The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Week 3: Part One, Chapter 2 — Testing the Eyewitness Evidence
Read Part One, Chapter 2 of The Case for Christ. Key interview: Dr. Craig Blomberg (continued).
Previewing Week 3 of The Case for Christ
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 15-week guide when you’re ready.
Having established that the Gospels have eyewitness roots, Strobel now probes deeper — subjecting them to the rigorous tests historians use to evaluate ancient documents.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Blomberg walks Strobel through several standard tests historians apply to ancient documents: the bibliographical test, the internal evidence test, and the external evidence test. Briefly describe each one in your own words. Which did you find most compelling?
2.The bibliographical test compares the number and age of existing manuscript copies. The New Testament vastly outperforms other ancient works like Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars or Homer's Iliad in both categories. Were you aware of this before reading the chapter? How does it affect your confidence in the New Testament text?
3.The internal evidence test asks whether the documents claim to be based on eyewitness testimony and whether they contradict themselves in ways that would undermine their credibility. How does the New Testament fare by this standard?