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The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
by Lee Strobel

Although this book has been around a while (published in 1998) I only became aware of it recently while researching potential texts for a class I teach on Jesus of Nazareth. Strobel's book became an immediate candidate, as it directly addresses the approach my students most commonly take when confronted by the topic of Jesus. Most hail from some form of Christian background but over the years have come to question the plausibility or historical reliability of the Gospels' potrayal of Jesus the Son of God.

Lee Strobel was the former legal editor for the Chicago Tribune during which time he was an avowed atheist. When his wife suddenly announced that she had become born again, Strobel set his investigative skills to work in the attempt to prove the Gospels unreliable in their portrayal of Jesus. Using investigative techniques applied on a daily basis to legal scenarios, he consulted numerous scholars, confronting each with sharply aimed questions striking at the core of the Gospels' accuracy and reliability. The Case For Christ consists of those thirteen interviews and their outcome.

By the end of Strobel's investigation, he had become convinced in the reliability of the Gospels and gave his life to Jesus.

Readers will be in for a serious and in-depth exploration of the proposed weaknesses and alternatives to the Gospel's face-value depiction of Jesus. The "specialists" Strobel consults are all top-notch scholars in their fields and all profess a personal faith ands relationship with Jesus. Thus while the book reads as a narrative, literally following Strobel from one interview to the next, the discussions themselves present in condensed form excellent coverage of the principal criticisms currently aimed at the Gospels as relaible historical accounts and the best, most contemporary evangelical responses to them. I stress contemporary since recent additions to the debate through, for example, archaeology comes into play heavily in the discussions.

The writing style is highly readable and engaging, and Strobel draws many parallels to actual cases he has covered as a Chicago legal reporter. Each chapter is literally chocked-full of point-counterpoint progression and I must admit I learned quite a bit from reading this. I can even say this was hard to put down knowing that the following chapter would be as informative as the one I was reading. (By the way, if you find a truly educational book which is hard to put down, pick it up!)

The book is divided into three sections. Part One examines the historical reliability of the Gospels themselves (as humanly authored and historically transmitted texts). Part Two examines the person of Jesus, analyzing his words and deeds against the backdrop of the claim that he is the divine Son fo God. Part Three examines the evidence for the Resurrection.

Below is a list of those interviewed in Part One and a brief description of the issues discussed with each:

Dr. Craig Blomberg

Strobel's interview with Blomberg covers all the significant Synoptic issues, including the Q Source, as well as the debate surrounding the uniquenesses of the Gospel of John. Strobel then asks Blomberg to respond to scrutiny of the Gospels using eight common investigative tests currently used in courts throughout the country.

Bruce M. Metzger, PHD

Strobel drills Metzger regarding the accurate transmission of the texts from the extant originals to those making up our contemporary Bibles. A fascinating discussion ensues regarding the early textual evidence supporting the traditional depiction of Jesus. Metzger also aptly distinguishes between the canonical and the later discovered gnostic gospels.

Edwin M Yamauchi, PHD

Yamauchi enlightens Strobel on corroborating evidence derived from extra-biblical textual sources. Their discussion includes the two passages in Josephus ( including the problematic passage in the Testimonium deemed too good to be true), Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, and more obscure pagan historians who record such things as a uyniquely severe eclipse ("even the stars appeared in the heavens [at noon]") coinciding with the traditional date for the crucifixion. Early Jewish textual references to Jesus are then examined.

John McRay, PHD

With McRay Strobel discusses the most contemporary contributions to the subject offered by archaeology. A rather fascinating discussion ensues which includes the accuracies of Luke, the town of Nazareth, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Herod's killing of the infant males, and more.

Gregory A. Boyd, PHD

Strobel consults Boyd to debunk the over-hyped "scholarship" coming out of the Jesus Seminar. Let's just say not much is left standing of the Quest for the Historical Jesus project when this interview concludes.

Below is the list of scholars interviewed in Parts Two and Three. Instead of a summary of the discussion, I'll abbreviate here and give you the chapter names. (They're fairly self-explanatory.)

Part Two: Analyzing Jesus

Dr. Ben Witherington III
The Identity Evidence: Was Jesus really convinced that he was the Son of God?

Dr. Gary Collins
The Psychological Evidence: Was Jesus crazy when he claimed to be the Son of God?

Dr. D. A. Carson
The Profile Evidence: Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God?

Louis Lapides, MDiv, ThM
The Fingerprint Evidence: Did Jesus -- and Jesus alone -- match the identity of the Messiah?

Part Three: Researching the Resurrection

Dr. Alexander Metherell
The Medical Evidence: Was Jesus' death a sham and his resurrection a hoax?

Dr. William Lane Craig
The Evidence of the Missing Body: Was Jesus' body really absent from his tomb?

Dr. Gary Habermas
The Evidence of Appearances: Was Jesus seen alive after his death on the cross?

Dr. J. P. Moreland
The Circumstantial Evidence: Are there any supporting facts that point to the resurrection

You may Read Amazon's Reviews or Purchase This Book here

Author: Lee Strobel
Publisher: Zondervan (1998)
ISBN: 0310209307
Paperback: 270 pages

Reviewed by Scott David Foutz

Chicago-North Shore Therapy.com