Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.
Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.
The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.

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John inspired me to see each sermon as an apologetic opportunity.
What is it about the cross and its embrace of shame that informs and inspires Christians, who, for various reasons, might find themselves inscribed by shame, to no longer be shameful?
Dr. Montgomery spent his life—even into his final year at the age of 92—contending for the whole Christian faith once and for all delivered to the saints.
Jacob is given the gospel afresh right when he needed it and it is because of this gospel that his faith is stirred up anew.
This article is part of Stephen Paulson’s series on the Psalms.
What a small thing in the big picture to give his head for the Head of the Church who would give his life for John and all sinners.
Jesus took the poison of sin and drank the cup of wrath on our behalf to gain favor and righteousness for us.
The good news for Jacob is that God humbled himself so that he could lose a wrestling match to a man with a dislocated hip so that he could give him a new name.
Moltmann is gone now, but his theology will continue to provoke and provide.
Now that the Lord of Sabaoth has involved himself, something ends, something is born.
Elsewhere makes promises that can’t be kept, but God’s promises are secure, reliable, and certain.
Eucatastrophe is the coming untrue of all sin, evil, and death. And where that starts is the empty tomb of the risen Jesus.