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Man, Myth, Messiah: Answering History's Greatest Question
Did Jesus Really Exist?
The search for the historical Jesus continues to be headline news. Any speculative theory seems to get instant attention as the debate rages about His real identity and the claims made in His name. Did Jesus really exist? Is there real historical evidence that demonstrates that He lived and actually said and did the things the Gospels record? Is there any validity to the speculative claims that the Jesus story was a myth, borrowed from a variety of pagan cultures of the ancient world?
In this follow-up to the book God’s Not Dead (that inspired the movie), Man, Myth, Messiah looks at the evidence for the historical Jesus and exposes the notions of skeptics that Jesus was a contrived figure of ancient mythology. It also looks at the reliability of the Gospel records as well as the evidence for the resurrection that validates His identity as the promised Messiah. Man, Myth, Messiah will be released concurrent to the God’s Not Dead movie sequel, which will cover the same theme.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2016
355 people are currently reading
1345 people want to read
About the author
Rice Broocks
21 books90 followersSoon after Rice Broocks became a Christian as a third year university student, he discussed his faith with his brother Ben, an atheist, who was a third year law student. Though Rice was young in his faith, his simple answers to his brother’s questions led to Ben’s acceptance of Christ, and he baptized Ben later that day.
“Since that day I’ve devoted my life to reaching out to an unbelieving, skeptical world with the message that God is indeed real and has revealed Himself in nature, as well as in history,’” said Broocks.
In his new book, God’s Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty (Thomas Nelson, March 2013), Broocks offers a clear, understandable overview of the evidence for God as well as the credibility of the Christian faith, while responding directly to many skeptical claims.
Broocks is the co-founder of the Every Nation family of churches, which currently includes more than 1,000 churches in more than 60 countries. Present on hundreds of college campuses, Broocks has spent the last 30 years with Every Nation focusing on equipping college students around the world to defend their faith.
Broocks also serves as the senior minister of Bethel World Outreach Church in Nashville, Tenn., where he provides oversight for this multi-ethnic, multisite church, currently meeting in locations in Middle Tennessee, Texas, and Arizona.
He is the author of several books, including his upcoming release, God’s Not Dead, Every Nation In Our Generation and the Purple Book (Biblical Foundations).
Broocks holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., as well as a doctorate in missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.
Broocks lives in Franklin, Tenn., with his wife, Jody, and their five children.
“Since that day I’ve devoted my life to reaching out to an unbelieving, skeptical world with the message that God is indeed real and has revealed Himself in nature, as well as in history,’” said Broocks.
In his new book, God’s Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty (Thomas Nelson, March 2013), Broocks offers a clear, understandable overview of the evidence for God as well as the credibility of the Christian faith, while responding directly to many skeptical claims.
Broocks is the co-founder of the Every Nation family of churches, which currently includes more than 1,000 churches in more than 60 countries. Present on hundreds of college campuses, Broocks has spent the last 30 years with Every Nation focusing on equipping college students around the world to defend their faith.
Broocks also serves as the senior minister of Bethel World Outreach Church in Nashville, Tenn., where he provides oversight for this multi-ethnic, multisite church, currently meeting in locations in Middle Tennessee, Texas, and Arizona.
He is the author of several books, including his upcoming release, God’s Not Dead, Every Nation In Our Generation and the Purple Book (Biblical Foundations).
Broocks holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., as well as a doctorate in missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.
Broocks lives in Franklin, Tenn., with his wife, Jody, and their five children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
April 23, 2020
Broocks makes the strong case, using sources from agnostic and biblical scholars, that not only can we believe the gospels but we can also believe in miracles and Jesus. If you're someone who wants to get started with apologetics but don't know how this is a wonderful place to start. Everything is explained with clarity and respect for those interested in learning about Jesus and the apostles. Broocks did significantly much better with this book than his last book. I decided to pick up this book after seeing the amazing court scene in the sequel to the first movie made by Broocks.
February 3, 2017
This is perhaps one of the worst books I have ever read. I have read a great deal of Christian apologetic literature (running the gamut from dreadful to superb), but this flaccid pamphlet falls far beyond the pale of even the most infantile titles I've hitherto had the displeasure of ingesting. The author's spectacularly conspicuous ignorance of basic science, coupled with his thinly (read: unsuccessfully) disguised certainty of conclusion from the outset, makes it painfully evident that one should not be surprised when one arrives at the bottom of the final page and discovers that not a single drop of original scholarship or legitimate critical questioning were anywhere to be found within this 300-page, question-begging Gospel tract. Having read this book, it is now of little mystery to me why the "God's Not Dead" films — which were based on this book and its prequel — were so unashamedly terrible. Let it be known: if one wishes for his or her cause (whatever it may be) to be in any respect seriously advanced, Pastor Rice Broocks is not the cheerleader one would be wise to employ to champion said cause.
February 3, 2016
In the book Man Myth Messiah, author Rice Broocks examines the historical evidence for the life of Jesus and exposes the flaws in the arguments that Jesus was a myth. He argues for the validity of the Gospels and shows their historical accuracies. This is the sequel to the book God’s Not Dead.
I would recommend this book. It is academic at times but a very good apologetics book with a lot of facts and research.
I would recommend this book. It is academic at times but a very good apologetics book with a lot of facts and research.
December 3, 2015
This book is a good introduction for Historical Jesus Studies with Basic information about the Minimal facts and the historicity of the resurrection, the good thing about the book that it is connected to the public and has a pastoral side. and how to grow in faith and be real Christian.
it's a good book for new believers and those who have basic doubts about scriptures and Jesus Myths.
it's a good book for new believers and those who have basic doubts about scriptures and Jesus Myths.
September 14, 2016
A very inspiring book with historical accounts on the life of Jesus. Foretold in the Bible events that would happen 800-1000 years before history recorded it. A book to help you answer questions for people who are not sure what they believe.
