Historical Foundations of the Christian Faith
- Murray Vasser
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
Course Description
As Christians, we are called to share the good news of Jesus with our friends and family. We must therefore be prepared to engage with modern skepticism. In this six-week course, Dr. Murray Vasser will explore the historical foundations of the Christian faith. He will examine the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the evidence for the reliability of the Gospels and Acts, and the evidence for the integrity and preservation of the New Testament canon. This course will equip you to share your faith with confidence and humility.
Course Details
Dates
May 6 to June 10
Tuesdays from 6-8pm
Central Time
Location
Wesley Biblical Seminary
1880 East County Line Road
Ridgeland, MS 39157
Access Options
Zoom: Attend live or view recording
Traditional: Attend in person
Instructor
Dr. Murray Vasser
Assistant Professor of New Testament
Wesley Biblical Seminary
Price
Total Cost: $125 dollars
10% discount code: History10
20% discount code for church groups: email mvasser@wbs.edu
Course Schedule
Lesson 1: Historical Evidence & Warranted Christian Belief
In this introductory lesson, we will explore the relationship between evidence and faith. We will also survey the most important first-century sources available to historians.
Lesson 2: Evidence for the Resurrection
In this lesson, we will explore the historical evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus. We will critically examine the claim that the appearances described in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 are best explained, not as embodied encounters, but as "visions" of the exalted Jesus.
Lesson 3: Evidence for the Historical Reliability of the Gospels (Part I)
In this lesson, we will consider the role of eyewitnesses in the composition of the Gospels. We will critically examine the claim that the traditions collected in the Gospels were corrupted through a process of oral transmission analogous to the "telephone game."
Lesson 4: Evidence for the Historical Reliability of the Gospels (Part II)
In this lesson, we will consider apparent contradictions in the Gospels. We will critically examine the claim that such discrepancies undermine the historical credibility of the Gospels. We will give particular attention to the alleged differences between John and the Synoptics concerning the deity of Jesus.
Lesson 5: Evidence for the Historical Reliability of Acts
In this lesson, we will consider the evidence for the historical reliability of Acts. We will critically examine the claim that much of Acts is fiction.
Lesson 6: Evidence for the Integrity and Preservation of the New Testament Canon
In this concluding lesson, we will examine the noncanonical Gospels (e.g., Gospel of Thomas) and evaluate their historical credibility in comparison with the canonical Gospels. We will also address popular misconceptions concerning the scribal corruption of the New Testament text.
Course Bibliography
These are some of the key studies that will be discussed in class:
Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony
Larry Hurtado, Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity
Craig Keener, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels
Craig Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary (Vol 1)
Michael Licona, Why are There Differences in the Gospels?: What We Can Learn from Ancient Biography
Alvin Plantinga, Knowledge and Christian Belief
N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God
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