Episode 111: Dr. Gary Habermas on the "Minimal Facts" argument for Jesus' resurrection [Part 1]

<img src="https://assets.podomatic.net/ts/51/52/8f/jwalker55293/3000x3000_15991933.jpg" alt="itunes pic" /><br /><p>A burgeoning challenge for Christians today is the increasing criticism from skeptics and atheists about the historical reliability of the Gospels, especially the resurrection of Jesus. While some atheists and skeptics, such as New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman, affirm Jesus really did exist, almost all either deny or doubt that Jesus actually rose bodily from the grave and afterward appeared to eye witnesses. </p><p><br></p><p>Since most of us are not New Testament historians or scholars, we might feel ill-equipped to address such criticisms. This is where our guest on the next two editions of Apologetics Profile provides us with a basic framework for answering our skeptical critics about the historicity of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. </p><p><br></p><p>Dr. Gary Habermas is a New Testament scholar and historian. His life's work has been compiling historical information surrounding Jesus' resurrection and distilling his data into a series of 'minimal facts' that the vast majority credentialed scholars in the fields of antiquities, ancient history, New Testament criticism and historical Jesus studies accept. These are some 'minimal facts' on which nearly all Christians scholars, secular academics and even atheist professors agree. </p><p><br></p><p>This is the 'minimal facts' approach; a kind of historical "Roman's Road" that provides very basic historical information in "headline" format for helping lay and scholar alike to begin conversations with skeptics who doubt the resurrection. These 'minimal facts' on the the resurrection of Jesus are certainly not the only historical data that to which Christians may appeal. This 'common ground' approach, however, may be seen as a helpful starting place for believers and non-believers to begin a discussion.</p><p><br></p><p>This episode of Apologetics Profile is part one of a two-part podcast. In this episode, Dr. Habermas sits down w