• While the four Gospels are the primary records of the life of Jesus Christ, there are many other early references to Jesus outside of the Bible that corroborate the Bible’s testimony.
• There is the witness of ancient historians such as Tacitus (1st century), Josephus (1st century), Thallus (1st century), and Suetonius (early 2nd century). All of who confirm aspects of Jesus’ life and death, as well as the existence of early worshippers of Christ.
• A number of Roman government officials mention Jesus and the beliefs and practices of the early Christian church which led to their persecution, such as Pliny the Younger (early 2nd century), Emperor Trajan (early 2nd century), and Emperor Hadrian (early 2nd century).
• Lucian of Samosata (2nd century) was a Greek writer who critiqued early Christianity. His critique highlights that Jesus was crucified, that Christians worshipped Jesus, that Christians believed in immortality, and that they were devoted to Jesus’ teachings.
• Within the Jewish Talmud (1st-2nd Century) there is a reference in “Sanhedrin 43a” to Jesus’ crucifixion on the eve of Passover as a result of charges of sorcery and blasphemy.
• There are a number of other early references to Jesus Christ and early Christianity as well.
• The extra-biblical testimony to the life of Jesus Christ, the reality of his crucifixion, and the fact that early Christians worshipped him as the resurrected Lord is more extensive than many people often realize.
• This extra-biblical testimony is positive affirmation for the historical reliability of the biblical record of Jesus Christ.

For more information on the historicity of Jesus Christ and early Christianity, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• The name Santa Claus is an Anglicized version of the Dutch name, Sinterklaas, which means, “Saint Nicholas”.
• While today’s popular depictions of Santa Claus are clearly mythological, Nicholas was a real and very interesting historical figure. Nicholas was the 4th century Bishop of Myra, a city in present day Turkey.
• Nicholas had a reputation for secret gift giving. For example, he was known to leave coins for people to find inside of their shoes.
• Not only was Nicholas a generous gift giver, but he was also one of the Bishops present at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. where the biblical doctrine of the Trinity was defended and explained.
• Tradition states that Nicholas was actually so upset by the heresy being promoted by Arius (the Arian heresy denied the deity of Jesus Christ) that he actually slapped him across the face during the council and was arrested. He later apologized and was freed.
• Nicholas of Myra is an interesting figure in early church history and his story is worth sharing. It can even open up terrific witnessing opportunities with non-Christians when the topic of Santa Claus comes up at Christmastime.
• As for our popular cultural depictions of Santa Claus, while the story of Santa can be fun and harmless, Christian parents should teach their children about the true nature of Santa Claus at an appropriate age.
• Santa Claus and God can be easily confused in the minds of young children. Therefore, it is essential that Christian parents distinguish the fictitious Santa from the real God. God is the One who truly is omniscient and omnipresent; and He has given us the greatest Christmas gift of all (John 3:16)!

• There is no historical evidence that Jesus was born on December 25th. However, while this date is improbable it is not impossible. A springtime date, though, better fits the gospel accounts of the birth of Christ. So, where does the December 25th date for Christmas come from?
• Historical evidence shows Christians observing December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth as early as the 200’s A.D. However, the first official Christmas celebration occurred on December 25, 336 A.D. after Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity.
• The most likely reason the early Church chose December 25th as the date to celebrate Christ’s birth was simply because of the metaphorical significance of the winter solstice to the arrival of the Messiah (i.e. the idea of light, new life, etc.).
• It is also possible the Church chose December 25th as a rival to certain pagan religious practices in the Roman Empire that were centered on the winter solstice and the “birth” of their sun gods (Saturnalia, Mithra, Sol Invictus, etc.).
• Some Christians become concerned when considering the possibility that our December 25th celebration of Christmas might have any association with pagan religious practices, even if as a rival.
• However, while it is right to be concerned as Christians about syncretism with non-Christian religious practices, we must also remember that the Church has historically viewed the reshaping of culture as a positive endeavor.
• When it comes to our celebration of Christmas on December 25th, like Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.), we can affirm that, “We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it.”

Give the gift of apologetics this Christmas! We’ve got some great resources, like the book, Apologetics For A New Generation, available in our online store.

• Advent is the season in which the Church celebrates the coming of the Messiah into the world, an event that was prophesied for over 4,000 years prior to the birth of Jesus Christ.
• In Genesis 3:15 God reveals that the Messiah would be of the seed of a woman. This was significant because every other human is of the seed of a man, but the Messiah would have no biological, earthly father.
• In Genesis 12 God makes a covenant with Abraham, telling him that he would become the father of a great nation and through his offspring all the peoples of the world would be blessed.
• In Genesis 49:10 when Jacob (Israel) blesses his sons it is revealed that Judah would be the tribe of kings and through his line the Messiah would ultimately come.
• In 2 Samuel 7 God tells David that the throne of his offspring would be established forever. The Messiah, Jesus, was from the line of David (Matthew 1).
• In Micah 5:2 God reveals that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem and he would be “from of old, from ancient times”. Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2) and he declared his divine origin (John 8:58) as the Ancient of Days.
• In Isaiah 7:14 God tells the house of David (king Ahaz) that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and would be given the name, Immanuel, meaning, “God is with us”.
• All of these prophecies were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. God had foretold His plan for the salvation of the world going back to the Garden of Eden. And as the apostle Paul records in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his son”.