Read
September 12, 2016Well this book talks about Jesus and how people think he dead but this talks about his miracles and the things he has done in people's lifes
November 3, 2015
Rice Broock's book "God's Not Dead" was the inspiration for a popular movie of the same name. This book is billed as the "evidence behind God's Not Dead 2", in which we will see a debate over whether a teacher can even mention the name of Jesus in a classroom. I have read many books defending the Christian faith and the Biblical accounts of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection, but none that delve as deeply into the debate as this book does. It is apparent that Broocks took the time to study both sides of the issue. He draws directly from the Bible and backs it up with historical research from scholars and skeptics alike. There is a growing body of literature in today's society that claims that Jesus was not the Messiah that he demonstrated and claimed to be. That, along with the rise of internet skeptics that proclaim this type of writing to be scholarly and authoritative, is what led Broocks to research and write this book. These false claims have evoked a renewed effort to set the record straight. Atheism is a religion. It is a set of beliefs about the nature of the world and of us as humans. At the heart of this anti-theistic system is the necessity to dismiss the supernatural, especially the supernatural birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rice Broocks makes an effort to encompass all views, opinions, and philosophies from skeptics and atheists on the subject, and then he proceeds to disprove them entirely. He boldly tackles ridiculous alternative theories for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Broocks provides a succinct definition of the message of the gospel: The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died - in our place. Three days later He rose from the dead, proving that He is the Son of God and offering the gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Him. Both the book and the Movie "God's Not Dead" sought to clearly establish the fact that real faith isn't blind. It is based on evidence, laid out from science, philosophy, history, and personal experiences. Now in "Man, Myth, Messiah", Broocks takes a closer look at the evidence for the historical Jesus. The majority of the book is centered around a method developed by Gary Habermas called the "Minimal Facts Method". Using this method you can show how the foundation of Christianity is so strong that even skeptical scholars accept its bedrock truths. Dr. Habermas is the Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Liberty University and is regarded as a leading expert in historical evidence for the resurrection.
This book can be divided into three or four sections. In the first three chapters, Broocks introduces the topics of history, the Minimal Facts Method, and the reliability of Scripture. The next three chapters present some of the historical basis for Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, along with His uniqueness. The next two subjects after that are devoted to Jesus' deity and the reality of the supernatural world. Broocks argues that the Gospels stand head and shoulders above the vast majority of ancient literature in terms of manuscript evidence and support for historical accuracy. The weight of historical evidence demonstrates that the Gospels are very reliable, and that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. Many historians have come to recognize this fact, even if they did not originally accept that it was true. Christ's resurrection sets Him apart from all other religious leaders and sets Christianity apart from all other religions. The Scripture offers this as the event that verifies the identity of Jesus and the truth of His words. Conversely, if one could show that Christ was not raised, then the Christian faith would be proven false. Jesus' advent was the fulfillment of prophecies that God had spoken through the prophets for centuries.
In the later chapters Broocks discusses miracles, discipleship, and evangelism and how they are important to us today. The section on miracles, healings, and near-death experiences was very interesting. A man by the name of Steve Murrell led a team in Manila to establish a church that emphasized reaching university students. They modeled their ministry around four principles (called the four E's) that serve as the foundation of what we believe and practice about discipleship: We are called to Engage unbelievers with the gospel, Establish biblical foundations in their lives and help them learn God's Word, Equip them to do the work of the ministry, and Empower them to fulfill their God-given purpose. In the last chapter, Broocks outlines a simple evangelism process that is represented by the word GREAT. It stands for Gospel, Reasons, Empathy, Approach, and Tools. These five steps provide a clear roadmap in becoming an effective witness for Christ. Together with a leading pastor, effective teachers, and a believing congregation, the result is an engaging church that can impact the world for the glory of God.
I often refer to the importance of equipping yourself with the Whole Armor of God, and Broocks makes reference to it in his book as well. This book provides powerful evidence that can be referenced to defend your faith. I would recommend it to all Christians, young and old. I would also recommend it to those that are unsure about their faith or that are unsure about about their salvation. I received this as a free ARC from Thomas Nelson - W Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Broocks provides a succinct definition of the message of the gospel: The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died - in our place. Three days later He rose from the dead, proving that He is the Son of God and offering the gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Him. Both the book and the Movie "God's Not Dead" sought to clearly establish the fact that real faith isn't blind. It is based on evidence, laid out from science, philosophy, history, and personal experiences. Now in "Man, Myth, Messiah", Broocks takes a closer look at the evidence for the historical Jesus. The majority of the book is centered around a method developed by Gary Habermas called the "Minimal Facts Method". Using this method you can show how the foundation of Christianity is so strong that even skeptical scholars accept its bedrock truths. Dr. Habermas is the Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Liberty University and is regarded as a leading expert in historical evidence for the resurrection.
This book can be divided into three or four sections. In the first three chapters, Broocks introduces the topics of history, the Minimal Facts Method, and the reliability of Scripture. The next three chapters present some of the historical basis for Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, along with His uniqueness. The next two subjects after that are devoted to Jesus' deity and the reality of the supernatural world. Broocks argues that the Gospels stand head and shoulders above the vast majority of ancient literature in terms of manuscript evidence and support for historical accuracy. The weight of historical evidence demonstrates that the Gospels are very reliable, and that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. Many historians have come to recognize this fact, even if they did not originally accept that it was true. Christ's resurrection sets Him apart from all other religious leaders and sets Christianity apart from all other religions. The Scripture offers this as the event that verifies the identity of Jesus and the truth of His words. Conversely, if one could show that Christ was not raised, then the Christian faith would be proven false. Jesus' advent was the fulfillment of prophecies that God had spoken through the prophets for centuries.
