The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

Cases for Christianity for Students

by Lee Strobel

There's little question that he actually lived. But miracles? Rising from the dead? Some of the stories you hear about him sound like just that--stories. A reasonable person would never believe them, let alone the claim that he s the only way to God! But a reasonable person would also make sure that he or she understood the facts before jumping to conclusions. That s why Lee Strobel--an award-winning legal journalist with a knack for asking tough questions--decided to investigate Jesus for himself. An atheist, Strobel felt certain his findings would bring Christianity s claims about Jesus tumbling down like a house of cards. He was in for the surprise of his life. Join him as he retraces his journey from skepticism to faith. You ll consult expert testimony as you sift through the truths that history, science, psychiatry, literature, and religion reveal. Like Strobel, you ll be amazed at the evidence--how much there is, how strong it is, and what it says. The facts are in. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?"

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith, Theology, Christianity, School

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Lee Patrick Strobel is an American Christian author and a former investigative journalist. He has written several books, including four that received ECPA Christian Book Awards (1994, 1999, 2001, 2005)[2] and a series which addresses challenges to the veracity of Christianity. He also hosted a television program called Faith Under Fire on PAX TV and runs a video apologetics web site.

Reviews

[Paul Alkazraji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Strobel investigates a big story.

As someone who came to faith and then to journalism, the opposite way round from Lee Strobel, his story has always intrigued me. It is the true story of how an award-winning investigative journalist, the one-time legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, sets out to use his ‘particular set of skills’ to disprove the newfound Christian faith of his wife Leslie who stuns him with her announcement. "I rolled my eyes and braced for the worst,” he says, “feeling like the victim of a bait-and-switch scam. I thought she was going to turn into some sexually repressed prude… and spend all her time serving the poor in skid row somewhere.” His story is now a 2017 released film starring Faye Dunaway, known to an older generation for her roles in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, and Mike Vogel in the role of the reporter on a quest for the real truth surrounding a very big story indeed.

In the book Strobel sorts through the evidence of the case for or against Christ that he uncovers over the subsequent year and nine months. He begins with whether Jesus, himself, really thought he was God looking at such ‘blasphemous’ statements as: ’I and the Father are one’ in John 10. He moves on to the quantity of Old Testament prophecy Jesus manages to fulfil, like Zechariah 9:9, asking if Jesus was just trying to add to his Messiah credentials when he said to the disciples, ‘Go fetch me a donkey’. But then he asks how he could arrange the place of his birth, predicted by the prophet Micah in chapter 5:2. He finds too the ‘129 hours of eyewitness testimony saying Jesus came back to life’ that addresses the question: How do we know for sure whether the Resurrection happened?

He examines the external corroboration of biblical accounts through historians like Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny and the Talmud, and also through archaeology citing Sir William Ramsey of Oxford University who concluded that Luke was one of the most accurate historians who had ever written. He reads through ‘words that work when put into practice again and again in the areas of finance, stress and character qualities’ that lead him to ask if it is possible that the Bible really is God’s inspired word. He discovers the ‘final confirming proof’ of encounters with Jesus today, citing philosophy professor J P Moreland: “It’s the ongoing encounter with the resurrected Christ that happens all over the world, in every culture, to people from all kinds of backgrounds and personalities. They will all tell you… Jesus Christ has changed them.”

The book presents intelligent evidence for consideration, and this student edition has a light and accessible treatment. It sits alongside other key works of modern popular apologetics such as Frank Morrison’s ‘Who Moved the Stone?’ Josh McDowell’s ‘Evidence That Demands a Verdict’ and J Warner Wallace’s ‘God's Crime Scene’. In times of such social division, where groups can dismiss Christ on account of their perceptions or experiences of his followers, this book offers a good way back to foundations, to Jesus himself, and to the crucial question of what to make of the Bethlehem babe.

In the end, Lee Strobel tells his wife of his conclusion: he can no longer swim upstream against the evidence. “Instead, I was going in the same direction as the facts seemed to be flowing,” he says. She starts crying and in language befitting any Chicago news room says: "You hard hearted son-of-a-*, I've been telling you this for two years…" Touché.



By this reviewer:

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, Case for Christ, is the first book by Lee Strobel. In it he documents his journey from atheist to Christian. He asks the right questions and comes up with plausible answers. Since I am a Christian, it was not hard to convince me of the truth of Jesus.

