Christians are not surprised when Jesus gets a bad rap in our modern news and media. Newsweek’s Christmas article is no exception. It is that time of year. We are seeing Christmas articles everywhere we look. Many have nothing to do with Christ, in fact, everything to do against Him. Evidently, Newsweek decided to follow the crowd, since its last printed edition will be published December 31. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes a rebuttal to the article, and tells it like it is.
You can read the entire article, Newsweek Versus the New Testament at Religion Today, powered by crosswalk.com
Following are brief excerpts of Newsweek Versus the New Testament,
by Albert Mohler, President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Albert Mohler's Summary:
“Timed for this Christmas, Newsweek just released a cover essay by Bart D. Ehrman, who is well-known for his belief that the New Testament is largely historical fiction. “Who is Jesus?” is the question on the cover. “The Myths of Jesus” is the headline on the essay itself.
“Beyond these rather familiar issues, Ehrman also points to a host of claims about Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the larger Christmas story that amount to “legends and fabrications” that are rightly recognized as implausible and untrue.
“In other words, Ehrman argues that Matthew and Luke simply can’t be trusted to convey historical truth. He points to what he insists are inconsistencies and erroneous historical claims, arguing that though some attempt to explain these questions in an attempt to affirm the veracity of the gospels, it is better just to abandon them altogether if you are “seriously engaged in trying to reconstruct the events of history.” “
Albert Mohler’s Rebuttal:
“[The New Testament] makes unvarnished historical claims and direct statements of fact. Ehrman attempts to sideswipe this truth, stating that the New Testament contains writings identified as “gospels” rather than “histories.” But the word “history” in that sense is a fairly modern invention. The gospels do contain interpretation and theological elaboration, but all four gospels, including Matthew and Luke, contain explicit and pervasive historical material — the bedrock historical claims of Christianity itself.
“So, in the waning days of Newsweek as a print magazine, the editors decided to take on the New Testament. Readers should note carefully that it is Newsweek, and not the New Testament, that is going out of print.”