In the later chapters Broocks discusses miracles, discipleship, and evangelism and how they are important to us today. The section on miracles, healings, and near-death experiences was very interesting. A man by the name of Steve Murrell led a team in Manila to establish a church that emphasized reaching university students. They modeled their ministry around four principles (called the four E's) that serve as the foundation of what we believe and practice about discipleship: We are called to Engage unbelievers with the gospel, Establish biblical foundations in their lives and help them learn God's Word, Equip them to do the work of the ministry, and Empower them to fulfill their God-given purpose. In the last chapter, Broocks outlines a simple evangelism process that is represented by the word GREAT. It stands for Gospel, Reasons, Empathy, Approach, and Tools. These five steps provide a clear roadmap in becoming an effective witness for Christ. Together with a leading pastor, effective teachers, and a believing congregation, the result is an engaging church that can impact the world for the glory of God.
I often refer to the importance of equipping yourself with the Whole Armor of God, and Broocks makes reference to it in his book as well. This book provides powerful evidence that can be referenced to defend your faith. I would recommend it to all Christians, young and old. I would also recommend it to those that are unsure about their faith or that are unsure about about their salvation. I received this as a free ARC from Thomas Nelson - W Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by BookLook/Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.]
Picking up where his last book left off [1], Broocks decides to continue his career as our contemporary popular apologist de jour and, in the tradition of the great C.S. Lewis, try his hand at his own trilemma about the identity of Jesus Christ. Explicitly referencing Lewis' own trilemma [2], Broocks' own version of the trilemma is encapsulated in the title of the book, where the author makes the claim that Jesus Christ is either man, myth, or Messiah. He then proceeds to use savvy historical and philosophical reasoning to make it clear that Jesus Christ was not a myth, as He is too historically well-attested, and could not have done what He did as a mere man, leaving only the option that He was the savior, and then on top of that uses this discussion as a way to then motivate the reader to engage in more serious questions on how to live life: Who do you say that I am? And then, how now should I live my life?
In terms of its organization and structure, this book is organized with a very clear and unmistakable intent in mind. After a foreword by biblical historian Gary Habermas whose work on "minimal facts" that even skeptics believe about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the material for the second chapter of the book, the author spends about 250 pages covering ten chapters and a short epilogue. The first few chapters deal with the historical case for the death by crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, pointing out reasons why the Bible is trustworthy, why the crucifixion of Christ was necessary, and the seminal importance of the resurrection in providing a hope for eternal life for mankind. The author tackles the widespread understanding of similarities between late pagan counterfeit gospels and Christianity, examines identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of Man and the Son of God, and then provides some evidence for miracles and the supernatural. It should be noted, in the interests of fairness, that the author advances evidence here for the value of near death experiences that he makes fun of and casts doubt on earlier in the book by implying that many such examples are fraudulent or unreliable. The last two chapters of the book focus on what practical benefit coming to faith is supposed to result in--discipleship, following God in fellowship with other brethren, and in engaging in the work of sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Overall, this is a work of very shrewd and practical importance that does not in any way neglect the honest truth about spiritual warfare as well as the barriers to belief in the eyes of many. There is a great irony that one notices as a reader of many works in apologetics [3]: most books on apologetics, including this one, are aimed at dealing with intellectual barriers to faith, but the strongest arguments against the practical role of Jesus Christ as Lord over our lives tend to be emotional in their origin. This means that so much of apologetics consists of shadowboxing, demolishing endless intellectual arguments that come out of of nowhere while struggling to determine the true cause of the disaffection for a given person with God, often based in unreasonable expectations and emotional reasoning. The book particularly excels in its view of Judaism as being the essential ground from which Christianity spread, an obvious truth that is not as well-understood as it ought to be. This book makes for engaging and practical apologetics on a high level, and it deserves to be viewed fondly and hopefully remembered as well like Lewis' similar efforts have been treasured for decades.
[1] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[3] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
Picking up where his last book left off [1], Broocks decides to continue his career as our contemporary popular apologist de jour and, in the tradition of the great C.S. Lewis, try his hand at his own trilemma about the identity of Jesus Christ. Explicitly referencing Lewis' own trilemma [2], Broocks' own version of the trilemma is encapsulated in the title of the book, where the author makes the claim that Jesus Christ is either man, myth, or Messiah. He then proceeds to use savvy historical and philosophical reasoning to make it clear that Jesus Christ was not a myth, as He is too historically well-attested, and could not have done what He did as a mere man, leaving only the option that He was the savior, and then on top of that uses this discussion as a way to then motivate the reader to engage in more serious questions on how to live life: Who do you say that I am? And then, how now should I live my life?
In terms of its organization and structure, this book is organized with a very clear and unmistakable intent in mind. After a foreword by biblical historian Gary Habermas whose work on "minimal facts" that even skeptics believe about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the material for the second chapter of the book, the author spends about 250 pages covering ten chapters and a short epilogue. The first few chapters deal with the historical case for the death by crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, pointing out reasons why the Bible is trustworthy, why the crucifixion of Christ was necessary, and the seminal importance of the resurrection in providing a hope for eternal life for mankind. The author tackles the widespread understanding of similarities between late pagan counterfeit gospels and Christianity, examines identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of Man and the Son of God, and then provides some evidence for miracles and the supernatural. It should be noted, in the interests of fairness, that the author advances evidence here for the value of near death experiences that he makes fun of and casts doubt on earlier in the book by implying that many such examples are fraudulent or unreliable. The last two chapters of the book focus on what practical benefit coming to faith is supposed to result in--discipleship, following God in fellowship with other brethren, and in engaging in the work of sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Overall, this is a work of very shrewd and practical importance that does not in any way neglect the honest truth about spiritual warfare as well as the barriers to belief in the eyes of many. There is a great irony that one notices as a reader of many works in apologetics [3]: most books on apologetics, including this one, are aimed at dealing with intellectual barriers to faith, but the strongest arguments against the practical role of Jesus Christ as Lord over our lives tend to be emotional in their origin. This means that so much of apologetics consists of shadowboxing, demolishing endless intellectual arguments that come out of of nowhere while struggling to determine the true cause of the disaffection for a given person with God, often based in unreasonable expectations and emotional reasoning. The book particularly excels in its view of Judaism as being the essential ground from which Christianity spread, an obvious truth that is not as well-understood as it ought to be. This book makes for engaging and practical apologetics on a high level, and it deserves to be viewed fondly and hopefully remembered as well like Lewis' similar efforts have been treasured for decades.
