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Too Good to be False: How Jesus' Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality
What if we take the story of Jesus seriously—as a story? Skeptics urge us to do that—it’s “only a story,” they say, a legend just like many other god-stories from ancient days. Why do we treat it as anything more than that? Too Good To Be False takes up that question with an approach no author has taken in close to a century.
This book shows that although the skeptics’ question may be a fine one, the answer they give is as far from truth as it could be. Jesus’ character is unlike any other. No other hero—whether of history, myth, imagination, or legend—has loved as he loved, led as he led, cared as he cared, or understood himself as Jesus understood himself.
Christians reading this book will encounter Jesus in fresh, worshipful new ways, and skeptics may discover his character is too unique, too consistent, and entirely too good to be false
This book shows that although the skeptics’ question may be a fine one, the answer they give is as far from truth as it could be. Jesus’ character is unlike any other. No other hero—whether of history, myth, imagination, or legend—has loved as he loved, led as he led, cared as he cared, or understood himself as Jesus understood himself.
Christians reading this book will encounter Jesus in fresh, worshipful new ways, and skeptics may discover his character is too unique, too consistent, and entirely too good to be false
230 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2020
8 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Tom Gilson
11 books25 followersTom Gilson writes on the truth of Jesus Christ for a world that's more and more confused about spiritual reality every day. His areas of special interest include sexuality, science rationality, and above all, Jesus Christ himself.
He's a senior editor at the highly respected Christian news and commentary website The Stream (stream.org). Since 2007 he's also run the widely praised Thinking Christian blog at thinkingchristian.net, where he developed a reputation for consistent strength combined with grace in his many interactions with people from all over the spiritual spectrum, and from all over the world.
Tom has served as Vice President for Strategic Services at the campus apologetics ministry Ratio Christi. Prior to that he was on staff with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 34 years, serving in HR leadership and internal strategic consulting, as well as a two-year stint on loan with the (Chuck) Colson Center for Christian Worldview, writing and working on strategies.
He holds an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and a B.Mus. in Music Education from Michigan State University.
Tom lives near Dayton, Ohio where he enjoys canoeing, walking in the woods, and playing his trombones. His wife, Sara, and he have two grown, both married, one living nearby and the other married to an Army captain and living where they're assigned.
Find out more about Tom's speaking and writing at thinkingchristian.net.
He's a senior editor at the highly respected Christian news and commentary website The Stream (stream.org). Since 2007 he's also run the widely praised Thinking Christian blog at thinkingchristian.net, where he developed a reputation for consistent strength combined with grace in his many interactions with people from all over the spiritual spectrum, and from all over the world.
Tom has served as Vice President for Strategic Services at the campus apologetics ministry Ratio Christi. Prior to that he was on staff with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 34 years, serving in HR leadership and internal strategic consulting, as well as a two-year stint on loan with the (Chuck) Colson Center for Christian Worldview, writing and working on strategies.
He holds an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and a B.Mus. in Music Education from Michigan State University.
Tom lives near Dayton, Ohio where he enjoys canoeing, walking in the woods, and playing his trombones. His wife, Sara, and he have two grown, both married, one living nearby and the other married to an Army captain and living where they're assigned.
Find out more about Tom's speaking and writing at thinkingchristian.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 10, 2021
If you enjoy reading books on Christian apologetics then this is one you should definitely read. It takes a different approach by looking at what the Bible DOESN'T say about Jesus. Like the Bible never says Jesus had faith. Why not? Maybe because Jesus actually knew God? Was God? And if Jesus, is a mythological character, a legend story made up and passed down, how does a writer make up such an amazing character? That author would have to possess quite an imagination. Have to surpass the character he creates. And most authors create main characters that grow throughout a book. But Jesus never demonstrated character growth. He was perfect from the beginning to the end. He never grew as a leader either. But was always poised, always knew what to say and how to relate to every person. This book poses thoughtful questions, provides insights and well reasoned answers that make you say, "Hmm, I never considered that."
July 31, 2020
One of my complaints about many recent popular-level apologetics books is that they tend to cover hackneyed topics with more or less the same approach. (Try counting the number of books from the past decade or so that cover the minimal facts argument in a manner almost identical to the popular approach of Habermas or Craig.) This is not a complaint I have about 'Too Good To Be False' for two reasons.
First, the book is absolutely unique among modern apologetics books in terms of both content and approach. In fact, it is so unique that reading Gilson’s opening chapters made me a tad skeptical. I wondered whether he really could pull off the lofty goal that he had set for himself, namely being able to prove the truth of Jesus’ story by conducting a character study from within that story. Yet, at the end of his final chapter, I couldn’t help but admit that Gilson had accomplished exactly what he said he would, and that my earlier incredulity was due to never having encountered his approach before.
Second and equally refreshing was the discovery that his approach isn’t as unique as I thought it was. Arguing for the truth of Jesus’ story based on his unique and perfect character isn’t new; Gilson says that such arguments have been around earlier than the 1860s. Yet, the last author to utilize this approach is the Methodist minister Atticus G. Haygood, who wrote on it in 1929. This makes it an approach that is so old, Gilson says, “that it’s new again”. And while he seeks to resurrect this approach, he does not do so in a trite manner. Instead, he reinforces it with his own unique discoveries and adapts it to counter the various challenges that have been raised against the person of Christ since Haygood’s day; the challenges posed by the likes of Bart Ehrman and Richard Carrier, to name a few. The only other book in recent memory that achieves something comparable in resurrecting an old-but-forgotten approach is Lydia McGrew’s 'Hidden in Plain View', and it is my sincere prayer that both these books inspire other apologists to take on similar projects.
I must also add that I found Gilson’s writing absolutely enthralling. He doesn’t tell you about Jesus as much as he shows you who Jesus is. Furthermore, there were several moments when I sensed a childlike awe in his voice as he considered a particular aspect of Jesus’ character, often leading me to be filled with a similar sense of awe at the Lord I thought I knew so well. I am certain that other readers will sense this too.
In sum, Tom Gilson’s 'Too Good To Be False' is a book I wholeheartedly recommend. It is a timely reminder that the story of Jesus leaves us with nothing with which to ‘cancel’ Him, and more than enough to fall at His feet and worship Him. And this makes Him too good to be false.
First, the book is absolutely unique among modern apologetics books in terms of both content and approach. In fact, it is so unique that reading Gilson’s opening chapters made me a tad skeptical. I wondered whether he really could pull off the lofty goal that he had set for himself, namely being able to prove the truth of Jesus’ story by conducting a character study from within that story. Yet, at the end of his final chapter, I couldn’t help but admit that Gilson had accomplished exactly what he said he would, and that my earlier incredulity was due to never having encountered his approach before.
Second and equally refreshing was the discovery that his approach isn’t as unique as I thought it was. Arguing for the truth of Jesus’ story based on his unique and perfect character isn’t new; Gilson says that such arguments have been around earlier than the 1860s. Yet, the last author to utilize this approach is the Methodist minister Atticus G. Haygood, who wrote on it in 1929. This makes it an approach that is so old, Gilson says, “that it’s new again”. And while he seeks to resurrect this approach, he does not do so in a trite manner. Instead, he reinforces it with his own unique discoveries and adapts it to counter the various challenges that have been raised against the person of Christ since Haygood’s day; the challenges posed by the likes of Bart Ehrman and Richard Carrier, to name a few. The only other book in recent memory that achieves something comparable in resurrecting an old-but-forgotten approach is Lydia McGrew’s 'Hidden in Plain View', and it is my sincere prayer that both these books inspire other apologists to take on similar projects.
