachings of Jesus shared only with his disciples, as referenced in Mark 4. She calls it a “missing link” in the formation of the gospel tradition. Licona disagrees, arguing that the Gospel of Thomas, which he dates to the early 2nd century AD, was excluded by the early church as an authoritative writing. It does not reflect Jesus’ teachings as revealed in the canonical gospels, discusses the resurrection through a pagan lens, and in some places contradicts Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

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Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John write the gospels that bear their names? The texts themselves do not name them as the authors and were published and circulated anonymously. In fact, the earliest record of names being associated with the gospel books comes from Irenaeus in 185 AD, over 100 years after Jesus lived. Dr. Bart Ehrman contends that we do not know who wrote these texts and that the names attributed to them must certainly be false, given that the uneducated, Aramaic-speaking, rural disciples would not have the rigorous education required to produce such Greek literary works. Michael Licona disagrees, taking on Ehrman’s contentions and providing a positive case for the traditional authorship of the gospels in this episode of the Risen Jesus Podcast.

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Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John write the gospels that bear their names? The texts themselves do not name them as the authors and were published and circulated anonymously. In fact, the earliest record of names being associated with the gospel books comes from Irenaeus in 185 AD, over 100 years after Jesus lived. Dr. Bart Ehrman contends that we do not know who wrote these texts and that the names attributed to them must certainly be false, given that the uneducated, Aramaic-speaking, rural disciples would not have the rigorous education required to produce such Greek literary works. Michael Licona disagrees, taking on Ehrman’s contentions and providing a positive case for the traditional authorship of the gospels in this episode of the Risen Jesus Podcast.

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This episode is taken from the Unbelievable podcast with Justin Brierly in 2011 when Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Michael Licona address the question: Is there good biblical evidence for the resurrection? Dr. Licona’s answer is yes, and he begins the defense of this conclusion by referring to three minimal facts that he says virtually all scholars agree upon: 1) that Jesus died by crucifixion, 2) that after this, his followers had experiences, both individually and in groups, that they believed were appearances of the risen Christ, and 3) that Paul, while he was an enemy of the church, had a similar experience which radically changed his life leading him to become one of the foremost proponents of Christianity. Dr. Ehrman immediately takes issue with this, contending that one is irrelevant and that 2 and 3 make the same point. Ehrman questions whether most scholars agree that there were group experiences, whether oral tradition is reliable, and whether the gospels are reliable due to their differences, especially in the resurrection accounts. Furthermore, he denies that historiographic research methods can be applied to miracles. Licona responds to these issues, and the episode wraps up with the two in a standoff over Ehrman’s statement that the resurrection is not a matter of history but faith.

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In this episode, Dr. Stephen Patterson, New Testament professor at Eden Theological Seminary, argues against the bodily resurrection of Jesus, contending that the earliest Christian witness doesn’t presume anything happened to Jesus’ body after his death but that by God’s power, Jesus’ spirit lived on in his followers. In keeping with the conceptualization of resurrection in ancient Judaism, the point of the resurrection narrative was to proclaim the vindication of God’s righteous servant against his enemies, not to declare a physical reality.  In his writings, Patterson claims that Paul had a spiritual resurrection of Jesus in mind and that Mark mentioned an empty tomb but never a physically resurrected Christ. Instead, the later gospel writers added this into their texts, fleshing out the story in line with their worldview, which at that time believed a physical body could rise into the sky, where God lived, to be with him. Dr. Patterson concluded his argument by stating that the ancient statements on Jesus’ bodily resurrection do not comfortably fit our current worldview. However, that is alright because all that Christians must believe in are Jesus’ teachings. Dr. Licona, who began the session with a positive argument for the bodily resurrection based on historical facts and methods, counters Patterson’s claims, citing translation issues and specifics from Paul’s text that refute his opponent’s assertions.

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This episode is a 2016 debate held at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Shabir Ally, president of the Islamic Information and Dawah Centre International in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Licona presents a case for Jesus’ death by crucifixion and his resurrection, contending that there exists substantial evidence for this but that Islam offers none to the contrary. Dr. Ally argues that Jesus was taken off the cross before he died, placed in the tomb, and then assumed into heaven before he died. Ally bases this on his belief that the gospel’s resurrection narratives show evolution and legendary development, such that the later the gospel was written, the stronger its claims that Jesus died became. He also asserts that the Q source document used by Matthew and Luke and the pre-Markan source used by Mark show that some in the early Christian community believed that Jesus was taken straight into heaven, alive, from the tomb, much as Enoch was.

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This episode is a discussion between Dr. Mike Licona and then PhD candidate Laura Robinson on the Capturing Christianity podcast. While both scholars are Christians who claim belief in the resurrection of Jesus, they differ in what they believe can historically be shown about it. Robinson questions the wisdom and validity of applying the historical perspective to this topic as she contends that our evidence is not as strong as Christians claim. Rather than focusing on what happened, this scholar promotes a theological account of the resurrection, interpreting the resurrection narratives after the fact. Licona disagrees, stating that their discussion comes down to the differing approaches of historians and theologians.

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On the Risen Jesus podcast today, Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman join Justin Brierly on his Unbelievable podcast to discuss their faith journeys. Both men experienced crises of faith when their scholarly studies led them to question the inerrancy of the Bible. Though not the cause for his abandonment of the Christian faith, Ehrman says this was the first step in a domino effect that ended in his disbelief in Christ and the Christian God. Licona, on the other hand, has retained in Christ, the Christian God, and the inerrancy of the Bible. How did they reach these different conclusions?

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Dr. Matthew McCormick, a philosophy professor at California State University, Sacramento, doesn’t believe that there is satisfactory historical evidence to support the idea that Jesus rose from the dead. This is because humans have a high error rate when making claims about the supernatural. Therefore, those who reported Jesus’ post-death appearances were likely wrong. Furthermore, if an all-powerful God wanted people to believe this claim, why didn’t he provide more substantial evidence for us? Why didn’t he do better? In a 2016 debate at Sacramento State University, Dr. Michael Licona faces these contentions from McCormick, arguing that evidence strongly supports theism over atheism and that the existing historical data suggests that Jesus did rise from the death. Which case do you think is better?