[1] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[2] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
[3] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
October 18, 2019
This book explores all the irrefutable truths and facts about the existence and divinity of Jesus. An excellent tool to reach those who are looking for other types of answers. And above all it contains arguments that will strengthen your faith. Excellent research. Thank you very much Rice Brooks.
January 30, 2018
The Romans Road is to the entire Gospel as Ryan Broocks's Man, Myth, Messiah: Answering History’s Greatest Question is to an entire apologetics course. The book takes something very massive and complex and condenses it into a very readable and understandable crash course for believers on who Jesus is, why we believe it and what we should do with that information.
In this book, you will find Scripture, research, personal stories, and resources for further research that answer many questions including the following:
-How can we trust that the Bible is true?
-Why did Jesus have to die?
-Are miracles verifiable?
-If God is the Great Physician, why isn't everyone healed?
The book is not meant to be read once and dumped on your dusty bookshelf. It is meant to be studied and shared. The last two chapters of the book are dedicated to evangelism- so if you believe what the Bible says and you have complete faith in Jesus, you will want to share the good news. The first eight chapters are so convicting that a call to evangelism in the last two chapters are welcomed.
Broocks starts by saying that this book is intended for believers but welcome for unbelievers. Personally, I believe there are plenty of other great resources if you do not believe in God that prove Jesus's existence and the Bible's validity that are more geared towards you. Broocks uses a lot of Christian terminology that would come with experience in the church (like Gospel, commandment, commission) that are connecting directly with the believer and equipping them to share their new findings, but it may lose the unbeliever.
I would recommend the book to any believer that would stumble in answering someone asking "Why are you a Christian" and "How do you know that Christianity is real?" because it gives a great base for understanding and challenges you to pick up another book to dig deeper into several of the issues Broocks brings up.
In this book, you will find Scripture, research, personal stories, and resources for further research that answer many questions including the following:
-How can we trust that the Bible is true?
-Why did Jesus have to die?
-Are miracles verifiable?
-If God is the Great Physician, why isn't everyone healed?
The book is not meant to be read once and dumped on your dusty bookshelf. It is meant to be studied and shared. The last two chapters of the book are dedicated to evangelism- so if you believe what the Bible says and you have complete faith in Jesus, you will want to share the good news. The first eight chapters are so convicting that a call to evangelism in the last two chapters are welcomed.
Broocks starts by saying that this book is intended for believers but welcome for unbelievers. Personally, I believe there are plenty of other great resources if you do not believe in God that prove Jesus's existence and the Bible's validity that are more geared towards you. Broocks uses a lot of Christian terminology that would come with experience in the church (like Gospel, commandment, commission) that are connecting directly with the believer and equipping them to share their new findings, but it may lose the unbeliever.
I would recommend the book to any believer that would stumble in answering someone asking "Why are you a Christian" and "How do you know that Christianity is real?" because it gives a great base for understanding and challenges you to pick up another book to dig deeper into several of the issues Broocks brings up.
March 2, 2017
Es un libro fácil de leer, no es complicado y en general es un libro bueno.
EL tema principal es de defensa de la fe, apologética, en otras palabras busca incentivar tu espiritu evangelista. Hay capítulos muy interesantes como el de la validez de los evangelios (excelente) y la pruebas que muestra.
Es muy interesante como expone como debes disipar los mitos cuando los excepticos te abordan. Hay otros capítulos que habla solo un poco sobre las investigaciones que el autor hizo para demostrar algunos pero no las presenta a profundidad en el libro.
Hay algunas partes del libro un poco lentas, en las cuales repite varias veces el mismo argumento, aunque tengan una finalidad apologética.
En general es un libro bueno (calificación de 4), es un libro para afirmar tu fe y poder presentarla a los demás, evangelismo.
Para los que se vieron la película (Dios no esta muerto 2) primero, así como yo lo hice, no hay problema. La película está basada en los argumentos del libro, el libro no es la película ni tiene una narración novelesca para nada, es un libro expositivo, por lo tanto no se preocupen si lo quieren leer y se vieron la película, este libro es el fundamento la base de la película, en otras palabras el grueso de lo que se discutía en el juzgado en la película.
EL tema principal es de defensa de la fe, apologética, en otras palabras busca incentivar tu espiritu evangelista. Hay capítulos muy interesantes como el de la validez de los evangelios (excelente) y la pruebas que muestra.
Es muy interesante como expone como debes disipar los mitos cuando los excepticos te abordan. Hay otros capítulos que habla solo un poco sobre las investigaciones que el autor hizo para demostrar algunos pero no las presenta a profundidad en el libro.
Hay algunas partes del libro un poco lentas, en las cuales repite varias veces el mismo argumento, aunque tengan una finalidad apologética.
En general es un libro bueno (calificación de 4), es un libro para afirmar tu fe y poder presentarla a los demás, evangelismo.
Para los que se vieron la película (Dios no esta muerto 2) primero, así como yo lo hice, no hay problema. La película está basada en los argumentos del libro, el libro no es la película ni tiene una narración novelesca para nada, es un libro expositivo, por lo tanto no se preocupen si lo quieren leer y se vieron la película, este libro es el fundamento la base de la película, en otras palabras el grueso de lo que se discutía en el juzgado en la película.
May 10, 2017
Rice Broocks presents a traditional apologetics overview regarding the Christian Faith. 1 Corinthians 15:17- "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile."
Brooks addresses the historical-- What even the skeptics believe about Jesus (the minimal facts)- primarily that he existed, was crucified, the tomb was empty, many claimed to have seen him after the fact, and that a revolution began after his death. He also looks at the reliability of the Gospels--including dating of the Gospels and why there stories at times seem divergent.