I must also add that I found Gilson’s writing absolutely enthralling. He doesn’t tell you about Jesus as much as he shows you who Jesus is. Furthermore, there were several moments when I sensed a childlike awe in his voice as he considered a particular aspect of Jesus’ character, often leading me to be filled with a similar sense of awe at the Lord I thought I knew so well. I am certain that other readers will sense this too.
In sum, Tom Gilson’s 'Too Good To Be False' is a book I wholeheartedly recommend. It is a timely reminder that the story of Jesus leaves us with nothing with which to ‘cancel’ Him, and more than enough to fall at His feet and worship Him. And this makes Him too good to be false.
August 1, 2020
Tom Gilson's Too Good to be False centers around Jesus' character and how His attributes reveal His divinity. This was a perspective I hadn't before heard which is what makes this book remarkable since it can sometimes feel like a new book on the market is just a rehashing of a book I've already read before. Gilson writes on Jesus’ exceptionality in the areas of His love, brilliance, authority, paradoxical leadership, His world-changing mission, His friendship, and the uniqueness of Him as both God and man.
FAVORITE PARTS OF TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE
There were a number of moments when reading Too Good to be False that I thought inwardly, "Hmm, I hadn't thought of this before!" Like the fact that Jesus never performed miracles for Himself. Or that behind His miraculous acts was also his brilliant knowledge base that knew the chemical structures of wine and water. Or that Jesus didn't just need to die for our sins (a fact that we hear frequently and for good reason) but He also didn't even have to be born.
Gilson also interjects personal stories throughout the book that is related to the subject matter so we, the audience, can better understand the point He is making about Christ.
WOULD I RECOMMEND TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE TO OTHERS?
Yes! Too Good to be False made me re-examine the uniqueness of Christ and love Him even more than before. I suggest this book for anyone who wants to grow in their relationship with Christ from a young believer to a seasoned one. You will not only grow in your knowledge base of Christ, but I also believe you’ll grow to love who He is more as well.
FAVORITE PARTS OF TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE
There were a number of moments when reading Too Good to be False that I thought inwardly, "Hmm, I hadn't thought of this before!" Like the fact that Jesus never performed miracles for Himself. Or that behind His miraculous acts was also his brilliant knowledge base that knew the chemical structures of wine and water. Or that Jesus didn't just need to die for our sins (a fact that we hear frequently and for good reason) but He also didn't even have to be born.
Gilson also interjects personal stories throughout the book that is related to the subject matter so we, the audience, can better understand the point He is making about Christ.
WOULD I RECOMMEND TOO GOOD TO BE FALSE TO OTHERS?
Yes! Too Good to be False made me re-examine the uniqueness of Christ and love Him even more than before. I suggest this book for anyone who wants to grow in their relationship with Christ from a young believer to a seasoned one. You will not only grow in your knowledge base of Christ, but I also believe you’ll grow to love who He is more as well.
August 7, 2020
Too Good to be False is a Christian apologetics book that's rigorous in its' intellectual approach to the author's stated purpose: to show how Jesus' character proves he is God. The arguments stay true to logic and the author brings out several points that I hadn't thought about in quite the same way before. I appreciated this deep dive into the character of Jesus and I closed the book with a greater sense of awe and love for who he is. For both Christians and skeptics, I highly recommend this book.
December 15, 2020
If you examine Christ's life, his personality, his teaching, his leadership style, one thing becomes abundantly clear, Jesus is too good to be false. There has never been a human being who lived the way He did, and it would be impossible to make up a story of a man like Him. There's no way that Jesus could be anyone other than who He claimed to be: God Incarnate.
I love the way this book follows logical steps of reasoning and evidence from the Bible and from history to build an irrefutable argument for the reality of Jesus. The writing is forceful and vivid, but it leads the reader gently down a path of truth to the convincing conclusion that Jesus is the only perfect human to have ever lived and died and risen again. Each step of the way is coherent and meaningful.
I was personally inspired and invigorated by the power of the writing in this book! I love that there is Scripture and quotes from famous Christian theologians peppered throughout the pages. The author builds on old discussions and debates from previous centuries, and shows how their theology and reasoning is still true today. He also shows how old false ideas about Jesus are being dressed up for the modern era, and causing even Christians to falter in their belief. He spends several chapters addressing the arguments of skeptics and atheists, proving just how flimsy their reasoning is.
I am so impressed with the calm logic and piercing truth in this book. Somehow the author manages to write passionately, and yet with such a composed rationale that inspires trust in every word. It makes me say, "Hey yeah! That's true! I can see the evidence the author has laid out for me and know it is true." The author goes straight to the heart of the matter, and lays bare the real issue in all its aspects, then challenges the reader to decide for themselves what is true.
At a couple of places I was almost in tears, reflecting on the marvelous love of Christ. What a wonderful book for Christian believers to read to strengthen their faith, or for anyone to read if they are just curious about who Jesus really was!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I love the way this book follows logical steps of reasoning and evidence from the Bible and from history to build an irrefutable argument for the reality of Jesus. The writing is forceful and vivid, but it leads the reader gently down a path of truth to the convincing conclusion that Jesus is the only perfect human to have ever lived and died and risen again. Each step of the way is coherent and meaningful.
I was personally inspired and invigorated by the power of the writing in this book! I love that there is Scripture and quotes from famous Christian theologians peppered throughout the pages. The author builds on old discussions and debates from previous centuries, and shows how their theology and reasoning is still true today. He also shows how old false ideas about Jesus are being dressed up for the modern era, and causing even Christians to falter in their belief. He spends several chapters addressing the arguments of skeptics and atheists, proving just how flimsy their reasoning is.
I am so impressed with the calm logic and piercing truth in this book. Somehow the author manages to write passionately, and yet with such a composed rationale that inspires trust in every word. It makes me say, "Hey yeah! That's true! I can see the evidence the author has laid out for me and know it is true." The author goes straight to the heart of the matter, and lays bare the real issue in all its aspects, then challenges the reader to decide for themselves what is true.
At a couple of places I was almost in tears, reflecting on the marvelous love of Christ. What a wonderful book for Christian believers to read to strengthen their faith, or for anyone to read if they are just curious about who Jesus really was!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
July 28, 2020
Some people thing Jesus is too good to be true. But what if he is too good to be false? That what Tom Gilson looks at in this accessible new book about Jesus. Gilson looks, not just at what Jesus did, but what he didn't do to give us fresh perspective on the most important person in history.
October 9, 2020
Jesus is far and away the most impressive man I've ever encountered. I had this thought decades ago. I was in a ghetto convenience store. My high school girlfriend's family owned a chain, and I would keep her company. One long Saturday I brought my Bible, and I read the Gospels. Whatever the Pharisees threw at Him, Jesus had the perfect answer. He was quick, He was smart, and He saw right through them.
So I agree with Gilson. The more you know Jesus, the more clearly true His crucial claim. He is the Son of God.