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In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018 at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Licona begins by defining historical reliability as related to the gospels, stating that the gospels, ancient biographies, got things right when focusing on the larger biographical narrative of Jesus. The specifics of the various stories may differ between books, but that is due to the literary conventions of the genre at that time. Licona then lists six criteria for historical reliability, including:
1. the author’s intent to be accurate, 2. a good choice of sources, 3. a good use of sources, 4. the author and sources being capable of accurate reporting, 5. numerous details being verifiable 6. a small percentage of more information being known to be false.

Dr. Ehrman’s contention is summed up in his claim that he doesn’t think the gospels are accurate in many of the things they state regarding Jesus. He then focuses on examples that he concludes are contradictions and mistakes in the gospels' birth, ministry, and death and resurrection narratives.

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In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018 at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Licona begins by defining historical reliability as related to the gospels, stating that the gospels, ancient biographies, got things right when focusing on the larger biographical narrative of Jesus. The specifics of the various stories may differ between books, but that is due to the literary conventions of the genre at that time. Licona then lists six criteria for historical reliability, including:
1. the author’s intent to be accurate, 2. a good choice of sources, 3. a good use of sources, 4. the author and sources being capable of accurate reporting, 5. numerous details being verifiable 6. a small percentage of more information being known to be false.

Dr. Ehrman’s contention is summed up in his claim that he doesn’t think the gospels are accurate in many of the things they state regarding Jesus. He then focuses on examples that he concludes are contradictions and mistakes in the gospels' birth, ministry, and death and resurrection narratives.

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Dr. Shane Pucket was ranked the 32nd best debater in the world in 2012. That year, he faced off against Dr. Michael Licona at Monroe Baptist Church in Louisianna on whether Jesus rose from the dead. Licona argued the affirmative case using the historical method to examine facts derived from the writings of Paul, especially 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. Dr. Pucket’s negative case centered on the gospels, the unreliability of oral tradition, upon which the gospels are based, and the existence of other Jesus-like figures in the world with similar life details such as virgin birth and rising from the dead. In the back and forth after the scholars presented their original cases, Dr. Licona pointed out the red-herring nature of Pucket’s use of the gospels and took his claims regarding oral tradition and other Jesus-like figures head-on. As the debate continued, it appeared that underlying Pucket’s objections to the historicity of the resurrection were philosophical commitments that miracles cannot happen and that theology is the realm of the supernatural and, therefore, cannot be studied by disciplines like history, mathematics, and science which deal with the physical world.

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In 2004, Islamic scholar Dr. Shabir Ally and Dr. Mike Licona met at Regent University to debate the physical resurrection of Jesus. Both cases, a lively Q&A between the scholars and an audience Q&A make up this week’s episode. Dr. Licona presents a positive case for Jesus’ resurrection based on three nearly universally agreed-upon facts about Jesus’ death and resurrection taken from the earliest historical sources. Dr. Ally presents the negative, citing Muslim beliefs about God’s forgiveness and the testimony of the Quran on Jesus’ crucifixion, as well as varying gospel testimony, which he believes changed over time to support the idea that Jesus died on the cross and was later bodily raised. Ally claims that, like Mel Gibson, the producer of the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, the gospel writers looked at what they thought the Old Testament writings said would happen to Jesus and then wrote what they thought should have occurred based upon this. Licona, conceding gospel difficulties for the sake of the discussion only, returns to his earlier evidence, which Ally fails to address. Dr. Licona remarks that they are fighting on two different hills and tensions rise over the presentation of source evidence.

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In 2004, Islamic scholar Dr. Shabir Ally and Dr. Mike Licona met at Regent University to debate the physical resurrection of Jesus. Both cases, a lively Q&A between the scholars and an audience Q&A make up this week’s episode. Dr. Licona presents a positive case for Jesus’ resurrection based on three nearly universally agreed-upon facts about Jesus’ death and resurrection taken from the earliest historical sources. Dr. Ally presents the negative, citing Muslim beliefs about God’s forgiveness and the testimony of the Quran on Jesus’ crucifixion, as well as varying gospel testimony, which he believes changed over time to support the idea that Jesus died on the cross and was later bodily raised. Ally claims that, like Mel Gibson, the producer of the movie The Last Temptation of Christ, the gospel writers looked at what they thought the Old Testament writings said would happen to Jesus and then wrote what they thought should have occurred based upon this. Licona, conceding gospel difficulties for the sake of the discussion only, returns to his earlier evidence, which Ally fails to address. Dr. Licona remarks that they are fighting on two different hills and tensions rise over the presentation of source evidence.

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This episode is a 2006 debate between Dr. Michael Licona and Steve Yothment, the president of the Atlanta Freethought Society, on whether man created God. Yothment takes the positive side. He proposes that ancient gods like Thor are myths and that every religion claims their gods to be the real ones and the others false. This then clearly means some of these gods, if not all, have been invented by humans. He also focuses on Christianity, disputing the Bible as the infallible word of God. Citing scientific evidence that appears to contradict Genesis' report of the age of man and the fact that humans suffer despite Scripture's numerous claims that God protects and provides for his people, Yothment concludes that the Bible is the word of man and that God it conveys is a creation of its writers. Dr. Licona argues the opposite based on the contention that there is good evidence for the existence of God, both scientific and historical and that his opponent's arguments are invalid and easily refuted.