Brooks addresses the philosophical- Why Jesus had to die--how it changed everything and it satisfied notions of atonement and justice.
Brooks goes on the offensive to dispel the critics who claim Jesus was a myth or a copy of previous characters. Lastly he defends the possibility of miracles.
4 stars. Not groundbreaking, but very readable.
Brooks addresses the historical-- What even the skeptics believe about Jesus (the minimal facts)- primarily that he existed, was crucified, the tomb was empty, many claimed to have seen him after the fact, and that a revolution began after his death. He also looks at the reliability of the Gospels--including dating of the Gospels and why there stories at times seem divergent.
Brooks addresses the philosophical- Why Jesus had to die--how it changed everything and it satisfied notions of atonement and justice.
Brooks goes on the offensive to dispel the critics who claim Jesus was a myth or a copy of previous characters. Lastly he defends the possibility of miracles.
4 stars. Not groundbreaking, but very readable.
June 12, 2017
Most useful from chapter 8 on. For the earlier part, "Evidence that demands a verdict" and "The resurrection of Jesus" by Licona do a better job. He uses the stories of his father's experiences in WW II as an example of how accurately oral histories can be. I suspect that the author misremembered at least two things: first, submarines are "boats," not "ships." Second, admirals do not command individual ship, bases, etc. Those are commanded by captains. They may or may not hold the rank of captain (O-6). Most submarine captains in WW II held the rank of Commander or Lt Commander. It's a minor quibble' but undermines his points.
July 16, 2025
“We live in the tension of believing in miracles but not basing our lives on whether they happen when we want them to happen… Faith is believing in God because of the overwhelming objective evidence He has already given us, not the subjective experience of what has happened to us lately.”
The title and theme of Rice Broocks’ second volume of Christian apologetics could be seen as an update of C. S. Lewis’ famous trilemma: Lunatic, Liar, or Lord? Today's skeptics have augmented Lewis' list with a new option: “Legend”. In other words, their argument has now shifted to allege that Jesus did not exist or, at least, He neither said nor did the things attributed to Him.
Today’s skeptics claim most of the stories in the Bible are based on older Egyptian and Greek myths that early church leaders adapted for a Jewish-Palestinian audience. Broocks asks, “Is He a man, a myth, or the messiah?”
Broocks lines out a detailed, systematic rebuttal in defense of the historicity of Christ, His crucifixion, and the resurrection. He carefully cites both Biblical and secular sources.
He begins with a set of "minimal facts" that are accepted by serious scholars, including Christians and skeptics. These are facts with so much supporting evidence that nearly everyone treats them as historical “bedrock". He builds his case from these undisputed facts.
Chapter 3 "We Can Trust the Gospels" is particularly helpful. It provides an overview of how the New Testament canon was created and vetted, citing many non-Biblical sources.
Broocks addresses a postmodern misunderstanding about Biblical teachings on slavery. The Bible does not condone slavery. Indeed, slavery is the metaphor most often used to describe Man in a state of sin isolated from God. The prevailing metaphor for Christ's redemptive act on the cross is Moses leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
In Chapter 6 "Dispelling the Myth", Broocks investigates how, when, and why the "modern" theory of Jesus-as-myth surfaced in Germany in the 18th century. Broock presents looks at the earliest-known versions of the original myths and compares them to the Bible stories they supposedly inspired.
Chapter 8 "Miracles" is thought provoking but also, if I am honest, a stumbling block for me. Broocks examines the historical evidence for supernatural miracles. Now, I have no problem accepting his persuasive arguments that miracles happened during Biblical times and even, perhaps, during the two centuries after Jesus' ascension. However, I am highly skeptical of his claim of modern-day faith healings, exorcisms, and even resurrections.
He uses many of the same standards of evidence to "prove" modern miracles that he used earlier to defend the historicity of the resurrection. He points readers to many sources that document thousands of miracles with eyewitness testimony and photographs. He claims to have personally participated in healings of the blind and deaf.
Still, I remain skeptical. I do not doubt God can perform miracles today, but it does not appear to me that He chooses to do so in this age. Plus, I’ve seen too many examples of modern miracles claimed to canonize dubious characters (Catholic tradition) and/or validate extreme forms of emotionalism (Pentecostal tradition).
So, I find myself in the camp with non-believers when they ask, "Why do these modern miracles never restore limbs to amputees?" and "Why do most of these miracles take place in countries steeped in superstition like India and China?"
Furthermore, if Broocks is to be believed that revivals have been breaking out in China and South Korea where hundreds of thousands of people have witnessed mass faith healings since the mid-1980's, then wouldn't it follow that by now the influence of the Holy Spirit in those countries would be more evident? After all, the best evidence for the historical resurrection is the fact that no other explanation can account for the rapid spread of the gospel and the millions of changed lives in so short a span of time. Scripture is clear that when the Holy Spirit works on people's hearts, the results are hard to miss…
I very much enjoyed this book and appreciate the powerful articulation of the gospel message. It retreads some of the same subject matter as Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Josh McDowall’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict, but it updates the material for today’s spiritual battles. I even enjoyed the challenges of the "Miracles" chapter, even though I am struggling with its implications.
I alternated between my paperback edition and the audiobook narrated by Tommy Cresswell.
5 stars
The title and theme of Rice Broocks’ second volume of Christian apologetics could be seen as an update of C. S. Lewis’ famous trilemma: Lunatic, Liar, or Lord? Today's skeptics have augmented Lewis' list with a new option: “Legend”. In other words, their argument has now shifted to allege that Jesus did not exist or, at least, He neither said nor did the things attributed to Him.
Today’s skeptics claim most of the stories in the Bible are based on older Egyptian and Greek myths that early church leaders adapted for a Jewish-Palestinian audience. Broocks asks, “Is He a man, a myth, or the messiah?”
Broocks lines out a detailed, systematic rebuttal in defense of the historicity of Christ, His crucifixion, and the resurrection. He carefully cites both Biblical and secular sources.
