In our monthly book club, after registering to participate, we simply buy the book for the month and read through it at your pace leading up to the meeting. Upon your registration you will receive the discussion questions for the book. When we meet on zoom, we will discuss together the questions and share our perspective on what we have learned. You can see this month's book, preview upcoming books and access our backlog below.
November's Book
The differences and discrepancies in the Gospels constitute the foremost objections to their reliability and the credibility of their message. Some have tried to resolve Gospels contradictions with strained harmonization efforts. Many others conclude that the Gospels are hopelessly contradictory and, therefore, historically unreliable accounts of Jesus.
In Jesus, Contradicted, New Testament scholar Michael Licona shows how the genre of ancient biography, to which the Gospels belong, actually allows biographers to be flexible in how they report events, construct a narrative, and make an argument. Licona demonstrates that the intentional changes to the Jesus tradition by the Evangelists reveal that the differences in how the Gospels report events are not grounds for their rejection. Instead, they are a result of the Gospel writers employing standard literary conventions common in their time for writing ancient biography.
Rather than trying to resolve discrepancies by bending the Gospel narrative, which risks making them say things they aren't saying, Jesus, Contradicted situates the Gospels within their proper context and helps readers account for differences in the Gospels in a cohesive and historically cogent way.
In Jesus, Contradicted, New Testament scholar Michael Licona shows how the genre of ancient biography, to which the Gospels belong, actually allows biographers to be flexible in how they report events, construct a narrative, and make an argument. Licona demonstrates that the intentional changes to the Jesus tradition by the Evangelists reveal that the differences in how the Gospels report events are not grounds for their rejection. Instead, they are a result of the Gospel writers employing standard literary conventions common in their time for writing ancient biography.
Rather than trying to resolve discrepancies by bending the Gospel narrative, which risks making them say things they aren't saying, Jesus, Contradicted situates the Gospels within their proper context and helps readers account for differences in the Gospels in a cohesive and historically cogent way.
Upcoming Books
December 2024
January 2025
Past Books
Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently
Nov 28, 2024
Flood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God
Oct 31, 2024
Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life
Aug 29, 2024
Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did.
Sep 26, 2024
Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling
Jul 25, 2024
The Simple Faith Of Mister Rogers
Jun 27, 2024
Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in Christ
May 30, 2024
How Far To the Promised Land
Apr 25, 2024
Every Good Endeavor
Mar 28, 2024
The Great Sex Rescue
Feb 29, 2024
The Lost World of Adam and Eve
Jan 25, 2024
The Search for God and Guinness
Dec 28, 2023