Notes:
Recommended by Stand to Reason
Paperback
Studying what Jesus didn’t say and what he didn’t do (2)
Power and love meet in Jesus like they never have any other person, or even any other character in literature (7)
Personal note: Page 16 explores a thought experiment I’ve also considered. If any of us actually had superpowers, would we use it for good? Or would we become monsters?
Jesus never let his extraordinary powers control him. He never even used them for his own benefit. It was always for others (17)
Jesus has all the virtues without the corresponding vice (34)
He teaches the word as one who has learned nothing from it, and is under no obligation to it--Phillip Scheff (37)
He wasn’t speaking for God as the prophets did, yet he spoke with the authority of God. The only way to make sense of this is to recognize he was speaking as God (41
He speaks as one who has the right to add to the law (43)
Jesus lived up to his teaching (48)
Jesus made a point of not giving straight answers (55)
Jesus alone could break the leadership rules (57)
Jesus made it challenging, not easy, to follow him (67)
Nowhere in all the gospels does it every say Jesus had faith in God (76)
God doesn’t put faith in God (84)
Have you ever noticed that your imagination can hardly be forced to picture him as shorter than yourself? (90)
No author, no novelist, no poet, and no playright has ever devised a character of perfect power and perfect love like Jesus (126)
Slavery has never been abolished except where Christian influence has lead the way (148)
So I agree with Gilson. The more you know Jesus, the more clearly true His crucial claim. He is the Son of God.
Notes:
Recommended by Stand to Reason
Paperback
Studying what Jesus didn’t say and what he didn’t do (2)
Power and love meet in Jesus like they never have any other person, or even any other character in literature (7)
Personal note: Page 16 explores a thought experiment I’ve also considered. If any of us actually had superpowers, would we use it for good? Or would we become monsters?
Jesus never let his extraordinary powers control him. He never even used them for his own benefit. It was always for others (17)
Jesus has all the virtues without the corresponding vice (34)
He teaches the word as one who has learned nothing from it, and is under no obligation to it--Phillip Scheff (37)
He wasn’t speaking for God as the prophets did, yet he spoke with the authority of God. The only way to make sense of this is to recognize he was speaking as God (41
He speaks as one who has the right to add to the law (43)
Jesus lived up to his teaching (48)
Jesus made a point of not giving straight answers (55)
Jesus alone could break the leadership rules (57)
Jesus made it challenging, not easy, to follow him (67)
Nowhere in all the gospels does it every say Jesus had faith in God (76)
God doesn’t put faith in God (84)
Have you ever noticed that your imagination can hardly be forced to picture him as shorter than yourself? (90)
No author, no novelist, no poet, and no playright has ever devised a character of perfect power and perfect love like Jesus (126)
Slavery has never been abolished except where Christian influence has lead the way (148)
July 8, 2021
In this book, Gilson takes on the task of defending the faith through the exemplary and impossible character of Jesus. He argues that no one, whether in real life or our best fiction, has come close to the character of Jesus and still had a story that holds deep interest, inspiration, and meaning for so many people. As the title of the book, Gilson claims that Jesus is simply too good to be false. Later in the book, he points out that making up the story of Jesus would be a bigger miracle than his true life.
I think Gilson oversells his case. The book does not seem to be written for skeptics, but rather for those of the faith looking for confirmation. I am uneasy with arguments that point to the exceptional quality of the bible as compared to everything else in life because it seems that can be a subjective discernment and largely based on culture and background.
Gilson doesn't do this for the bible per se, but rather for the character of Jesus, which is a bit different. I think there are some good thoughts in his argumentation that I would have developed a bit differently. My may criticism of the book is his presentation of his argument. It came off as a bit condescending and overly confident, with extreme/over-the-top adjectives. I actually think this made Gilson present a caricature of Jesus rather than the Jesus presented by the gospel. And I, as a follower of Jesus, did not really like the caricature.
That's not to say that Gilson's approach has no merit. I think that we can learn a lot from the character of Jesus, and I do think His character has implications for apologetics and the veracity of the faith. However, when you present Jesus as Superman (actually, much more than superman), I think that makes Jesus feel less real rather than defending the truth of the gospel. Ironically, Gilson cites Superman as the one character that comes close to Jesus, because Superman was based on Jesus.
Some good thoughts, but I doubt Gilson's approach will convenience anyone who is not already a Christian with a high view of scripture and/or of Jesus. I think the tone was too much. I hope the argument is framed differently in future works.
I think Gilson oversells his case. The book does not seem to be written for skeptics, but rather for those of the faith looking for confirmation. I am uneasy with arguments that point to the exceptional quality of the bible as compared to everything else in life because it seems that can be a subjective discernment and largely based on culture and background.
Gilson doesn't do this for the bible per se, but rather for the character of Jesus, which is a bit different. I think there are some good thoughts in his argumentation that I would have developed a bit differently. My may criticism of the book is his presentation of his argument. It came off as a bit condescending and overly confident, with extreme/over-the-top adjectives. I actually think this made Gilson present a caricature of Jesus rather than the Jesus presented by the gospel. And I, as a follower of Jesus, did not really like the caricature.
That's not to say that Gilson's approach has no merit. I think that we can learn a lot from the character of Jesus, and I do think His character has implications for apologetics and the veracity of the faith. However, when you present Jesus as Superman (actually, much more than superman), I think that makes Jesus feel less real rather than defending the truth of the gospel. Ironically, Gilson cites Superman as the one character that comes close to Jesus, because Superman was based on Jesus.
Some good thoughts, but I doubt Gilson's approach will convenience anyone who is not already a Christian with a high view of scripture and/or of Jesus. I think the tone was too much. I hope the argument is framed differently in future works.
August 3, 2020
I was put on a quest to read about this Jesus who is Too Good To Be False, and like a newsboy in my formative years, I felt compelled to share the good news.
Too Good To Be False mentions we would expect Jesus to be “inaccessible, remote, far beyond human reach.” Gilson even appropriately asserts that if it were up to us, He would be. “Instead, shockingly, He calls us friend.”
If you want to see Jesus with fresh eyes without compromising the Scripture, then get yourself this book to find out why Jesus is Too Good To Be False.
My prayer is that it will move you to your knees in awe of our compassionate and caring Savior.
When you see Him, you will see the Father.
Christ will meet you in your chaos and the book Too Good to Be False will show you how. Be prepared to have a renewed appreciation for the Gospels and especially for the God who cares and proved it in His character that is Too Good to Be False.
For more on my take, go here: https://valormediaconferences.com/fin...
Too Good To Be False mentions we would expect Jesus to be “inaccessible, remote, far beyond human reach.” Gilson even appropriately asserts that if it were up to us, He would be. “Instead, shockingly, He calls us friend.”
If you want to see Jesus with fresh eyes without compromising the Scripture, then get yourself this book to find out why Jesus is Too Good To Be False.
My prayer is that it will move you to your knees in awe of our compassionate and caring Savior.
When you see Him, you will see the Father.
Christ will meet you in your chaos and the book Too Good to Be False will show you how. Be prepared to have a renewed appreciation for the Gospels and especially for the God who cares and proved it in His character that is Too Good to Be False.
For more on my take, go here: https://valormediaconferences.com/fin...
