Week 12: Chapter 11 — The Top Ten Reasons We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth

1.The authors list ten reasons for trusting the New Testament writers. Without looking at the chapter, how many can you recall? Then compare your list to the text — what did you remember, and what surprised you?

2.One of the reasons the authors give is that the New Testament writers included details that would have been embarrassing or counterproductive to invent — such as women being the first witnesses to the resurrection (since women's testimony was undervalued in first-century Jewish culture). Why is this kind of detail actually a strong mark of authenticity?

3.The authors point out that the disciples went from being cowards hiding behind locked doors to boldly proclaiming the resurrection in Jerusalem — the very city where Jesus was executed — within weeks of His death. What explanations are available for this dramatic transformation, and which do you find most historically plausible?