He begins with a set of "minimal facts" that are accepted by serious scholars, including Christians and skeptics. These are facts with so much supporting evidence that nearly everyone treats them as historical “bedrock". He builds his case from these undisputed facts.
Chapter 3 "We Can Trust the Gospels" is particularly helpful. It provides an overview of how the New Testament canon was created and vetted, citing many non-Biblical sources.
Broocks addresses a postmodern misunderstanding about Biblical teachings on slavery. The Bible does not condone slavery. Indeed, slavery is the metaphor most often used to describe Man in a state of sin isolated from God. The prevailing metaphor for Christ's redemptive act on the cross is Moses leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.
In Chapter 6 "Dispelling the Myth", Broocks investigates how, when, and why the "modern" theory of Jesus-as-myth surfaced in Germany in the 18th century. Broock presents looks at the earliest-known versions of the original myths and compares them to the Bible stories they supposedly inspired.
Chapter 8 "Miracles" is thought provoking but also, if I am honest, a stumbling block for me. Broocks examines the historical evidence for supernatural miracles. Now, I have no problem accepting his persuasive arguments that miracles happened during Biblical times and even, perhaps, during the two centuries after Jesus' ascension. However, I am highly skeptical of his claim of modern-day faith healings, exorcisms, and even resurrections.
He uses many of the same standards of evidence to "prove" modern miracles that he used earlier to defend the historicity of the resurrection. He points readers to many sources that document thousands of miracles with eyewitness testimony and photographs. He claims to have personally participated in healings of the blind and deaf.
Still, I remain skeptical. I do not doubt God can perform miracles today, but it does not appear to me that He chooses to do so in this age. Plus, I’ve seen too many examples of modern miracles claimed to canonize dubious characters (Catholic tradition) and/or validate extreme forms of emotionalism (Pentecostal tradition).
So, I find myself in the camp with non-believers when they ask, "Why do these modern miracles never restore limbs to amputees?" and "Why do most of these miracles take place in countries steeped in superstition like India and China?"
Furthermore, if Broocks is to be believed that revivals have been breaking out in China and South Korea where hundreds of thousands of people have witnessed mass faith healings since the mid-1980's, then wouldn't it follow that by now the influence of the Holy Spirit in those countries would be more evident? After all, the best evidence for the historical resurrection is the fact that no other explanation can account for the rapid spread of the gospel and the millions of changed lives in so short a span of time. Scripture is clear that when the Holy Spirit works on people's hearts, the results are hard to miss…
I very much enjoyed this book and appreciate the powerful articulation of the gospel message. It retreads some of the same subject matter as Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Josh McDowall’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict, but it updates the material for today’s spiritual battles. I even enjoyed the challenges of the "Miracles" chapter, even though I am struggling with its implications.
I alternated between my paperback edition and the audiobook narrated by Tommy Cresswell.
5 stars
February 26, 2023
This book really captured me once I cracked the cover.
So I was watching God's Not Dead II and this book makes a cameo in it. I like the movie so I ordered the book. I received the book and I realize it's the same author as God's Not Dead and I feel a little used. Like they used the second movie to get more book sales on the next book and pad the authors pockets a bit. End of day I'm sure he made more money but I don't think that was the primary motivation.
In the movie the gist of the theme is to prove that Jesus Christ was an important person in history. Like Martin Luther King Jr. or Abraham Lincoln.
This book goes beyond that. It still proves the existence of Jesus but then it goes on to validate the crucifixion and the resurrection. And it talks about the validation of the Gospel and a whole lot of other components that helped me at least understand this time frame more.
I don't want to spoil the book. I thought it was really good. 4.5 stars. The writing was pretty good. A little laborious at times but overall good. The only thing I wish the author had self disclosed is he talks about the bias of some of the naysayers to Christianity but he doesn't do a good job of admitting he too has a bias. But that's ok, we all know it going in.
I felt closer to Jesus after reading this book. And I do feel compelled to spread the word, which I do believe was Broocks' ultimate goal.
I hope more people read this book.
So I was watching God's Not Dead II and this book makes a cameo in it. I like the movie so I ordered the book. I received the book and I realize it's the same author as God's Not Dead and I feel a little used. Like they used the second movie to get more book sales on the next book and pad the authors pockets a bit. End of day I'm sure he made more money but I don't think that was the primary motivation.
In the movie the gist of the theme is to prove that Jesus Christ was an important person in history. Like Martin Luther King Jr. or Abraham Lincoln.
This book goes beyond that. It still proves the existence of Jesus but then it goes on to validate the crucifixion and the resurrection. And it talks about the validation of the Gospel and a whole lot of other components that helped me at least understand this time frame more.
I don't want to spoil the book. I thought it was really good. 4.5 stars. The writing was pretty good. A little laborious at times but overall good. The only thing I wish the author had self disclosed is he talks about the bias of some of the naysayers to Christianity but he doesn't do a good job of admitting he too has a bias. But that's ok, we all know it going in.
I felt closer to Jesus after reading this book. And I do feel compelled to spread the word, which I do believe was Broocks' ultimate goal.
I hope more people read this book.
October 21, 2022
Unlike some of the negative naysayers' comments, I found this book to be rich with historical information and proof that Jesus was a Man and the Messiah - not a Myth. I always enjoy the origin of information and he provided historical evidence that Jesus actually lived, said and did the things the Gospels state. I've seen the movies God Is Not Dead and GIND # 2 - I encourage new believers or doubting believers to start with those movies to help them grasp and build a foundation. Of course, I strongly encourage reading and studying Scripture - I encourage those in my Bible study to ALWAYS be a Berean and search the Scriptures - never take man's word but seek understanding from God's word. I like that he introduced the apologetics - something most do not even know about. It pointed me back to my own book on Apologetics to continue reading / seeking / understanding. The bottom line (in my humble opinion) is that you always can get new knowledge / discard what you don't like or believe in find facts that support whatever is being stated. We are all encouraged to evangelize and share the gospel with others.