4 stars

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION is an excellent Christian witness and reference resource. Having also read the original complete edition, THE CHASE FOR CHRIST (367 pgs), I found that Strobel’s easy read student edition (115 pgs) to be very accessible for friends that are not only reluctant but are also self proclaimed “non-readers”.

[Courtney Robeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still always shocked by the evidence he gives in this book. It's absolutely fantastic!

[Denise Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the “teen” version of the book by a former atheist/journalist and now Christian pastor and author who describes his personal journey to conversion. He lists and describes numerous facts and examples that convinced him not only of the historical accuracy of the story of Jesus but also of the reality of His resurrection and saving power. This book covers some basic history and archaeology as well as a bit of theology and might be of interest to see the author’s reasoning, but like so much of this type of writing it is probably mostly “preaching to the choir". It might be a good resource though for believing teens to give them some solid facts to explain the rational basis for their faith to their non-believing or enquiring friends.
co-author Jane Vogel

[Jay Rain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating - 7

Does not address the fundamental question that I wanted answered with regards to evidence that would reasonably show that the Bible has not been manipulated by man to control its fellow man

In digesting some of the arguments, I realize that I am on a spiritual plane but I have an absence of faith; Look forward to the next read 'The Case for Faith' but with that come higher expectations

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if I would actually hand this book over to someone who is searching. The case for Christ is about a relationship and the Holy Spirit working within a person's heart. All the concrete proof in the world is not going to bring an individual to Christ if the Spirit is not working in their heart.

[Hayley Brentmar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Granted, the library only had this version (for young adults) so it was very simplistic. It was interesting, but not very convincing. There was a lot of circular reasoning and an assumption that the events in the bible actually happened. It probably won't sway any true skeptics.

[Tangela Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay...

I have a Master’s Of Divinity, so not sure what I was expecting...more substance? More...evidence? More...depth? I don’t know, I just didn’t feel it. I appreciate the book, but maybe it’s because I’m Christian. If I were a non-believer, I’m not sure this book would’ve helped me leave any more convinced.

[Presley Loveless · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book it shows that there is evidence for god, but also it shows the story on how he became a Christian and because he wrote this book he is showing his faith and saying that we should also believe in God ourselves

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my 12 year old. We had a lot of good conversations surrounding it. I’m curious to see what was omitted from the original and look forward to reading the full version on my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my 8, 10.5 and almost 13 year olds. Very logical presentation and excellent irrefutable evidence presented in a way kids can understand and remember.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I watched the movie at church, so I was interested in the book since I already had a really old copy from my sister. It felt super simplified, and none of the points in the book really struck me one way or another. It was ok, and I might use some of the points in the book in the future I wished that Lee Strobel would have shared some of his own story, instead of more focusing on the reasons that prove the Bible is real. Also, being a Christian myself, I kind of feel like all the "facts" (depends on what viewpoint you have) sort of get rid of that faith aspect of taking part in any religion. Part of believing is that faith portion, and if anyone really needs 100% confirmation that something happened, then why choose to believe in any religion?
I could see how this book would be useful in sparking discussion, and I might share it with some of my friends, some Christian, some atheist, and I would like to hear their opinion on it. I know that religion is a bit of a finnicky subject, and not a lot of people like to talk about it, but I'm totally open to different ideas, and how others view different religions.
Unrelated note: This book was published awhile ago, and I really can't stand the design.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed a copy of this book from the library, originally. Now I have received a copy of The Case for Christ, Student Edition, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Since these are ultimately, the same book, I will give the same review.
I remember originally reading this book and really being amazed at the level of answers that were in this book. I'm sure its nothing more than any good journalist would put together if they were doing thorough research.
I appreciate the fact that there are source notes in the book. I myself can go back and double-check the sources myself. I found myself writing down a lot of the original sources when I first read the book, in hopes of going back and doing my own research.
Perhaps down the line when I'm not a full-time worker, wife, and mother of two little kids, I may find the time to do that. Right now, I will have to content myself with the research of another person.
I find the student edition is a very very watered-down version of the original.