August 5, 2020
The Answer? Jesus Really IS Too Good to be False!
Tom Gilson covers the defense of Christianity from an interesting angle by looking at the incomparable characteristics of Jesus and how this reveals his reality. To create the unique personhood of Jesus would require a literary genius because the characteristics he had were unlike any you would read about in literature. Gilson also takes a look at his brilliance, his leadership, his relational skills and more to highlight the exceptionality of Christ.
Would I recommend Too Good to be False to others? Yes! This is a great book for believers to be more solidified in their faith and to fall in love with their savior all the more and it's a great book to challenge the skeptic to take a look at the unique personhood, maybe for the first time.
Tom Gilson covers the defense of Christianity from an interesting angle by looking at the incomparable characteristics of Jesus and how this reveals his reality. To create the unique personhood of Jesus would require a literary genius because the characteristics he had were unlike any you would read about in literature. Gilson also takes a look at his brilliance, his leadership, his relational skills and more to highlight the exceptionality of Christ.
Would I recommend Too Good to be False to others? Yes! This is a great book for believers to be more solidified in their faith and to fall in love with their savior all the more and it's a great book to challenge the skeptic to take a look at the unique personhood, maybe for the first time.
March 5, 2021
This is it! For years I have tried to articulate my personal conviction about why I continue to believe in Jesus in the face of modern critical challenges. Usually I have said things like “I am fascinated by Jesus” or “I just think he is too unique to be made up” or “he just rings true.” But Gilson makes the case I have been trying to make, and then some.
His thesis is that Jesus’ character is the best apologetic for him. He details the unique features of that character—stressing that these survive whatever gospel transmission processes critics propose—and why they are counterintuitive and worthy of note. Jesus never uses his power for himself, relies on his own personal authority, and is perfectly balanced in his treatment of others.
Gilson then brings in the comments of critics, who explain Jesus and the gospels by cognitive dissonance theory and an aggregating process of oral transmission. Explaining this unique character by making the process of his creation LESS orderly doesn’t add up.
Thrilled to find this book, happy to recommend it.
His thesis is that Jesus’ character is the best apologetic for him. He details the unique features of that character—stressing that these survive whatever gospel transmission processes critics propose—and why they are counterintuitive and worthy of note. Jesus never uses his power for himself, relies on his own personal authority, and is perfectly balanced in his treatment of others.
Gilson then brings in the comments of critics, who explain Jesus and the gospels by cognitive dissonance theory and an aggregating process of oral transmission. Explaining this unique character by making the process of his creation LESS orderly doesn’t add up.
Thrilled to find this book, happy to recommend it.
August 20, 2020
3+. Contains many interesting points not as often thought about regarding the utter uniqueness of Jesus, expressed in a very readable way.
August 1, 2020
I truly enjoyed this book, and how it used the Biblical accounts to show how unique and powerful are the words and actions of Jesus Christ. I discovered truths about Jesus I had never considered before, even as a lifelong Christian—facets of his personality that made me sit back in awe. It was easy to read and enjoy, and I will be referring back to this book for years to come.
February 9, 2021
Special thanks to DeWard Publishing for the free review copy of the book.
When I first heard the title of Tom Gilson's book, I must confess I was puzzled. How could something be "too good to be false"? That didn't make logical sense to me. Now that I have read through the tome, I can see it is something that has stared us all in the face for a long time. Now Gilson has brought this fact to life.
Building on the works of 19th century Christian thinkers such as Atticus Haygood and William Paley, Gilson systematically moves through the character of Jesus as elucidated in the Scriptures and shows us that no other person -- either real or fictional -- has done what Jesus has done. Jesus was a man of perfect moral character, who was so brilliant he never sought advice from anyone else, who used himself as an authority rather than citing the prophets from Scripture, who never improved because he was perfect and couldn't improve, etc. This kind of person would be insufferable to know in real life, yet people wanted to be around him and learn from him. This kind of literary character would be exceptionally dull in any story concocted by man, and yet Jesus is the greatest character in all of literature and millions of people want to read about him.
Jesus was also a man of unlimited power, yet he never used that power for his own benefit. In the stories we often read in comic books and watch in movies, characters with superpowers are often written as conflicted between good and evil, or as selfish, using their powers to benefit themselves even though they also want to save the world. Jesus wasn't like that. Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness after he fasted for 40 days but never managed to tempt Jesus into making bread from stones or worshiping Satan to gain monetary wealth. When he used his ability to work miracles, it was always for the benefit of others, never for the benefit of himself. We would never believe such a character in a movie -- we know that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But Jesus isn't like that. He has absolute power and he still remains a perfect man.
Gilson's book is very easy to read. It is written accessibly and punctuated stories from his own life to add color to it. But this is a book that should not be breezed through and then forgotten about. This is an argument that needs to be picked back up by the church. Gilson deftly explains how not only is Jesus a character too good to be false, but critics who try to get around belief in Jesus by arguing that he was merely a legend don't know what they're talking about. This book should be on every Christian's bookshelf and re-read periodically so that you can make the case for Jesus being too good to be false to your skeptical friends.
When I first heard the title of Tom Gilson's book, I must confess I was puzzled. How could something be "too good to be false"? That didn't make logical sense to me. Now that I have read through the tome, I can see it is something that has stared us all in the face for a long time. Now Gilson has brought this fact to life.
Building on the works of 19th century Christian thinkers such as Atticus Haygood and William Paley, Gilson systematically moves through the character of Jesus as elucidated in the Scriptures and shows us that no other person -- either real or fictional -- has done what Jesus has done. Jesus was a man of perfect moral character, who was so brilliant he never sought advice from anyone else, who used himself as an authority rather than citing the prophets from Scripture, who never improved because he was perfect and couldn't improve, etc. This kind of person would be insufferable to know in real life, yet people wanted to be around him and learn from him. This kind of literary character would be exceptionally dull in any story concocted by man, and yet Jesus is the greatest character in all of literature and millions of people want to read about him.
Jesus was also a man of unlimited power, yet he never used that power for his own benefit. In the stories we often read in comic books and watch in movies, characters with superpowers are often written as conflicted between good and evil, or as selfish, using their powers to benefit themselves even though they also want to save the world. Jesus wasn't like that. Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness after he fasted for 40 days but never managed to tempt Jesus into making bread from stones or worshiping Satan to gain monetary wealth. When he used his ability to work miracles, it was always for the benefit of others, never for the benefit of himself. We would never believe such a character in a movie -- we know that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But Jesus isn't like that. He has absolute power and he still remains a perfect man.
Gilson's book is very easy to read. It is written accessibly and punctuated stories from his own life to add color to it. But this is a book that should not be breezed through and then forgotten about. This is an argument that needs to be picked back up by the church. Gilson deftly explains how not only is Jesus a character too good to be false, but critics who try to get around belief in Jesus by arguing that he was merely a legend don't know what they're talking about. This book should be on every Christian's bookshelf and re-read periodically so that you can make the case for Jesus being too good to be false to your skeptical friends.
September 5, 2021
The ideas in this book are simple and profound. Gilson’s writing style makes it easy to read and understand. One of the best books I’ve read on reasons to believe in Christ.