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The following episode is a debate from 2012 at Antioch Church in Temecula, California, between Dr. Licona and philosophy professor Dr. R. Greg Cavin on whether Jesus rose from the dead. Licona presents a historical case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus based on a set of almost universally agreed-upon facts and the methodology by which historians determine which explanation for an event is the most likely. Dr. Cavin finds Licona's arguments weak and contends that the Resurrection hypothesis fails to provide the explanatory scope, explanatory power, avoidance of ad hoc, and plausibility necessary to be the best hypothesis for the events reported to have occurred surrounding Jesus' death. Dr. Licona's response is to refute all these points directly. The back and forth continues as Cavin calls Dr. Licona's hypothesis "indefinite" and states that it fails to explain what the risen Jesus is, atoms or something else, and how he could be seen, touched, and heard as the gospels report. He later invokes statistical mechanics and the Postulate of Equal A Priori Probabilities to further his argument.

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The following episode is a debate from 2012 at Antioch Church in Temecula, California, between Dr. Licona and philosophy professor Dr. R. Greg Cavin on whether Jesus rose from the dead. Licona presents a historical case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus based on a set of almost universally agreed-upon facts and the methodology by which historians determine which explanation for an event is the most likely. Dr. Cavin finds Licona's arguments weak and contends that the Resurrection hypothesis fails to provide the explanatory scope, explanatory power, avoidance of ad hoc, and plausibility necessary to be the best hypothesis for the events reported to have occurred surrounding Jesus' death. Dr. Licona's response is to refute all these points directly. The back and forth continues as Cavin calls Dr. Licona's hypothesis "indefinite" and states that it fails to explain what the risen Jesus is, atoms or something else, and how he could be seen, touched, and heard as the gospels report. He later invokes statistical mechanics and the Postulate of Equal A Priori Probabilities to further his argument.

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In this episode , we have Dr. Mike Licona's first-ever debate. In 2003, Licona sparred with Dan Barker at the University of Wisonsin-Madison. Once a Christian evangelist and missionary, Barker declares that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and then asserts that there is not even ordinary evidence for the bodily resurrection. The former believer claims there was no eyewitness testimony to the resurrection or any 1st-century corroboration. Furthermore, Peter's testimony can't be trusted because he was a liar, and the gospels were written anonymously and, therefore, cannot be verified. Instead, Barker states that the disciples believed the resurrection was spiritual, and the belief that it was physical resulted from a pattern of legendary growth in the New Testament writings. Licona refutes these claims and provides his positive case for the historicity of the bodily resurrection based on a minimal facts argument drawn from the work of resurrection expert Dr. Gary Habermas.

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In this episode, we have Dr. Mike Licona's first-ever debate. In 2003, Licona sparred with Dan Barker at the University of Wisonsin-Madison. Once a Christian evangelist and missionary, Barker declares that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and then asserts that there is not even ordinary evidence for the bodily resurrection. The former believer claims there was no eyewitness testimony to the resurrection or any 1st-century corroboration. Furthermore, Peter's testimony can't be trusted because he was a liar, and the gospels were written anonymously and, therefore, cannot be verified. Instead, Barker states that the disciples believed the resurrection was spiritual, and the belief that it was physical resulted from a pattern of legendary growth in the New Testament writings. Licona refutes these claims and provides his positive case for the historicity of the bodily resurrection based on a minimal facts argument drawn from the work of resurrection expert Dr. Gary Habermas.

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In this episode, we have a 2005 appearance of Dr. Mike Licona on the Ron Isana Show, where he defends the historicity of the bodily resurrection of Jesus against Princeton professor Dr. Elaine Pagels' contention that not all early Christians believed Jesus was physically raised from the dead. Stating that spiritual experiences can be real, Pagels asserts that the gospels contain different versions of Jesus' appearances. It wasn't until the late 2nd century AD that the idea of a physical resurrection became the dominant understanding. A self-proclaimed Christian, Pagels agrees that all Christians believed that the resurrection was important, but they had different ideas about what was meant by resurrection. Along witht he dialogue between the two scholars, the show host and viewers weight in with their thoughts.

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In today’s episode, Dr. Mike Licona debates Dr. Pieter Craffert at the University of Johannesburg. While Dr. Licona provides a positive case for the bodily resurrection of Jesus based on facts and historical method, Dr. Craffert proposes that the reports of the risen Jesus recorded in the New Testament are best explained as experiences of altered states of consciousness by those who claimed to see, touch, speak, and eat with the Messiah. Craffert calls this a case of consensual reality, meaning that these experiences were “real” for those involved, but a physical Jesus did not exist in them. Instead, cultural acceptance of such visions and the previous knowledge, emotions, and beliefs about the resurrection of those reporting these experiences led to their conclusion that they were real. The episode wraps with Dr. Licona challenging Craffert’s theory.

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Today is the final episode in our four-part series covering the 2014 debate between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Evan Fales. In this hour-long episode, Licona spends 15 minutes responding to Fales's presentation from part three, addressing the claims that miracles are metaphysically impossible and arguing that Hume’s criteria for miracle testimony are too strict. Following this segment, the two professors spend 45 minutes answering audience questions.

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In this episode, we hear from Dr. Evan Fales as he presents his case against the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection and responds to Dr. Licona’s writings. This is the third segment of the four-part debate between the two scholars at the  University of St. Thomas in 2014. Dr. Fales does not take the miracle stories of Jesus as historical events; instead, he contends they are figurative and can be understood using the anthropology of religion. Fales claims these stories were written to provide solutions to the existential crises confronting the world of the Roman Empire and gives examples through his interpretations of the stories of Barabbas’ release and Jesus' three days in the grave.

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The following episode is part two of the debate between atheist philosopher Dr. Evan Fales and Dr. Mike Licona in 2014 at the University of St. Thoman in St. Paul, Minnesota. In the first 30 minutes, Dr. Licona provides his positive case for the resurrection and then evaluates it alongside Dr. Fales’ hypothesis that Jesus did not rise from the dead but instead, the stories of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus recorded in the gospels are myths designed by the authors to provide both the Romans and Jews with solutions to their political problems. He finishes the session with a 30-minute audience Q&A.