[Pamela Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any book someone writes who may be a skeptic and then converted to Christianity. I always admired Lee Strobel, a very intelligent man and now a teaching Pastor in CA,and knew of his award-winning journalism at the Chicago Tribune. I had a friend a long time ago whose sister worked there, very windy downtown, and we ventured there for a visit. It was a great time, but this was back in the late 60's. I had already been searching for who I was, and just lost someone I loved very much. This adventure was needed in my life and for Lee Strobel it was needed for him and others...what a blessing very easy book and graphical. I can read a book like this in about two hours. He wrote another one called The Case for Faith. I can see why he would use the words Case He was educated at Yale Law School.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read parts of Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ before, but I had not finished it. However, I have asked my twelve year-old daughter to read it this summer, so I thought, "Maybe I should finish it, too." I read it in just a few hours, I find it to be highly compelling. It lays out the logical reasons why a belief in the biblical story of Jesus Nazareth makes absolute sense. This is a wonderful apology (i.e. a logical defense)for the central story of the Bible. Having finished the book, I am even more excited for my girl to read it.

The reason I only gave it four stars, is primarily literary. Strobel's voice is somewhat informal, and the book is not filled with the rhetorical grace that C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity contains. Still this is a wonderfully accessible book, and I highly recommend it.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Case for Christ" was a new type of book for me. It was my first book that was written about Christianity. I've read other books by Christian authors but they were still just stories.
I really like the message the book gave and how Strobel used logic to get it across. Me and my friend read it together in sections and then reflected on each section. It was a really good experience.
The book also strengthened my relationship with God. Not necessarily through the words but by making me think about him and ask questions.

[Scott Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was set reading for my Year 9 class this term. They enjoyed the book, but preferred the Case for the Creator which we read last term. I enjoyed the book, but the adult version contains much more detail, and for me was a more satisfying read. However, it did produce good weekly discussion as we explored it a chapter at a time. I think it helped the students think more deeply about the evidence for Jesus.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

My friend told me this was the dumbed-down version of the actual book. I'm honestly inclined to agree with her. Facts were interesting, but again... dumbed down. It's basically a summary of archaeological evidence that proves various events in the New Testament happened.

I still have my own misgivings about the way this book was written but I can't figure out what they are.

Time to go read the actual 400-page book, I guess.

[Dorothy]

It is reasonable to believe that Jesus is who he said he is, based on fulfillment of numerous prophecies, other historical evidence, and his rational, reasonable behavior. He could not have been just a good man, as he would then have been a liar. He was either God or a lunatic, and he did not behave like a lunatic. I highly recommend this book. It also comes in video.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing. I really enjoyed this short book and learned so much that I didn't know. I loved how Strobel takes a theory about God not existing and then completely proves it false without citing the bible. He uses psychology, sociology, and medical information. I loved the logic. This is a great book anyone who is a logical-nuts and bolts type of person!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Lee Strobel's style of writing. The case for grace is the first Strobel book I read. loved it. This one is very different than The case for grace as it's more of looking for evidence to support a case. The scientific and logical side of me really enjoyed it. Looking fwd to read the other books of his!

[. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booked is great!
The author explained about drifting away from Christianity when he was a child. Later, as an adult, he searched for evidence that Jesus was (and is) indeed real. This helped him become a christian.

It's mainly for students, but it's perfect for any who are doubting Jesus and need some evidence. :)

[Megan Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent, very simplified presentation of the Bible and some reasons to accept it. I would appreciate a better presentation of the gospel, and the "why" we need Jesus. I may keep searching for something better, but I think this fits my needs right now. (My need is for a book to give a non-Christian friend of mine.)

[James McIntosh Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is mainly for people who are unsure, skeptical, or even unbelieving of Jesus and Christianity. Nevertheless, I found it to have some very good points and an encouraging read for myself and my family, even though I am no longer a student. I would like to see what the original edition is like.

[Karla]

Bought this book for my 17 year old nephew who is struggling with his belief in God. I hope he reads it and thinks at least a little about what it says. I would be interested in reading the full versions of all of these books.

[The Scribbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. Before I read it, I had never realized that there's so much actual SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE for who Jesus Christ said he was. It strengthened my belief in God and really opened my eyes.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is so great! i won it from tim kuhl in a jr.high game never expecting it to be so awesome. it clears any doubts you may have and prepares you to defend Christ. I also know non-christian friends who wanted to read it!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this with my HS small group and have been very impressed. Growing up in Bible classes and Sunday school, I had no idea how much I still had to learn about the evidence for Christ that extends beyond the Word. Now I'd really like to read the full version as well someday.

[Tylor Lovins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. I don't know what questions he thinks he is answering, but it seems like Strobel hasn't read much of the literature on the problem of the historical Jesus--nor does he seem to be aware of any method of biblical interpretation. Don't recommend.