For more information on the incredible prophecies of the Messiah, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• According to the Mayflower Compact of 1620 the Pilgrims came to the New World to plant the first colony for the glory of God and for the advancement of the Christian faith.
• The Pilgrims were separatists who rejected the extra-biblical sacraments and church hierarchy found within the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches of Europe and England.
• Pilgrims emphasized the believer’s freedom and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It was for this reason they were persecuted and fled England for Holland, and ultimately the New World.
• The Pilgrims were Protestants who traced their theological heritage back to John Calvin and Calvinism. They believed in predestination, the election by God, before creation, of the saved and the lost. Pilgrims used John Calvin’s Geneva translation of the Bible.
• Pilgrims practiced only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They rejected any religious practice or tradition that did not have the support of Scripture.
• The Pilgrims practiced infant baptism. They believed that infant baptism removed the guilt of original sin and was a new covenant between God and believers, just as circumcision was in the Old Testament. For the Pilgrims, at least one parent must have been a believer for an infant to be baptized.
• The Pilgrims did not celebrate religious holidays like Christmas or Easter, as they viewed these as extra-biblical inventions of man. However, they strictly observed the weekly Sabbath day of rest on Sundays.
• While not all believers will agree with every theological distinctive of the Pilgrims, American Christians can be thankful that our original colonists were a people who valued the word of God and the great principles of the Reformation.

For more information on America’s spiritual heritage, please check out Jason Carlson’s lecture series, The Church in a Post-Christian Culture, available in our online store.

• The “Just War” tradition has been the dominant Christian viewpoint on war since the fourth century A.D. Two of the earliest Church fathers to formulate the Just War position were Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo (circa 300’s A.D.)
• The Just War Tradition historically focuses on eight guiding principles for determining when human governments may rightly engage in warfare.
• Just Cause – The only justifiable war is a defensive war. Wars of aggression, started for the purpose of gaining territory, promoting an ideology, or acquiring wealth are not considered just.
• Just Intent – The objective of a defensive war must always be the restoration of peace and the defense of innocent human life.
• Last Resort – All efforts at peace, negotiation, and compromise must have failed. Waging war should never be the first option.
• Formal Declaration of War – Only a properly authorized authority can declare war and a formal declaration of war must be clearly stated.
• Limited Objectives – Since peace is the ultimate goal of a just war, the unconditional surrender or total destruction of an enemy are not legitimate objectives.
• Proportionate Means – The weaponry used in warfare and the degree of force must be limited to what is necessary to secure a just peace.
• Noncombatant Immunity – The use of force should discriminate between combatants and noncombatants. Civilians and prisoners of war should be guaranteed immunity.
• Reasonable Hope for Success – A defensive war against aggression must have a reasonable hope of securing peace for it to be considered just.
• The reality of warfare is one of the tragic consequences of living in a fallen and sinful world. However, God promises us that a day is coming when “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Micah 4:3).
• Until that day, however, in those sad chapters of human history when warfare and terror are thrust upon us, the Just War Tradition provides a moral compass that can guide our governmental leaders when considering the possibility of war.

For more information on this and other important cultural issues, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• This week many proud Americans celebrated Veteran’s Day (11/11/13), a national holiday honoring those who have served in our nation’s armed forces.
• While many Christians have participated in military service throughout history, the topic of the proper view of warfare in the Christian faith is one that has historically caused much consternation and debate. Four key biblical insights can give us some helpful guidance on this topic.
• First, death and violence were not a part of God’s original created order for humanity and will one day be done away with forever (Romans 5:12; Genesis 6:11-13; Revelation 21:3-5; Isaiah 2:4). In the meantime we live in a fallen world in which war is an unfortunate reality.
• Second, war is something that God has at times condoned, participated in, and will participate in again in the future (Exodus 15:1-18; 17:8-15; Numbers 31:1-3; Deuteronomy 2:26-31; 3:1-7; 20:1-4; Joshua 5:13-6:27; 2 Kings 19:32-36; Revelation 6:1-2; 19:11-21; 20:7-10). Thus, it cannot be said that all war is inherently evil.
• Third, in Exodus 20:13 the sixth commandment admonishes us, “You shall not murder.” What’s interesting to note about this commandment is that it is only directed against murder, the wrongful taking of another human life. Scripture assumes a distinction between murder and certain other forms of killing, such as capital punishment or warfare, which it allows for (Genesis 9:5-6; Exodus 21:12-14; and passages cited above).
• Fourth, in allowing for certain other forms of killing, God has ordained human governments, not private citizens, as the agents of justice, retribution, rewards and punishments (Matthew 5:38-39; Romans 12:17-13:7; 1 Peter 2: 13-17). Therefore, it may at times be appropriate and just for human governments to use deadly force to oppose evil.
• Based on the biblical insights listed above, Christians throughout the centuries have formulated some guiding principles as to how and when human governments may rightly participate in warfare. These principles have become known as the “Just War Tradition”, which we will examine further next week.