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In this episode, we join a 2014 debate between Dr. Mike Licona and atheist philosopher Dr. Evan Fales on whether Jesus rose from the dead. In this first segment of the four-part debate, Dr. Licona answers the question, “Can historians investigate miracle claims?” He gives a resounding “yes” as he defines miracles, discusses how to identify them, provides examples, and addresses objections to miracles. After delivering an approximately 30-minute presentation, Dr. Licona finishes this session by taking audience questions.

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In today’s episode, we have a Religion Soup dialogue from Acadia Divinity College between Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Dale Martin on whether Jesus physically rose from the dead. Dr. Licona presents a positive historical case for physical resurrection based on the following five historical facts:1. Paul was an eyewitness to the risen Jesus. 2. Paul knew the apostles personally. 3. Paul checked with Peter and other apostles to verify that he was preaching their gospel. 4. Both individuals and groups reported experiences that they believed were encounters with the risen Jesus. 5. These encounters were of a physical Jesus.

Dr. Martin argues against this, asserting that the resurrection cannot be historically established. He cites the vast differences among the recorded appearance accounts and that the tomb of Jesus did not become a place of veneration for the early Christians. Martin contends the resurrection involved a “pneumatic” body and cites scripture frequently recounting people not recognizing Jesus when he appeared to them as support for this view.

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In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Dale Martin discuss their differing views of Jesus’ claim of divinity. Licona proposes that “it is more probable than not that Jesus claimed to be God in some sense.” He bases this on the fact that the earliest Christians, those most plausibly connected to the apostles, held this view and that the best explanation is that Jesus said so himself. Licona cites passages equating Jesus with God and Jesus using “Son of Man,  divine and co-equal with God, as his preferred way to refer to himself.  Dr. Martin concedes that Jesus may have claimed divinity in some sense but not as orthodox Christians conceive. Instead, references to him as the “Son of Man” are claims to messiahship in a human or angelic sense, subordinate to God the Father. Martin claims that the orthodox Christian belief in Jesus’ divinity arose after his death in the second and third centuries, for if this had been taught by Jesus directly, the New Testament would not contain such a messy assortment of ideas about if, in what sense, and when Jesus became divine.

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In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off for the second time on whether historians can prove the resurrection. Dr. Ehrman says no. Given that 1.) historians work to establish what most probably happened in the past and that 2.) miracles are, by definition, the least probable occurrence of an event, historical proof is impossible since the least probable occurrence of an event cannot also be, at the same time, the most probable. Dr. Licona disagrees, answers Ehrman, and makes his case for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.

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In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Lawrence Shapiro debate the justifiability of believing Jesus was raised from the dead. Dr. Shapiro appeals to Bayes' Theorem and the unverifiability of the alternative hypotheses for the post-death appearances to argue against justifiability. Dr. Licona retorts that Bayes’ Theorem, which states that the less likely something is to happen, the stronger the evidence for it must be to convince us of its truth, is primarily inapplicable in historical studies since it requires that the probabilities for an event’s prior occurrence to be known. He also disputes Shapiro’s claims that the alternative hypotheses are as adequate as the resurrection hypothesis.

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In this episode of the Risen Jesus podcast, we join Dr. Licona at Ohio State University for his 2017 resurrection debate with philosopher Dr. Lawrence Shapiro. Dr. Licona argues that believing that Jesus rose from the dead is justifiable and that Dr. Shapiro’s arguments to the contrary fail as they present a flawed view of the gospels, do not consider evidence from New Testament scholarship, and neglect the most substantial proof available, Paul’s writings. Dr. Shapiro disagrees that the details of the New Testament are essential to this question, asserting that the postulation that Jesus came back to life is no better an explanation for the reports of his post-death appearances than any other hypothesis. Furthermore, he states that even if we grant these appearances occurred, the various theories are not independently verifiable, so we have no justification for believing one over the others.

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Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Willian Lane Craig contend that the texts about Jesus’ resurrection were written to teach a physical, historical resurrection because when understood in their first-century Jewish Palestinian context, there is no other way the writers would have conceived of them. Dr. Spangenberg and Dr. Wolmarans disagree, arguing that they are later developed stories and myths taken as fact. This episode of the Risen Jesus podcast features a 2010 debate between the four scholars on this important topic.

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Muslim professor Dr. Ali Ataie, a scholar of biblical hermeneutics, asserts that before the formation of the biblical canon, Christians did not believe that Jesus was killed. He argues that this claim was not, as held by some, originally a Muslim idea found in the Quran. In this episode, he debates Dr. Michael Licona, who refutes Ataie’s claim while contending that four solid historical facts provide sufficient evidence for Jesus’ death by crucifixion and later resurrection.

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Is it reasonable to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Dr. Michael Licona claims that if Jesus didn’t, he is a false prophet, and no rational person should follow him. In this episode, Licona argues a case for the resurrection using the historical method and based on five facts gleaned from Paul’s writings. Former Christian minister, now agnostic philosopher and writer Dr. Abel Pienaar disagrees, citing biblical discrepancies, a pre-scientific worldview, the lack of hard evidence, and parallel stories of ancient gods and heroes coming back to life, as indicating that the resurrection of Jesus is a myth. Listen to the two scholars debate this critical topic in this episode of the Risen Jesus Podcast.

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In this episode, Dr. Licona provides a positive case for the resurrection of Jesus at the 2017 [UN]Apologetic Conference in Austin, Texas. He bases his argument on contentions that 1) empirical data strongly suggests that reality has a supernatural dimension and 2) that historical data strongly suggests that Jesus rose from the dead. Mr. Dillahunty, an atheist activist and former Christian, disagrees, positing that there is not sufficient evidence for this conclusion. Instead, those who believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection are committing the fallacious argument from personal incredulity. This means they take on this belief because they can’t find a better explanation for the historical evidence. Licona responds that Dillahunty is steeped in methodological naturalism, and the debate continues.