August 1, 2020
As someone who takes an interest in the intersection of the historical Jesus and Christian apologetics, it sometimes feels like all that can be said has been said. Works asking the question “who was Jesus?” are legion, both from a skeptical viewpoint and a Christian perspective. Too Good to Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality by Tom Gilson takes a fresh perspective that makes this the first work of apologetics that made me want to worship.
There are plenty of books that defend the reliability of the Gospels by looking at historical evidence or examining skeptical objections. Gilson does a bit of an end-around and shows that the person of Jesus isn’t like any other character in history or fiction. He does this by not just focusing on who Jesus is as presented in the New Testament, but what he didn’t do. And when you see that, you’ll realize that it’s a story too good to be false. Jesus just can’t be invented.
For example, Gilson argues that the Gospels never told a story about Jesus using his miraculous powers to serve himself. Every miracle that the Gospels record was driven by Jesus’ radical compassion and other-centeredness. And he never lost sight of his other-focused mission, not once.
The Gospels could have portrayed Jesus as “saying thus says the Lord” like the prophets before him. Instead, Jesus would say things like ‘you have heard it that it was said …but verily, I say unto you’. If Jesus wrote a paper, his citations would be ‘Myself’, and it wouldn’t be at all arrogant. And not one Gospel writer portrayed him breezing through his sufferings, putting his deity above his humanity.
Jesus is never depicted as having faith, a new argument I hadn’t previously thought about. If you’re God, do you really need to have faith in yourself? And Jesus was brilliant, never losing a debate or being thrown off-guard by a tough question. Jesus was never had one of those shower-moments where he said to Himself, “that’s what I should’ve said!”
Drawing on the works of other great apologists that have unfortunately long been forgotten, Gilson multiplies examples like these in a fun and entertaining way. He’s not just coldly laying down facts, he’s like a kid in a candy store. You can tell that this study has impacted him deeply personally, and he can’t wait to tell you about it, or more accurately, about Jesus. There’s an evangelistic passion here.
Gilson’s argument is summarized in one of these great apologists, Howard Bushnell:
“By what accident, then, we are compelled to ask, was an age of myths and fables able to develop and set forth the only conception of a perfect character ever known in our world? Were these four mythological dreamers, believing their own dreams and all others besides, the men to produce the perfect character of Jesus, and a system of teachings that transcend all other teachings ever given to the race? If there be a greater miracle, or a tax on human credulity more severe, we know not where it is. Nothing is so difficult, all human literature testifies, as to draw a character, and keep it in its living proportions. How much more to draw a perfect character, and not discolor it fatally by marks from the imperfection of the biographer.”
In other words, the skeptics tell us that the personality and deeds of Jesus were like a game of Telephone. Myths were breathed into the story of Jesus to make him seem more significant. But we all have divergent ideas of greatness, and somehow we have four biographies that point to a man with perfect character, compassion, authority, and leadership. Jesus’ perfection of character is uniform by every Christian writer we have in the New Testament, but he is so unlike the kind of perfect man we would invent.
Almost everyone wants to co-opt Jesus on the side of their cause. Jesus was the most influential person in history.
The bottom line is this: If this wasn’t true, then the Gospel writers must have been far superior to Jesus himself. And that just doesn’t make sense. We have apocryphal Gospels to compare them to — Jesus turning clay into birds, cursing kids who teased him and talking crosses speaking of the grandness of his resurrection. These are what real legends look like.
If you’re a skeptic, you should read this book. Even if you find Gilson’s arguments to be not fully persuasive, at the very least, you should come away wanting the Gospels to be true. I can’t come close to doing his argument justice here, just be prepared to be challenged more than you might expect.
If you’re a Christian, you also should read this book. We can tend to take Jesus for granted, but I promise you’ll see Jesus with fresh eyes after reading it and end up loving him more. This is more than just a book defending the Gospels or the Deity of Christ, although it certainly is that. But you just can’t talk about the grandness of Jesus and it not affect your heart.
And if you’re an apologist and a book nut like me, Gilson provides a bibliography of these forgotten gems of apologetics. Many of these are public domain. I know I’ve downloaded several of them already. My appetite has definitely been whetted to read even more on this argument, but it’s not for a lack of thoroughness on Gilson’s part.
There are plenty of books that defend the reliability of the Gospels by looking at historical evidence or examining skeptical objections. Gilson does a bit of an end-around and shows that the person of Jesus isn’t like any other character in history or fiction. He does this by not just focusing on who Jesus is as presented in the New Testament, but what he didn’t do. And when you see that, you’ll realize that it’s a story too good to be false. Jesus just can’t be invented.
For example, Gilson argues that the Gospels never told a story about Jesus using his miraculous powers to serve himself. Every miracle that the Gospels record was driven by Jesus’ radical compassion and other-centeredness. And he never lost sight of his other-focused mission, not once.
The Gospels could have portrayed Jesus as “saying thus says the Lord” like the prophets before him. Instead, Jesus would say things like ‘you have heard it that it was said …but verily, I say unto you’. If Jesus wrote a paper, his citations would be ‘Myself’, and it wouldn’t be at all arrogant. And not one Gospel writer portrayed him breezing through his sufferings, putting his deity above his humanity.
Jesus is never depicted as having faith, a new argument I hadn’t previously thought about. If you’re God, do you really need to have faith in yourself? And Jesus was brilliant, never losing a debate or being thrown off-guard by a tough question. Jesus was never had one of those shower-moments where he said to Himself, “that’s what I should’ve said!”
Drawing on the works of other great apologists that have unfortunately long been forgotten, Gilson multiplies examples like these in a fun and entertaining way. He’s not just coldly laying down facts, he’s like a kid in a candy store. You can tell that this study has impacted him deeply personally, and he can’t wait to tell you about it, or more accurately, about Jesus. There’s an evangelistic passion here.
Gilson’s argument is summarized in one of these great apologists, Howard Bushnell:
“By what accident, then, we are compelled to ask, was an age of myths and fables able to develop and set forth the only conception of a perfect character ever known in our world? Were these four mythological dreamers, believing their own dreams and all others besides, the men to produce the perfect character of Jesus, and a system of teachings that transcend all other teachings ever given to the race? If there be a greater miracle, or a tax on human credulity more severe, we know not where it is. Nothing is so difficult, all human literature testifies, as to draw a character, and keep it in its living proportions. How much more to draw a perfect character, and not discolor it fatally by marks from the imperfection of the biographer.”
In other words, the skeptics tell us that the personality and deeds of Jesus were like a game of Telephone. Myths were breathed into the story of Jesus to make him seem more significant. But we all have divergent ideas of greatness, and somehow we have four biographies that point to a man with perfect character, compassion, authority, and leadership. Jesus’ perfection of character is uniform by every Christian writer we have in the New Testament, but he is so unlike the kind of perfect man we would invent.
Almost everyone wants to co-opt Jesus on the side of their cause. Jesus was the most influential person in history.
The bottom line is this: If this wasn’t true, then the Gospel writers must have been far superior to Jesus himself. And that just doesn’t make sense. We have apocryphal Gospels to compare them to — Jesus turning clay into birds, cursing kids who teased him and talking crosses speaking of the grandness of his resurrection. These are what real legends look like.
