Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace
Week 5: Section 1, Chapter 4 — Test Your Witnesses
Read Chapter 4 of Cold-Case Christianity.
Previewing Week 5 of Cold-Case Christianity
Read 3 of 6 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 16-week guide when you’re ready.
Not every witness is equally reliable — detectives develop specific tests to evaluate whether an account is genuine, and those tests can be applied directly to the Gospel writers.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Wallace lays out several criteria detectives use to evaluate whether a witness is telling the truth. What are those criteria? Which ones do you think are most important, and why?
2.He introduces the concept of evaluating whether a witness had the opportunity to observe what they claim to have observed. How does this apply to the Gospel writers? What evidence suggests the authors — or their direct sources — were in a position to witness the events they describe?
3.Wallace discusses the importance of asking whether a witness has a motive to lie or exaggerate. What would the disciples have gained, in worldly terms, by fabricating the Resurrection story? What did they actually stand to lose by telling it? How does this affect your assessment of their credibility?