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In this episode, Dr. Licona provides a positive case for the resurrection of Jesus at the 2017 [UN]Apologetic Conference in Austin, Texas. He bases his argument on contentions that 1) empirical data strongly suggests that reality has a supernatural dimension and 2) that historical data strongly suggests that Jesus rose from the dead. Mr. Dillahunty, an atheist activist and former Christian, disagrees, positing that there is not sufficient evidence for this conclusion. Instead, those who believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection are committing the fallacious argument from personal incredulity. This means they take on this belief because they can’t find a better explanation for the historical evidence. Licona responds that Dillahunty is steeped in methodological naturalism, and the debate continues.

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In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that are strongly evidenced and acknowledged by the majority of scholars: 1) Jesus’ death by crucifixion, 2) the empty tomb, and 3) the experiences of Jesus’ disciples and his enemy Saul that they believed were appearances of the risen Jesus. Carrier contends that the earliest Christians only held that Jesus’ soul was exalted and that the idea of a bodily resurrection, and the gospel testimony in favor of this, came later through Paul. Who makes the stronger case?

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In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that are strongly evidenced and acknowledged by the majority of scholars: 1) Jesus’ death by crucifixion, 2) the empty tomb, and 3) the experiences of Jesus’ disciples and his enemy Saul that they believed were appearances of the risen Jesus. Carrier contends that the earliest Christians only held that Jesus’ soul was exalted and that the idea of a bodily resurrection, and the gospel testimony in favor of this, came later through Paul. Who makes the stronger case?

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In this lecture at Texas A&M University, Dr. Licona discusses whether we can rationally believe in the resurrection of Jesus. He then engages with a panel of prominent students who ask tough questions about the resurrection.

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According to Dr. Richard Carrier, Christianity arose among individuals who, due to their schizotypal personalities, believed that their hallucinations of a risen Jesus were reality. In his view, this naturalistic explanation accounts well for the resurrection claims and is like the reported mass hallucinations in cults led by charismatic leaders. In a 2010 debate at Washburn University, Dr. Michael Licona challenged these assertions and presented a case for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.

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According to Dr. Richard Carrier, Christianity arose among individuals who, due to their schizotypal personalities, believed that their hallucinations of a risen Jesus were reality. In his view, this naturalistic explanation accounts well for the resurrection claims and is like the reported mass hallucinations in cults led by charismatic leaders. In a 2010 debate at Washburn University, Dr. Michael Licona challenged these assertions and presented a case for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.

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In this episode of the Risen Jesus podcast, we join Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Courtney Friesen as they discuss the verifiability of Christian claims are verifiable and if it even matters. Dr. Licona argues the affirmative case on both points, sharing several universally agreed-upon facts about Jesus held by Christian and non-Christian historians, and presents the case for the historicity of his resurrection. Dr. Licona concludes that the verifiability of the resurrection determines the truth of the faith, which in turn shows that we have value and that our lives have meaning. Dr. Friesen contends that the claims most central to Christianity fall outside the realm of verification and that the true power of Jesus’ resurrection is that, whether factual or not, it teaches the power of self-sacrificial acts to counteract the world's evils.

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Where do miracles fit into historians’ examinations of the past? How do we define miracles? Is a miracle an event for which natural explanations are inadequate, or is it the least probable explanation of an occurrence? Most historians accept that Jesus was put to death by crucifixion. Does this support the claim that Jesus rose from the dead? Are Paul and the disciples’ reports that the risen Jesus appeared to them unique, or have others described similar experiences? Dr. Mike Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman square off on these issues in their first-ever debate, held in 2008 at Midwestern Theological Seminary, where they argue whether the resurrection of Jesus can be proven as a historical fact or can only be taken as a theological conclusion.

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If Jesus did not die by crucifixion, there was no atonement for sin, and Christianity is a false religion. If he did, Islam is the erroneous faith. In this episode, Dr. Michael Licona debates Muslim apologist Yusuf Ismail at the University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Dr. Licona tackles Ismail’s claims of an absence of eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ death in the gospels, Jesus’ time on the cross being too short to have killed him, evidence of individuals surviving modern-day crucifixions in the Philippines, and documented occurrences of live people being mistaken for dead. He also provides six reasons why Jesus’ death by crucifixion can be taken as a historical fact.

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Mike Licona is one of the world’s most recognized experts on the resurrection. Join us live to hear his toughts abou the gospels, inerrancy, historical evidences, and the validity of the gospels. We are so excited to host this conversation and be sure to join us during the call in section and hop into the conversation!

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What are compositional devices? How do they affect our view of inerrancy? What does the Bible say about inspiration and inerrancy? In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona discusses his contention that the common evangelical definition of inerrancy, as outlined in the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, may be based on an incorrect concept of inspiration which in turn renders it incorrect.

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What are compositional devices? How do they affect our view of inerrancy? What does the Bible say about inspiration and inerrancy? In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona discusses his contention that the common evangelical definition of inerrancy, as outlined in the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, may be based on an incorrect concept of inspiration which in turn renders it incorrect.

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In this episode, Dr. Mike Licona walks the listener through some of the discoveries revealed in his new book Jesus, Contradicted. By examining Greco-Roman writings contemporary with the gospels, Dr. Licona has identified common writing techniques of the times that shed light on what we read apparently conflicting gospel accounts. He also discusses what authors meant by the term “God-breathed,” his understanding of biblical inerrancy, and argues that our view of Scripture must be consistent with what we actually observe in its text.

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Do apparent contradictions in the gospels mean we can’t trust them as reliable sources of information about the person and life of Christ? Dr. Mike Licona tackles this important question by examining ancient Greco-Roman biography, the genre to which the gospels belong, and the conventions used by authors of the time when writing them. He explains that what modern readers might be tempted to call errors are actually the result of legitimate compositional devices,  methods of story-telling, common to that era that were accepted as truthful and trustworthy.