If you’re a skeptic, you should read this book. Even if you find Gilson’s arguments to be not fully persuasive, at the very least, you should come away wanting the Gospels to be true. I can’t come close to doing his argument justice here, just be prepared to be challenged more than you might expect.
If you’re a Christian, you also should read this book. We can tend to take Jesus for granted, but I promise you’ll see Jesus with fresh eyes after reading it and end up loving him more. This is more than just a book defending the Gospels or the Deity of Christ, although it certainly is that. But you just can’t talk about the grandness of Jesus and it not affect your heart.
And if you’re an apologist and a book nut like me, Gilson provides a bibliography of these forgotten gems of apologetics. Many of these are public domain. I know I’ve downloaded several of them already. My appetite has definitely been whetted to read even more on this argument, but it’s not for a lack of thoroughness on Gilson’s part.
October 21, 2020
A masterpiece of fresh scholarship on Jesus and the Gospels!
Tom Gilson’s new book, 'Too Good To Be False', is extraordinary, and probably groundbreaking with respect to the gospels! I exuberantly recommend it to everyone, whether you are a current follower of Jesus, a skeptic, or a devoted Muslim, etc. This book compellingly demonstrates that the character of Jesus is unsurpassed in all of literature. Not only unsurpassed, but also unsurpassable! Gilson argues that no writer in history has every created a character—fictional or true—with such unparalleled qualities of goodness, authority, leadership, brilliance, supernatural power, and self-sacrificial love all in one person. Normally the combination of great power with goodness in a person corrupts that person. But not Jesus. He alone possessed the virtue to exercise his irresistible power for the benefit of others only, and to restrain his power to save himself when his self-sacrificial death was the highest possible good for the people of the day. And not only for his contemporaries, but also for the salvation of all humanity from the dawn of the world to the present day. Any characters that seem comparable are modeled after the exemplar of Jesus, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Arranged in three parts, 'Too Good To Be False' is superbly well-organized and footnoted. It is written with clear, engaging, and personalized prose, replete with anecdotes and analogies from the author’s own experience with the subject. Tom combines rich theological and devotional substance for the common believer with solid evidences and cogent logic for those troubled with doubts and the more ardent intellectual skeptics alike. And in chapter 9 he does not avoid the latters’ explicit challenges to the gospels’ authenticity (pp 107-123). One prominent strand of his argument that appears in part two of the book is that the gospels are enormously harmonious with each other. Gilson goes on to show that the only reasonable explanation for this is that from their own imaginations the gospel writers could not have created the character of Jesus that is consistent across the four gospels. He must have been real, and he must have been exactly the kind of man they reported him to be. This is a book that I would readily give as a gift to everybody, including Muslims with whom I interface regularly. I say all this also from the lens of an adult Sunday school teacher. In my class I am currently teaching a series on the Gospels + Acts. I have introduced 'Too Good To Be False' to my class as an exceptional resource, but it is well-worthy of being the primary text alongside the gospels themselves. Thankfully, Tom had that in mind when writing this masterpiece. In the appendix he has included a very helpful study guide for just that purpose.
Finally, I truly appreciate the Epilogue for Pastors, Teachers and Other Ministers (pp. 177-183). In it the author shines the spotlight on the New Testament book of Hebrews as a primary treatise on defending the Christian faith with reason and faith combined. Here is a quote from this epilogue:
The writer of Hebrews showed his readers “the matchless supremacy of Jesus Christ, and he did it through the use of persuasive reasoning. …He certainly didn’t think reasons were unnecessary. If he had he could have saved himself a lot of trouble, for he could have said everything that needed saying in the first four verses [text inserted here]. If reasons were unneeded, he could have [skipped right to the juicy theological parts about the new covenant and Jesus as High Priest]. He didn’t write it that way, though. Instead he presents a rational, reasoned case for believing Jesus was great enough to follow. …The writer laid out evidence and reasons to show them how they could know it was true. …This is the model, a model that today we call apologetics. …The letter took their [the Hebrew Christians’] knowledge and convictions as a starting point, then built layers of new knowledge and reasoning on top of it…that supply reasons for belief in Christ.”
I heartily agree! So if you haven’t already, go to Amazon.com and get your own copy of 'Too Good To Be False'. I think you will relish it as much as or more than I did.
– Scott Cherry
Tom Gilson’s new book, 'Too Good To Be False', is extraordinary, and probably groundbreaking with respect to the gospels! I exuberantly recommend it to everyone, whether you are a current follower of Jesus, a skeptic, or a devoted Muslim, etc. This book compellingly demonstrates that the character of Jesus is unsurpassed in all of literature. Not only unsurpassed, but also unsurpassable! Gilson argues that no writer in history has every created a character—fictional or true—with such unparalleled qualities of goodness, authority, leadership, brilliance, supernatural power, and self-sacrificial love all in one person. Normally the combination of great power with goodness in a person corrupts that person. But not Jesus. He alone possessed the virtue to exercise his irresistible power for the benefit of others only, and to restrain his power to save himself when his self-sacrificial death was the highest possible good for the people of the day. And not only for his contemporaries, but also for the salvation of all humanity from the dawn of the world to the present day. Any characters that seem comparable are modeled after the exemplar of Jesus, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Arranged in three parts, 'Too Good To Be False' is superbly well-organized and footnoted. It is written with clear, engaging, and personalized prose, replete with anecdotes and analogies from the author’s own experience with the subject. Tom combines rich theological and devotional substance for the common believer with solid evidences and cogent logic for those troubled with doubts and the more ardent intellectual skeptics alike. And in chapter 9 he does not avoid the latters’ explicit challenges to the gospels’ authenticity (pp 107-123). One prominent strand of his argument that appears in part two of the book is that the gospels are enormously harmonious with each other. Gilson goes on to show that the only reasonable explanation for this is that from their own imaginations the gospel writers could not have created the character of Jesus that is consistent across the four gospels. He must have been real, and he must have been exactly the kind of man they reported him to be. This is a book that I would readily give as a gift to everybody, including Muslims with whom I interface regularly. I say all this also from the lens of an adult Sunday school teacher. In my class I am currently teaching a series on the Gospels + Acts. I have introduced 'Too Good To Be False' to my class as an exceptional resource, but it is well-worthy of being the primary text alongside the gospels themselves. Thankfully, Tom had that in mind when writing this masterpiece. In the appendix he has included a very helpful study guide for just that purpose.
Finally, I truly appreciate the Epilogue for Pastors, Teachers and Other Ministers (pp. 177-183). In it the author shines the spotlight on the New Testament book of Hebrews as a primary treatise on defending the Christian faith with reason and faith combined. Here is a quote from this epilogue:
The writer of Hebrews showed his readers “the matchless supremacy of Jesus Christ, and he did it through the use of persuasive reasoning. …He certainly didn’t think reasons were unnecessary. If he had he could have saved himself a lot of trouble, for he could have said everything that needed saying in the first four verses [text inserted here]. If reasons were unneeded, he could have [skipped right to the juicy theological parts about the new covenant and Jesus as High Priest]. He didn’t write it that way, though. Instead he presents a rational, reasoned case for believing Jesus was great enough to follow. …The writer laid out evidence and reasons to show them how they could know it was true. …This is the model, a model that today we call apologetics. …The letter took their [the Hebrew Christians’] knowledge and convictions as a starting point, then built layers of new knowledge and reasoning on top of it…that supply reasons for belief in Christ.”
