Can We Trust the Gospels?

With all of the doubt cast over the Gospels lately (thanks to issues raised by things like The Da Vinci Code and the Jesus Seminar) there is no doubt that pastor, blogger, and author, Mark D. Roberts’ new book comes at a good time. Can We Trust the Gospels?: Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, is a clear and reasonable argument for the historicity of the gospels. It implies more than preaches that they offer a trustworthy basis for faith as well. For Christians or seekers who find themselves in conversations with unbelievers, in a religion course in college, or just doubting for whatever reason, it is important to know that there is a solid base for believing in the truth of the gospels, and this book is a useful tool.
In the first chapter, Roberts talks about his personal search for truth when he was presented with the skepticism of his Harvard professors. He details how he went through his education, eventually earning a Ph. D. in New Testament from Harvard, and came through convinced by the Gospels%u2019 trustworthiness. He struck me as uniquely qualified to speak from an academically conservative viewpoint having studied intensely with liberal professors and colleagues. Though he comes to conservative conclusions (which might lead some to claim bias conclusions) he cites both liberal and conservative scholars. His voice is mostly that of a historian who happens to be a Christian, not the other way around. A fact I appreciate.
One successful aspect of Robert%u2019s book is the way that Internet culture is integral to its style. It is written in a useful FAQ format in intimation of a website. Each chapter title is a different question he then addresses, such as: Can we know what the original manuscripts really said? %u2026 Are there contradictions in the gospels? %u2026 and %u2026 Do miracles undermine the reliability of the gospels? Most of these questions have come up through his blog, from which the book was born, (check out www.markdroberts.com.) He fittingly dubs his work a blook, and it really is one. The tone is conversational like much like a blog: straightforward, and easy to read. If you%u2019re looking for an in-depth treatise, however, you should check out some more scholarly works. This book is perfect for the doubting or seeking lay reader. Plus, if you have questions, you can actually join in on a conversation in the discussion section of the website. So it is not merely conversational in tone, the book is connected to an actual dialogue.
Can We Trust the Gospels? is successful in its aims. Roberts argues as one qualified, solidly and clearly, defending the historicity of the gospel accounts of Jesus. Luckily for us non-specialists, he manages to present a scholarly discussion in an accessible and culturally appropriate way.
All that to say, this has truly been one of the more interesting and encouraging books I have read in a long time. Encouraging, because it has helped me to see again that my faith in Jesus holds up to reason, even though it goes further than that. I feel more equipped to meet the cynicism of my teachers, friends, and co-workers, and am closer, I believe, to having my interactions %u201Cseasoned with salt%u201D as the writer of Colossians exhorts us.