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In this episode, the final part in an 8 part series, Dr. Licona reviews and summarizes the problems with Lydia McGrew’s methodological interpretation of the Gospels. Then he argues that compositional devices is compatible with the biblical doctrine of inspiration. Finally, he pastorally guides us to consider whether it’s our view of history that needs reconsideration. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, part 7 in an 8 part series, Dr. Licona reviews several events in the Gospels to demonstrate how compositional devices are more plausible explanations than the explanations embraced by Lydia Mcgrew: forced harmonizations, or worse, that errors had occurred. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, Dr. Licona walks us through more missteps by Lydia Mcgrew, including false dichotomies on the issues of chronological narration, and between compositional devices and Undesigned Coincidences This is part 6 in a series of 8. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, part 5 in an 8 part series, Dr. Licona patiently deconstructs Lydia McGrew’s contrived flow chart for determining when it is safe to consider if a compositional device has been employed. He also shows how she approaches ancient historical sources with her own pre-conceived views, and how this results in erroneous conclusions. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, part 4 in an 8 part series, Dr. Licona demonstrates Lydia McGrew’s rigid approach that’s founded upon her presumptions pertaining to ancient historical reporting. Her black and white thinking leads to an all-or-nothing approach, exaggerated opinions, and inaccurate conclusions about how the ancients reported the past. Moreover, she often interprets those she criticizes in a manner that’s both inaccurate and uncharitable. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, Dr. Licona gives attention to Lydia McGrew's contentions that historians in antiquity would not have employed the literary exercises taught in the compositional textbooks by Theon, Quintilian, and others. This is part 3 in a series of 8. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, part 2 of 8 in a series, Dr. Licona answers Lydia McGrew's contention that the Gospels are not affiliated with Greco-Roman biography. He demonstrates that she misinterprets ancient writers on the subject, fails to consider the degree of literacy required for composition, and misinterprets other scholars on the subject. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, part 1 of 8 in a series, Dr. Licona describes his research on Gospel differences and introduces us to a critical assessment of his work by Lydia McGrew, a Christian apologist. These audio clips are taken from Dr. Licona’s YouTube channel, originally published in 2020.

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In this episode, Dr. Licona discusses his process for finding the validity of the resurrection while writing his book, “The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach.” This interview was conducted by Wintery Knight and Desert Rose on March 23rd, 2024.

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In this season finales to season 6 of the Risen Jesus Podcast, Mike Licona and Kurt Jaros discuss the evidence of the empty tomb, alternative theories to resurrection, and the timeline of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

[0:00] Intro
[1:19] Why the Empty Tomb is Important
[2:08] Scholars who Object to the Empty Tomb
[3:53] Alternatives to the Empty Tomb
[7:10] Empty Tomb as Historical Bedrock
[11:10] Guards Being Placed at the Tomb
[15:22] The timeline for the Crucifixion and Resurrection
[22:14] Viewer Question: What are your thoughts on Dr. Andrew Loke’s work on the Resurrection?
[23:09] Viewer Question: What do you think about historical critical method?

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
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James, the brother of Jesus, helps to provide to us with significant data regarding the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Dr. Licona unpacks several key passages in this episode relating to James.

[0:00] Intro
[0:40] Why James is Important
[2:12] Mark 3:20-21
[5:59] Different Interpretations of Mark 3:20-21
[9:43] John 7:1-5
[12:12] John 15:18-19
[13:16] John 19:26-27
[17:25] A Note on James’ Conversation
[18:20] James as Historical Bedrock
[21:30] Viewer Question: What do you think about Dale Allison’s new book? How do you agree/disagree?
[29:20] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
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We conclude our mini-series on Paul's thoughts about the resurrection in his letters. Dr Licona walks us through letters that are undisputed writings of Paul, some that are disputed, and some more words that change meaning depending on who you talk to. Tune in!

[0:00] Intro
[0:59] Philippians 3:21
[2:33] Disputed vs Undisputed Letters of Paul
[4:43] Colossians 2:9
[5:33] 2 Corinthians 5:1-3
[14:20] 1 Corinthians 15:12-27
[16:34] A Recap: Why is Paul so Important?
[20:13] Viewer Question: Strongest Argument Against the Resurrection
[24:16] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
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We continue our discussion from the last episode by doing a word study on biblical writing concerning Paul's conversion story and his thoughts on the future resurrection. Did they differ from the teachings of Christianity at the time? Mike Licona guides us through the text on this issues.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
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Paul's eyewitness account of Jesus provide us with some of the most compelling evidence within the historical bedrock. Dr. Licona unpacks these appearances from Paul's writings.

[0:00] Intro
[1:04] The Reasons Paul Relates to Historical Bedrock
[5:13] Saul VS Paul
[6:29] Paul as Eyewitness
[9:45] Paul’s Revelation
[12:54] The Son Revealed IN Paul
[15:43] “Last of all…he appeared also to me”
[21:23] 2 Corinthians 4:6
[24:05] 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
[27:04] Viewer Question: What scripture is Paul referring to in the creed in 1 Corinthians 15?

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
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Christianity claims that Jesus Christ appeared after his death and resurrection to several parties. Dr. Licona explores the data set we have concerning that claim.

[0:00] Intro
[1:40] The Earliest Report of Christ’s Postmortem Appearances
[2:42] The Kind of Appearance Paul is Talking About
[6:10] The Resurrection Appearances in Mark
[9:19] The Gardner & the Women
[13:44] The Emmaus Road Experience
[16:07] Alternate Theory on Cleopas from the Emmaus Road
[18:44] Those Who Doubted
[23:00] Other Postmortem Appearances to the Disciples
[28:24] The Eyewitnesses Claiming that Jesus Appeared to Them
[30:19] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
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In this episode, we take a look at one of the most certain facts in history - the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. What evidence do we have to support this claim? Dr. Licona explains.