I heartily agree! So if you haven’t already, go to Amazon.com and get your own copy of 'Too Good To Be False'. I think you will relish it as much as or more than I did.
– Scott Cherry
August 3, 2020
“… we believe that all human history, all human destiny, indeed the life of every single individual who’s ever lived, rests entirely on this one young man’s shoulders and his alone, now and throughout all eternity.” (165)
Throughout my undergraduate education at a Christian university, I’ve read books on apologetics, systematic theology, biblical theology, and the like. I’ve also read literature that embodied the beauty, goodness and truth of the Christian story. Therefore, when I heard of Gilson’s Too Good to Be False, I thought to myself, “What new Christian book exists to evoke in believers (and people of other faiths) a deeper appreciation and awe for the person of Jesus Christ?”
I admit that I was suspicious when the author introduced to readers a way to “see Jesus through new eyes.” How can a book use an approach so old that “they’d become new again”? Thankfully, Gilson rightfully asserts that the book’s approach to viewing Jesus through new eyes does not lead to the “new truths” that undergird deceptive cults and falsehood.
Rather, Gilson goes into depth looking at the truths of Jesus that are often overlooked. I, for one, have personally gained a deeper appreciation for the person of Jesus. It was convicting for me to realize as I read Gilson’s chapters on Jesus’s brilliance and authority that my supposed familiarity with the gospels has made me lack the depth of appreciation for Christ. I admire Gilson for reminding readers of the social and religious climate of the text that explain why Jesus is so unique and controversial. This is an aspect of the book I value.
My only critique of this book is that I wish the author discussed in more depth on how Jesus is perceived in non-Western countries. He did state that the world he knows best is the "Western world: Europe and its cultural descendants," so it is understandable why he takes a Western approach, describing cultural influences in the West like the Enlightenment in relation to Christianity.
This book is a light read, and one that paints a portrait of Jesus highlighting his personal attributes in an intimate, human way without compromising his divinity. I respect how Gilson writes in a way that convicts me of my own bias as a 21st century Christian, and my need to take a look at Jesus through a 1st century Jewish perspective. In fact, his book has made me evaluate the questions I personally wrestle with. Why do most Jews not believe that Jesus is the Messiah? How can they read the same Torah/Old Testament, but come to a vastly different conclusion on who Jesus is?
While these questions require much more depth that I doubt will be adequately explained in a brief book, Too Good to be False has deepened my awe for the ever-familiar stories and most importantly, the main character that I often forget in Scripture. This books points my heart and mind to the one man whose nature and work rests the eternal destiny of humankind.
Throughout my undergraduate education at a Christian university, I’ve read books on apologetics, systematic theology, biblical theology, and the like. I’ve also read literature that embodied the beauty, goodness and truth of the Christian story. Therefore, when I heard of Gilson’s Too Good to Be False, I thought to myself, “What new Christian book exists to evoke in believers (and people of other faiths) a deeper appreciation and awe for the person of Jesus Christ?”
I admit that I was suspicious when the author introduced to readers a way to “see Jesus through new eyes.” How can a book use an approach so old that “they’d become new again”? Thankfully, Gilson rightfully asserts that the book’s approach to viewing Jesus through new eyes does not lead to the “new truths” that undergird deceptive cults and falsehood.
Rather, Gilson goes into depth looking at the truths of Jesus that are often overlooked. I, for one, have personally gained a deeper appreciation for the person of Jesus. It was convicting for me to realize as I read Gilson’s chapters on Jesus’s brilliance and authority that my supposed familiarity with the gospels has made me lack the depth of appreciation for Christ. I admire Gilson for reminding readers of the social and religious climate of the text that explain why Jesus is so unique and controversial. This is an aspect of the book I value.
My only critique of this book is that I wish the author discussed in more depth on how Jesus is perceived in non-Western countries. He did state that the world he knows best is the "Western world: Europe and its cultural descendants," so it is understandable why he takes a Western approach, describing cultural influences in the West like the Enlightenment in relation to Christianity.
This book is a light read, and one that paints a portrait of Jesus highlighting his personal attributes in an intimate, human way without compromising his divinity. I respect how Gilson writes in a way that convicts me of my own bias as a 21st century Christian, and my need to take a look at Jesus through a 1st century Jewish perspective. In fact, his book has made me evaluate the questions I personally wrestle with. Why do most Jews not believe that Jesus is the Messiah? How can they read the same Torah/Old Testament, but come to a vastly different conclusion on who Jesus is?
While these questions require much more depth that I doubt will be adequately explained in a brief book, Too Good to be False has deepened my awe for the ever-familiar stories and most importantly, the main character that I often forget in Scripture. This books points my heart and mind to the one man whose nature and work rests the eternal destiny of humankind.
August 1, 2020
Too Good to be Missed
Do you want to fall in love with Jesus again? Maybe you have never taken the time to really get to know Him or to see Him clearly. This book will rekindle a sense of awe and wonder for the person and deity of Christ. It really is too good to be missed.
I read a lot of apologetics books. So when someone claims to have a new teaching on Christ, I tend to be a tad suspicious. I certainly was when I began reading Tom Gilson’s new book, Too Good to be False. But Gilson claims old truths in a new way.
The facts that Gilson points out aren’t really new, but they are things that even dedicated believers like myself may have never considered. His way of looking at the life and ministry of Jesus is truly unique for today.
We think Jesus lived a perfect life, but we don’t often think about that in a concrete manner. What did that look like at home, with His family, friends, etc.? What do we not see in Jesus’s life that we would expect to in any other person’s life? Jesus truly was unique in all of history and literature.
Has any other character EVER in literature or history been perfect? As a former teacher of literature, I cannot think of any. Even in our wildest imaginations, we cannot even conceive of a person without flaws. What makes us think that the authors of the gospels could have invented Jesus? Not even the greatest literary giants ever conceived of a character so powerful, so selfless, so loving, so perfect.
Gilson uses the unique character of Jesus and the details of his ministry to take us down a path to see how that helps solidify the likelihood that the Gospels have to be the true recollections of the disciples.
Why should you read this book?
First, it’s a fairly quick read. This is an enjoyably easy, and yet rich, book to read to solidify your faith. Additionally, Gilson has included a nice study guide that makes this a great book to use with your teens or in small group study.
As someone who is regularly attacked for believing in the reliability of the Gospels, I can tell you that the way Gilson reflects on what the Gospels don’t say, don’t do, and how they don’t match up with the concept of a “telephone game legend” was truly refreshing.
In some ways, his arguments feel very much like Frank Turek and Norman Geisler’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist because you need more faith to believe the skeptics’ versions of the Gospels!
I didn’t walk away with a ton of facts and figures to memorize. Instead, I walked away with a renewed sense of awe for the person of Christ and some great logical points solidifying my faith that the Gospel stories about Jesus are true.
I think this book is one that is too good to be missed for all Christians.
Do you want to fall in love with Jesus again? Maybe you have never taken the time to really get to know Him or to see Him clearly. This book will rekindle a sense of awe and wonder for the person and deity of Christ. It really is too good to be missed.