For more information on warfare in light of Scripture, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• First, Most Jehovah’s Witnesses have no hope of entering Heaven. Only the original 144,000 members of the Watchtower organization were promised Heaven. Today, the best a Jehovah’s Witness can hope for is to prove their worthiness to Jehovah so they might live in paradise on earth one day.
• Second, the average Jehovah’s Witness today will spend 8 to 10 hours a week going door to door witnessing. They do this not out of their great love for non-Jehovah’s Witnesses, but because their eternal destiny is connected to their obedience to the Watchtower organization.
• Third, Jehovah’s Witnesses have no experience of God’s grace. The Watchtower organization teaches that, “more than faith is needed” for salvation and Jesus’ death only saves us from the guilt of Adam’s original sin. This is why Jehovah’s Witnesses strive personally to prove their worthiness to Jehovah.
• Fourth, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been conditioned by the Watchtower organization to believe that anyone outside the organization is of the Devil. Most initial witnessing encounters leave true Christians frustrated because Jehovah’s Witnesses are often close-minded to considering anything from someone outside of their organization, no matter how good the arguments may be. Prayer, patience, and a commitment to ongoing dialogue are essential when witnessing to a Jehovah’s Witness.
• Lastly, and most importantly, remember, Jehovah’s Witnesses are lost souls. They are not the enemy. They are victims of the enemy.

For more information on the Jehovah’s Witnesses and how to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, please check out the documentary DVD, Jehovah’s Witnesses: A Non-Profit Organization, available in our online store.

• Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity. They teach that Jesus was really Michael the archangel, the first creation of Jehovah God.
• When arguing this point, Jehovah’s Witnesses will often refer to passages like John 14:28 and say, “Jesus said, ‘The Father is greater than I.’ Therefore, Jesus is not God almighty.”
• This argument is a classic example of Jehovah’s Witnesses taking scriptural references out of context and ignoring the totality of the Bible’s revelation in order to support their false, man-made teachings.
• What’s really taking place in John 14:28 is that Jesus is giving respect to the Father. He’s simply showing a difference in position between himself, as the incarnate Son, and the Father who is in Heaven. Jesus is not, however, saying that he is intrinsically inferior to the Father.
• To illustrate the above point, have the Jehovah’s Witness read John 5:18 and ask them, “How could Jesus be equal to the Father if he thought himself inferior?”
• Some other helpful passages to highlight in response to this Jehovah’s Witness argument are John 1:18; 5:22-23; 10:30 and 20:28-29.
• John 20:28-29 in particular poses an interesting dilemma for the Jehovah’s Witness. Read this passage and ask them, “Why does Jesus affirm Thomas for calling him, ‘My Lord and my God’? Wouldn’t this have been a blasphemous statement if Jesus was simply a created being?”

For more helpful information on witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses, please check out Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts on False Teachings, available in our online store.

• Last week we looked at the common Jehovah’s Witness argument that the doctrine of the Trinity is unbiblical because the word “Trinity” is not found anywhere in the Bible.
• Another argument Jehovah’s Witnesses often employ against the doctrine of the Trinity is this, “The Trinity is unreasonable. It doesn’t make sense!”
• In responding to this argument it is first helpful to point out that just because a concept is hard to understand doesn’t mean it’s unreasonable. For example, ask the Jehovah’s Witness to explain how electricity works, or radio waves, or how light travels, or Quantum Physics. These might be difficult concepts to grasp, but that doesn’t make them unreasonable. Explain that the same holds true with the doctrine of the Trinity.
• Second, carefully define the doctrine of the Trinity for the Jehovah’s Witness. Assure them that the Christian belief in the Trinity is not a belief in three gods. Rather, as Christians we affirm that within the nature of the One God there are three eternal Persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Third, walk the Jehovah’s Witness through the biblical case for the Triune nature of God. Highlight passages that speak to the full deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as well as those affirming the truth that there is only One God (we’ve shared some helpful passages in recent Fast Facts).
• Lastly, sometimes illustrations can help illuminate the concept of the Trinity for the Jehovah’s Witness. While no illustration for the Trinity is perfect, one of our favorites is an experiment from Physics called, “The Triple Point of Water”. In this experiment, water in a vacuum tube is cooled, and pressure is applied, causing the water in the tube to coexist as liquid, solid (ice), and gas simultaneously.

For more helpful teaching on the doctrine of the Trinity, please check out Dr. Carlson’s lecture, What is God Like? available in CD or MP3 in our online store.