[0:00] Intro
[1:53] The Data for the Crucifixion of Jesus
[7:40] Objection: Non-Christian sources simply used the Christian sources
[10:32] The Sources on the Crucifixion of Jesus are Early
[12:40] Paul’s Letters on Jesus’s Death
[16:29] The Passion Narratives
[22:09] On the Probability of Jesus not Dying from the Crucifixion
[27:22 ] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

If you like Mike's work, become a patron by visiting his new Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/RisenJesus

Make a tax deductible contribution as allowed by law by going to Mike's secured web site: https://www.risenjesus.com/donate

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Jesus's predictions of his own death and resurrection are of great interest to scholars and debated among them. Is it reasonable to infer that Jesus did, indeed, predict his fate or is it something that was fabricated later? Dr. Licona unpacks these claims.

[0:00] Intro
[1:03] Jesus Predicting his Death and Resurrection
[3:18] Mark 8:30 & Mark 9:31
[7:14] Examples of Jewish Martyr Literature
[11:10] Contrast between Martyr Literature and Jesus’ Death
[12:55] Objection: Jesus’ predictive powers are not believable
[15:26] Objection: The church fabricated the predictions to avoid embarrassment
[18:29] Objection: The disciples didn’t anticipate Jesus’ resurrection
[22:54] Viewer Question: How do we treat the writings on Jesus that we don’t have? Does this hurt your case?
[27:20] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

If you like Mike's work, become a patron by visiting his new Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/RisenJesus

Make a tax deductible contribution as allowed by law by going to Mike's secured web site: https://www.risenjesus.com/donate

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What does it mean that Jesus believed he was God's eschatological agent? What do people have to say about his identity as a miracle worker or exorcist? Are these ideas connected? Find about these things and more as Dr. Licona unpacks these topics in this episode.

[0:00] Intro
[0:55] Eschatological Definition
[1:45] Josephus on Jesus as a Miracle Worker and Exorcist
[4:09] The Dating of Mark
[5:54] Multiple Sources on Jesus as a Miracle Worker
[8:48] On the Message Being Diluted with Time
[14:08] The Relevancy of Jesus as a Miracle Worker
[15:53] Jesus as an Eschatological Agent
[20:45] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

If you like Mike's work, become a patron by visiting his new Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/RisenJesus

Make a tax deductible contribution as allowed by law by going to Mike's secured web site: https://www.risenjesus.com/donate

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Welcome to beginning of season six of the Risen Jesus Podcast! We'll be spending the season unpacking the chapter from Dr Licona's book on Historical Bedrock. Join us for this introduction to the topic.

[0:00] Intro
[2:14] Historical Bedrock
[6:21] Using Consensus to evaluate Data
[7:53] Making a Case for Historical Reliability with Individual Elements in the Text
[11:49] Origin of the Terms “Bedrock” and “Minimal Facts”
[16:02] A Minimal Amount of Minimal Facts[17:35] Building Upon Minimal Facts with other Evidence
[18:50] A Preview of Issues to Historical Bedrock
[21:41] Outro

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z. You can also earn a Master of Divinity degree that can be completed entirely online at https://bit.ly/3po5uEX.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

If you like Mike's work, become a patron by visiting his new Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/RisenJesus

Make a tax deductible contribution as allowed by law by going to Mike's secured web site: https://www.risenjesus.com/donate

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Welcome to the Finale of Season 5. In this episode, Mike recaps this season and specifically the heart behind his investigative method. He has a word for apologists who plan to appeal to the Gospels and also discusses what is next on his professional schedule.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
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DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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We continue our discussion on Non-canonical Christian sources.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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Join us as we explore some apocryphal books in the Christian community and their evidential bearing on the resurrection of Jesus.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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Several early church fathers wrote on the Resurrection of Christ. What can we learn from these apostolic fathers? Are their writings reliable?

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
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DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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What do historical sources outside of the Christian community have to say about the resurrection? We'll walk through several ancient historians and their writings.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
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DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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We continue our dive into the oral formulas of the early Church that have been preserved in scripture.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
Buy "Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?": https://amzn.to/36dzc5C

DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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What traditions and sources do we have for our faith from before the penning of the Gospels? In this episode, we discuss the early Christian community and some of the sources they provided.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
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In this episode, we explore the testimony, conversion, and letters of Paul of Tarsus as historical sources.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

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Welcome to Season 5 Episode 2! In this season, we are diving into the historical sources pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus and discussing how probable or helpful some of them are. In this episode, we discuss the reliability of the Canonical Gospels as historical sources for the resurrection of Jesus.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

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Welcome to Season 5! In this season, we'll be diving into the historical sources pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus and discussing how probable or helpful some of them are.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics that can be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
Buy "Paul Meets Muhammad": https://amzn.to/2RdEFoB
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DONATE: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus. You may also become a patron by going to https://www.patreon.com/risenjesus.

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Is there a greater BURDEN OF PROOF for MIRACLE CLAIMS? Do extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence? In the final episode of this season of the Risen Jesus Podcast, Dr. Licona addresses these questions.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
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burdenofproof #miracles #carlsagan

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In this episode of the Risen Jesus Podcast, Dr. Licona and Kurt discuss the contentions of New Testament scholars James DG Dunn and AJM Wedderburn that historians cannot investigate miracle claims. Dr. Licona discusses why he thinks Dunn and Wedderburn are mistaken.

Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University. HBU offers a fully accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HBU campus in Houston. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Wlej6Z.