I read a lot of apologetics books. So when someone claims to have a new teaching on Christ, I tend to be a tad suspicious. I certainly was when I began reading Tom Gilson’s new book, Too Good to be False. But Gilson claims old truths in a new way.
The facts that Gilson points out aren’t really new, but they are things that even dedicated believers like myself may have never considered. His way of looking at the life and ministry of Jesus is truly unique for today.
We think Jesus lived a perfect life, but we don’t often think about that in a concrete manner. What did that look like at home, with His family, friends, etc.? What do we not see in Jesus’s life that we would expect to in any other person’s life? Jesus truly was unique in all of history and literature.
Has any other character EVER in literature or history been perfect? As a former teacher of literature, I cannot think of any. Even in our wildest imaginations, we cannot even conceive of a person without flaws. What makes us think that the authors of the gospels could have invented Jesus? Not even the greatest literary giants ever conceived of a character so powerful, so selfless, so loving, so perfect.
Gilson uses the unique character of Jesus and the details of his ministry to take us down a path to see how that helps solidify the likelihood that the Gospels have to be the true recollections of the disciples.
Why should you read this book?
First, it’s a fairly quick read. This is an enjoyably easy, and yet rich, book to read to solidify your faith. Additionally, Gilson has included a nice study guide that makes this a great book to use with your teens or in small group study.
As someone who is regularly attacked for believing in the reliability of the Gospels, I can tell you that the way Gilson reflects on what the Gospels don’t say, don’t do, and how they don’t match up with the concept of a “telephone game legend” was truly refreshing.
In some ways, his arguments feel very much like Frank Turek and Norman Geisler’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist because you need more faith to believe the skeptics’ versions of the Gospels!
I didn’t walk away with a ton of facts and figures to memorize. Instead, I walked away with a renewed sense of awe for the person of Christ and some great logical points solidifying my faith that the Gospel stories about Jesus are true.
I think this book is one that is too good to be missed for all Christians.
August 4, 2020
Too Good To Be False was a breath of fresh air in the Christian non-fiction realm. I love to read Christian apologetics books but they often repeat themselves to the point that what they say gets to be commonplace.
Too Good To Be False takes a whole different approach and because it does, I have come away with a whole new view of who Jesus is and how worthy He really is of worship!
The first chapter was really hard for me to get through. (Probably cause I am a tired mom of littles who shouldn't read so late at night...) After that first chapter and a good night of sleep, I read the rest of the book in only three settings. It was that good.
For full disclosure, I did receive a free digital advance release copy of this book but all thoughts about it are my own. If you want to read a lengthier review about the book, I share it here-https://www.ambitionsforchrist.com/bo...
This book is a must-read for Christians who want to wake up from their apathy towards Jesus!
Too Good To Be False takes a whole different approach and because it does, I have come away with a whole new view of who Jesus is and how worthy He really is of worship!
The first chapter was really hard for me to get through. (Probably cause I am a tired mom of littles who shouldn't read so late at night...) After that first chapter and a good night of sleep, I read the rest of the book in only three settings. It was that good.
For full disclosure, I did receive a free digital advance release copy of this book but all thoughts about it are my own. If you want to read a lengthier review about the book, I share it here-https://www.ambitionsforchrist.com/bo...
This book is a must-read for Christians who want to wake up from their apathy towards Jesus!
August 1, 2020
This book takes a refreshing approach to examining the life and works of Jesus of Nazareth, one that he admits he "resurrected" from the past but has been lost to modern readers. This approach is to look at Jesus based on what He "didn't say," and what He "didn't do," rather than what He did do and what He did say, which ends up being very refreshing and insightful! Every chapter has something that I found unique and interesting and had me taking a new look at the context of passages I've read over dozens of times to think it through from a different perspective. The author also emphasizes Jesus' own character and this also adds much to its force and lives up to the title! The book is written for believers and skeptics alike. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book without any hesitation or reservations, go ahead and "add to cart" now, you will thank yourself later!
August 6, 2020
Too Good to be False gives an overview of why Jesus is someone we are STILL talking about thousands of years later. Why do you ask? Jesus has personal attributes that history had never before seen and will never see again. Jesus had parents that learned from his teaching on love instead of the other way around. Jesus was the most brilliant man who ever walked the face of the earth. When he gave his Sermon on the Mount, it was by his authority. He didn't need any sources. He was never dumbfounded by a question; he always had the perfect answer to fit the needs of each individual. Gilson makes the sold-out Christian even more sold-out for him by reminding us why our faith is central to this historical figure.
Suffice to say, Gilson sold me on Jesus! I admire the figure of Christ more than I did before reading this book and that's a high claim to give for any book.
Suffice to say, Gilson sold me on Jesus! I admire the figure of Christ more than I did before reading this book and that's a high claim to give for any book.
December 3, 2021
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the person of Jesus, theology, or apologetics. It is a thoughtful, carefully reasoned work that is also very accessible. It is also worth giving to someone who is skeptical or doubting. Jesus is the most influential person in all of human history and stand alone as a perfect person. It is common for people to put Jesus alongside a pantheon of others such as Moses, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna etc. But they stand an infinite distance below the person of Christ. But this points to the strangeness of our accounts of Him. How did supposedly poor educated fishermen and peasants come up with Him? The short answer is that they did not. They simply reported the Man and His character and deeds. Highest possible recommendation for this book.
July 25, 2020
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a lawyer, or an investigative reporter, or maybe a detective, or if you love to ask questions, you will love this book. Reading it was as though I were sitting with Tom Gilson, meeting this amazing Jesus all over again. We marveled at his love and his goodness. His clever questions and brilliant responses, his leadership and humility all came alive. This book puts it all together: history, apologetics, a perfect character and unexpected humor. It offers insightful answers to hard questions, gives the skeptic some new ways to think about Jesus, and walks with me—and you--on a journey to let this Jesus live and love in and through us.
August 30, 2020
Through highlighting the extraordinarily powerful and excellent character of Christ, and exposing the holes in skeptics' theories about the credibility of the Jesus 'story', Tom Gilson takes the reader on a journey that ends in worship. Interestingly much of his case is made in what Jesus didn't do which I found to be a rather unique approach. By the end of the book and the epilogue, one is left standing in awe of Christ and searching her heart to see how best she can devote herself wholly to His worship and in spreading the good news of His Kingship. An interesting and thought-provoking read for Christians and skeptics alike.
October 25, 2020
The book delved into unnoticed character traits of Jesus which clearly identifies His deity. I've got many a-ha moments in reading the author's highlighting these divine attributes. Well crafted book that made you worship more of Jesus and made you feel that you have put your trust in the right Person.
January 3, 2021
3.5 stars. Many compelling arguments for an apologist’s point of view, but got a little repetitive and really needed something to pull it together as a whole. It was also in desperate need of competent editing. How a book with so many grammatical mistakes could go to print is beyond me.
January 26, 2022
This may not be a bad book. I did find some interesting nuggets in it. But, the person of Christ is compelling. His moral nature is superb. I am a Christian. I quite literally worship Jesus. I know that the case can be made far more powerfully than this.
October 24, 2020
This is an interesting approach to apologetics in which the author points to the reality and greatness of Jesus through His character.
March 29, 2021
I was skeptical of this book at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by the content. A good book for a church class or book club or personal reading.
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