Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace
Week 4: Section 1, Chapter 3 — Think Circumstantially
Read Chapter 3 of Cold-Case Christianity.
Previewing Week 4 of Cold-Case Christianity
Read 3 of 6 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 16-week guide when you’re ready.
Many people assume that if there is no "smoking gun" of direct evidence, there is no case — but the most powerful prosecutions in history have been built entirely on circumstantial evidence.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Wallace argues that circumstantial evidence is not inferior to direct evidence — it can actually be more reliable in certain respects. What is the difference between direct evidence and circumstantial evidence? Why might multiple independent pieces of circumstantial evidence be more convincing than a single eyewitness account?
2.He gives the illustration of a "chain" of circumstantial evidence, where each link on its own might be weak but the combined chain becomes very strong. What are some of the circumstantial evidences he identifies for the reliability of the New Testament? Which do you find most compelling at this stage?
3.Wallace applies this thinking to cases he has personally prosecuted, demonstrating that juries convict — and should convict — based on circumstantial evidence all the time. Does this change the way you think about what counts as sufficient evidence in matters of faith? Why or why not?