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historiansandmiracles #jamesdgdunn #ajmwedderburn #mikelicona

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In this episode Dr Licona continues his discussion on Dr. Bart Ehrman and what he has to say about the nature of miracles.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Dr. Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
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In this episode Dr Licona discusses his relationship with Dr. Bart Ehrman and what he has to say about the nature of miracles.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Dr. Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
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Can we say that miracles happened theologically but not know it historically? In this episode Dr. Licona looks at John P. Meier’s claims about miracles and history.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Dr. Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/michaellicona
Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
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C. B. McCullagh is a big name in historical method. What did he think about miracle claims? Listen in as Dr. Licona explains.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Dr. Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

WEBSITE: https://www.risenjesus.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/michael.r.li...
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Buy "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus": https://amzn.to/38vTfNU
Buy "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach": https://amzn.to/2NOOZkT
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Are Hume’s objections to miracle claims valid? Listen in as Dr. Licona deconstructs Hume’s naturalistic framework.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Dr. Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

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Donate: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus

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In the introductory episode of season 4, Dr. Mike Licona lays out various definitions and instances of what a miracle could be and addresses whether or not historians are allowed to investigate miracle claims.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Dr. Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
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twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

Donate: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus

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Dr. Mike Licona and Kurt Jaros review the topics covered in season 3 as well as come of Mike's personal confessions and reflections after finishing his book, "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach."

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

Donate: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus

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Postmodernism presents many ideas that clash with the practice of studying history. Dr Licona discusses how one with a postmodernist perspective might view historical fact and research. What are the shortcomings and benefits of this type of worldview?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

Donate: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus

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When discussing a candidate for "best explanation" there are several factors we should take into consideration (explanatory scope, plausibility, etc). Dr. Licona discusses what the various criteria are for arguments to the best explanation and how they apply to the resurrection.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

Donate: If you enjoy the RJ Podcast and want to keep the content coming, please join our team of supporters at http://bit.ly/SupportRisenJesus

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In this episode, Dr. Licona discusses various ways we can approach ancient texts when studying history. Is history classified as "science"? How does probability factor into our view of history?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

[0:00] Intro
[0:44] How to Approach a Text
[6:06] Neutrality Toward Text
[8:06] Methodological Credulity
[10:07] Other Historical Claims of Divinity
[12:07] History as a Science
[15:47] Arguments from Statistical Inference
[16:49] Bayes’ Theorem
[20:17] Viewer Question: Matthew’s Little Apocalypse
[24:01] Outro

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How much certainty is required to believe a fact? What is a fact? Can we have absolute certainty? Dr. Licona explains how to navigate the spectrum of certainty and how it applies to history.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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While it's important for us to understand our horizons, the next step is learning how to detach from them. Dr. Licona walks through the methodology of doing history apart from our biases and what it means to reach "historical consensus".

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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According to Dr. Licona we all look at the world through the lens of "horizons" - even the best historians. What are horizons? Does it affect the way we practice history and view texts like the Bible?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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In the season 3 premiere, Dr. Mike Licona addresses the concepts of History from his book, "The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach". What is History exactly? Who do we trust? Why should we care about history when it comes to the Christian faith? Tune in!

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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Mike Licona closes out season 2 by discussing important topics that the Synoptic Gospels impact; including inspiration, inerrancy, and undesigned coincidences.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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What is "Q"? Is it a common source of the gospels? It's own gospel? How should we view the other gospels in light of Q? On this episode, Dr. Licona discusses the Q source, it's content, and alternative hypotheses.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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In a followup to the previous episode's topic, Mike Licona discusses Markan Priority (the counterpoint to Matthean Priority). Why is Markan Priority the prevalent view among scholars and what evidence is there to support this?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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In this episode, Dr. Licona explores the idea of Matthean Priority (the hypothesis that the gospel of Matthew was written first). Who holds this hypothesis and what does it mean for other views on the gospel?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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In this episode, Dr. Licona continues discussing some of the observations we see from looking at the writing style of the synoptic gospels (such as editorial fatigue and parenthetical remarks) and how these things suggest a relationship between them.

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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In this episode, Dr. Licona discuses some of the inferences one can make from looking at the writing style of the synoptic gospels. What types of observations are there to suggest a relationship between them?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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At the beginning of season 2, we talk with Dr. Licona about the relationship between Matthew, Mark, and Luke - also known as the synoptic gospels. What's the best way for us to view the differences between these three perspectives?

The Risen Jesus podcast with Dr. Mike Licona equips people to have a deeper understanding of the Gospel, history, and New Testament studies. The program is hosted by Kurt Jaros and produced in partnership with Defenders Media.

website | http://risenjesus.com
facebook | http://www.fb.me/michael.r.licona/
twitter | http://www.twitter.com/michaellicona

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In the Season 1 Finale, Mike gives his advice to new apologists. Listen for helpful tips, perhaps most importantly having a spirit of humility.

Season 2 kicks off in February 2019, so stay tuned!

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Did you know that Mike led a small group which was integral in Nabeel Qureshi’s conversion? David Wood was a part of that group, too. Get the details on the Dream Team in this episode.

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Mike says he wouldn't be where he is in his studies and public speaking without the help of mentors. Listen to Mike as he details his experience and explains the importance of mentoring.

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Mike is one of the few Christian apologists who debates non-Christians. Why does he do it, how does he prepare, and what are his goals in debating? Be sure to subscribe to catch every episode of the podcast.

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Why do some Christians throw shade on Christian apologetics? Listen to Dr. Licona discuss some of the ways the Bible addresses apologetics and why every person should be prepared to give a answer for the hope within (1 Peter 3:15). Be sure to subscribe to catch every episode of the podcast.

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Mike is a second-guesser. Doubt is a part of his story. How does he overcome it? Listen to our third episode. Be sure to subscribe to catch every episode of the podcast.

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Mike has given talks on a variety of apologetic issues, but he's a true scholar of history and the Gospels. Be sure to subscribe to catch every episode of the podcast.

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In the inaugural episode of the Risen Jesus podcast, Kurt Jaros asks Mike about his upbringing, educational background, and more!