Today· 49 min

Episode 164. Can We Really Trust the New Testament Writers?

About this episode

Can we really trust the people who wrote the New Testament? And how can we help our kids confidently answer that question when skeptics challenge the reliability of Scripture?

In this episode of Mama Bear Apologetics, Amy Davison and Dr. Tricia Scribner continue their series on the top 20 reasons Christianity is true by investigating the historical trustworthiness of the New Testament writers. Together, they examine internal evidence, including eyewitness testimony, verifiable historical details, and the character of the apostles, alongside external evidence from archaeology and ancient historians.

From the Pool of Bethesda to the writings of Josephus and the discovery of the Pilate Stone, they explore how historical evidence supports the biblical accounts. Mama Bears will walk away with practical ways to help their kids investigate difficult questions, evaluate skeptical claims, and recognize that Christianity is grounded in real historical events—not blind faith.

Main Points Covered

Challenges to New Testament reliability: Examining objections from Bart Ehrman and Charles Darwin concerning Gospel authorship, discrepancies, and historical accuracy.
Internal evidence of trustworthiness: How John, Paul, and Luke identified their sources and provided details that invited historical verification.
Eyewitness testimony: Paul's reference to more than 500 witnesses of the risen Christ and Luke's careful documentation of people, places, and events.
Archaeological confirmation: How discoveries such as the Pool of Bethesda support geographical and historical details recorded in Scripture.
The character of the apostles: Examining their humility, acknowledgment of personal failures, willingness to suffer, and commitment to difficult moral teachings.
Non-Christian historical sources: Exploring references to Jesus and early Christianity in the writings of Josephus and Thallus.
Equipping kids to investigate: Practical ways to encourage children to research historical claims, examine original sources, and think critically about challenges to Christianity.

Resources & Organizations Mentioned

Scriptures:

John 1:14
1 John 1:1–4
John 19:34
1 Corinthians 15:5–8
Galatians 1:12–16
1 Corinthians 15
Matthew 5:44
Matthew 5:28
Acts 11:28

Books:

When Critics Ask — Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe
The Case for Christ — Lee Strobel
Cold-Case Christianity for Kids — J. Warner Wallace

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Our Presenting Sponsor is American Heritage Girls: Visit americanheritagegirls.org/MBA to get a free parenting resource and learn more about what American Heritage Girls is doing.

Air Doctor

AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!

Episode 164. Can We Really Trust the New Testament Writers?

About this episode

Reflections