We read this for a Christian book club. It was not one that I could read quickly but read, re-read, highlighted, made notes, etc. The club was happy it was chosen and all took a lot away from it. I am keeping it on hand as a resource for future use.
We read this for a Christian book club. It was not one that I could read quickly but read, re-read, highlighted, made notes, etc. The club was happy it was chosen and all took a lot away from it. I am keeping it on hand as a resource for future use.
August 11, 2023
What a great and inspiring read! This book is a good introduction for the historical Jesus and explores the irrefutable facts and evidence about Jesus and his existence, death, and resurrection. This is a great book to use as a tool to help those who have questions. It was researched thoroughly and written in a manner that is not too complex or difficult to understand. This book is not a one-time read—it’s one that can and should be reread/studied from numerous times. Every Christian should read this book not only to defend their faith but also to help equip one to share what they’ve learned. I’d also highly recommend this book to Christians who have difficulty answering the questions
“Why are you a Christian?”
and
“How do you know Christianity is true?”
I also enjoyed how this book sought to clarify what the gospel is so that one knows how to clearly articulate it to others:
“The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died—in our place. Three days later He rose from the dead, proving that He is the Son of God and offering the gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Him.”
I know I will be referring back to this book and definitely use it as a sound resource for future references.
“Why are you a Christian?”
and
“How do you know Christianity is true?”
I also enjoyed how this book sought to clarify what the gospel is so that one knows how to clearly articulate it to others:
“The gospel is the good news that God became man in Jesus Christ. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died—in our place. Three days later He rose from the dead, proving that He is the Son of God and offering the gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Him.”
I know I will be referring back to this book and definitely use it as a sound resource for future references.
March 8, 2025
As our author states in Chapter 6: "The story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was not borrowed from pagan mythology. The very fact that something this absurd has to be addressed demonstrates how shallow the discussion has become in terms of the real facts surrounding the gospel." Bill Maher, are you paying attention? Our author does a rally good job going through systematically the various objections to Jesus and how he understands the arguments that support the claim of the Bible that He is the Messiah, as written about by the Gospel writers. And the resurrection; as he states: "Christianity stands or falls on a singular event: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Each chapter ends with a short summary of what was covered on the particular topic. The epilogue at the end of the book is worth reading by itself. I like the movies God's Not Dead. Not everyone does but the fact remains that most skeptics have to agree that the minimal facts surrounding the historical Jesus seem to lean on the side of supporting His claims and those that followed after Him. This book helps you in that journey when faced with doubts of your own.
January 4, 2026
This was an exceptionally insightful book. Rice has a great way of delivering the content that is very easy to digest. I felt informed and inspired. I will admit that when it came to the evangelizing portion in the last two chapters, I skimmed. But I still got a lot of it. Why did I skim? Well, I've never considered myself an evangelist, and I'm not sure it's anywhere in my future.
I'm a massive fan of the God's Not Dead movies (although I have not yet read Rice's first book for the original film of the same title), and I find them all very inspirational. In fact, when I'm having a particularly frustrating week, I'll head over to PureFlix and watch something uplifting. Sure, I could go to the Bible; I do know a few verses that would help out. But sometimes, you want to watch a feel-good movie.
Rice's work has certainly inspired the first two movies, and you can't go wrong with this title to dig a bit deeper into your faith.
I'm a massive fan of the God's Not Dead movies (although I have not yet read Rice's first book for the original film of the same title), and I find them all very inspirational. In fact, when I'm having a particularly frustrating week, I'll head over to PureFlix and watch something uplifting. Sure, I could go to the Bible; I do know a few verses that would help out. But sometimes, you want to watch a feel-good movie.
Rice's work has certainly inspired the first two movies, and you can't go wrong with this title to dig a bit deeper into your faith.
March 13, 2022
This books gives great insight into the truth of Christianity. I found the last two chapters to be of great significance. A few sentences that stuck in my mind were:
1: Apologetics isn't about apologizing for the failings of people who claim to be Christians. It's about giving the reasons for your faith. In others word you are making a defense. page 22o
2: Unless we believed what we were told, we would do nothing at all. page 245.
What I gathered from these few sentences was that my defense is living my life to the best of my ability and knowing and having faith that there are reasons for what I do. And reasons for where God takes me in my life.
The next sentence is believing what I am told. But not blindly but by learning from experience after I have been effected by what I was told.
1: Apologetics isn't about apologizing for the failings of people who claim to be Christians. It's about giving the reasons for your faith. In others word you are making a defense. page 22o
2: Unless we believed what we were told, we would do nothing at all. page 245.
What I gathered from these few sentences was that my defense is living my life to the best of my ability and knowing and having faith that there are reasons for what I do. And reasons for where God takes me in my life.
The next sentence is believing what I am told. But not blindly but by learning from experience after I have been effected by what I was told.
July 29, 2018
This was a good overview into the basics of why Christianity is true “beyond a reasonable doubt.” I would have liked a little more detail, but he makes a lot of great points. I appreciated how he included the evidence from miracles, including his own testimony. I read this alongside “How Jesus Became God” by Bart Ehrman, and I have to admit that Erhman’s book was more thorough. However, ultimately, the evidence of a personal God in light of His miracles, still being carried out today, solidifies my faith, which is not blind but based on historical and personal evidence. I liked his first book “God’s Not Dead” a little better, but this books is good for those who have decided that God is real, but wonders what Jesus has to do with any of it!
January 24, 2019
One chapter in I wanted to stop reading, but then I thought maybe it'll get better. It definitely didn't. His book feels bias (of course, but more than usually for this type of book) and impatient. It feels like he tried to squeeze too much into one book. It's very disheveled and the title and description surely do not match the content. It also seemed dismissive. The title leads you to believe that this will be a historical investigation, but rather, when it comes to backing up with historical evidence, he feels okay squashing a criticism with one unexplained quote and now we just have to take his word for it.
If I real historical look into Jesus is what you're looking for, I'd suggest The Case for Christ. It's much more organized and actually examines historical sources.
If I real historical look into Jesus is what you're looking for, I'd suggest The Case for Christ. It's much more organized and actually examines historical sources.
April 17, 2019
The reason for my one lonely star rate, is that it presents itself as a book looking into historic proves and deep research. Which is exactly why I bought it.
It's clear the write did his research, but he doesn't present it to the public in the book and sadly barely scratches the surface of a serious research presentation in his writing.
Spends 75% of the pages in preaching (maybe good one, but not what I was looking for) and the rest is chitchat.
I saved not more than 20 pages in the entire book as useful information on the topic.
If the book was presented as a generic christian preaching on the figure of Jesus, my single star would not be that lonely anymore. Wrong market placement.
It's clear the write did his research, but he doesn't present it to the public in the book and sadly barely scratches the surface of a serious research presentation in his writing.
Spends 75% of the pages in preaching (maybe good one, but not what I was looking for) and the rest is chitchat.
I saved not more than 20 pages in the entire book as useful information on the topic.
If the book was presented as a generic christian preaching on the figure of Jesus, my single star would not be that lonely anymore. Wrong market placement.
September 24, 2019
This book is a great resource for Christianity. The author is not ashamed to tell us the truth about Jesus Christ, as well as the truth about Christ's church and what our lives are like as Christians, and our duties as such. In reference to a lot of the evidence books I've been reading this year, Man, Myth, Messiah is like a refresher course on all the evidence, an easy read when you need some quick, on-the-spot evidence. Solid and sobering in some areas. After the Bible, I would recommend this book be the first one any Christian should read in beginning their journey to defend their faith. Very easy to comprehend.
October 5, 2022
Básico
El libro empieza aportando argumentos a favor de la existencia y divinidad de cristo que era lo que venía buscando. Poco después pierde eso y es otro pastor forzando la conversión.
Lo bueno:
Cita otros libros en los cuales creo que puedo seguir buscando lo que estaba buscando.
Permite el cuestionamiento lo cual muchos religiosos no toleran
Lo malo.
Tiene matices políticos que no tienen lugar en un libro sobre Dios. Bien que por mandato de los evangelios las dos cosas no se mezclan.
Ridiculiza posiciones contrarias. Una técnica que el mismo critica.
Por 11 dólares fue un buen punto de inicio. 😆
El libro empieza aportando argumentos a favor de la existencia y divinidad de cristo que era lo que venía buscando. Poco después pierde eso y es otro pastor forzando la conversión.
Lo bueno:
Cita otros libros en los cuales creo que puedo seguir buscando lo que estaba buscando.
Permite el cuestionamiento lo cual muchos religiosos no toleran
Lo malo.
Tiene matices políticos que no tienen lugar en un libro sobre Dios. Bien que por mandato de los evangelios las dos cosas no se mezclan.
Ridiculiza posiciones contrarias. Una técnica que el mismo critica.
Por 11 dólares fue un buen punto de inicio. 😆
June 4, 2017
Nice book. I started it on May 30. It has very accademic moments but the concepts are not so overinflated they can't be understood. It's a nice book for someone just starting to explore Jesus and also someone who has followed Christ a long time and wants concrete evidence of existence. I'll let you know what I think when I've finished this book. That will be soon, I'm sure. I think this is a great read for anyone going into a situation where there is a lot of skepticism about Christ's claims. He mentions some classic writers on the subject. He writes this book in a very secular environment so his information is updated and relevant. I don't like accademic books having read my share of them. I could deal with this one. Very nicely done without attacking or belittling anyone
February 1, 2018
INFORMATIVE!
As someone who has grown up in the "Church", I found this book to be a breathe of fresh air. It make me want to Give an account for my faith! I have never read anything such as this; it opened my eyes so much. I grew up believing by faith alone, yet to have actually proof just make my faith that much stronger. I would totally recommend this book for those who are new to the faith. It gives enough information to help you remember why you believed in the first place!
As someone who has grown up in the "Church", I found this book to be a breathe of fresh air. It make me want to Give an account for my faith! I have never read anything such as this; it opened my eyes so much. I grew up believing by faith alone, yet to have actually proof just make my faith that much stronger. I would totally recommend this book for those who are new to the faith. It gives enough information to help you remember why you believed in the first place!
November 4, 2021
Bought
For honest Review . I bought this book because I was watching god not dead on the pureflix channel and it sounded interesting . it makes you think of all the questions you may want to ask about who the man Jesus was and how his teachings reflect the way we must live . its a very informative book to add to my collection of information on religion and also the thoughts of another perspective since knowledge is always a great way to expand thinking .
For honest Review . I bought this book because I was watching god not dead on the pureflix channel and it sounded interesting . it makes you think of all the questions you may want to ask about who the man Jesus was and how his teachings reflect the way we must live . its a very informative book to add to my collection of information on religion and also the thoughts of another perspective since knowledge is always a great way to expand thinking .
January 27, 2023
Jesus. He is the central figure of history. And he is still asking today what he asked the apostles years ago, "Who do you say I am?" This book will not only answer that question, but help you defend it. Written extremely well, the pages turn quickly. Aside from a few quoted people I did not agree with, this book is a gem. Easy to read, ponder and understand. As believers we are not called to just believe and then sit back. We are called to defend, preach and prepare. We are the church.
April 25, 2024
Cualquier persona que quiera ser objetivo y estudiar un personaje tan relevante en la historia de la humanidad como Jesús (partió la historia en dos), su historia basada en la evidencia histórica, antropológica y bíblica debería leer este libro. Cualquier creyente que tiene dudas sobre la veracidad de la biblia o sobre su Fe, debería leerlo.
Cualquier no creyente que quiere conocer quien fue Jesús como personaje histórico, lo debería leer.
Cualquier no creyente que quiere conocer quien fue Jesús como personaje histórico, lo debería leer.
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