Was Jesus Christ truly the divine Son of God who walked the earth 2,000 years ago? How can we be sure the gospel story is an accurate and infallibly recorded historical account? When the gospels are examined scientifically, can we truthfully uphold them as "inerrant?" Is it possible to assert honestly and ethically that the Bible is the inspired Word of God?
The answers to these questions and many more may surprise and shock you! Is the New Testament a "historical record" or "factual biography" of what really happened, or a tool for the priesthood to lay down doctrines and dogma as they were developed over the centuries?
Was Jesus the Jewish Messiah?
Was Christ the Savior of the World?
Was He a Cynic sage or a political rebel?
Or was Jesus Christ something altogether different?
Subjects in this fascinating "CSI-style" investigation by controversial independent scholar of religious history D.M. Murdock aka "Acharya S" include:
Foreword by Dr. Robert M. Price
The Gospel According to Matthew
The Nativity of Jesus Christ
The Baptism and Temptation  Â
The Calling of the Disciples
The Sermon on the Mount
The Lord's Prayer
Healing of the Sick and Casting out Demons  Â
The Mission of the Twelve
Working on the Sabbath
John the Baptist Beheaded
Walking on Water
The Canaanite Woman
Peter the "Rock"
The Transfiguration
Becoming like Children
Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven
Entry into Jerusalem
Driving out the Moneychangers
Cursing the Fig Tree
Signs of the Times/Second Coming
Jesus's Anointment with Oil
The Last Supper
The Garden of Gethsemane
The Betrayal by Judas  Â
Christ's Trial
The Passion and Crucifixion
The Resurrection of the Dead  Â
The Empty Tomb
The Gospel According to Mark
Was Mark First?
Comparison of Matthew and Mark
The Missing Scriptures
The Gospel According to Luke
Chronological Discrepancies
Luke's Tenor
The Gospel According to John
Authentic or Adulterated?
Who Killed Jesus?
Textual Harmonization
Inspired Originals?
Scribal Scalliwags
Error-Filled Copies
Eyewitness Accounts or Compilations?
The Gospel Dates
Anonymous and Pseudonymous Authors
According to Whom?
"Back in the Day..."
The Lukan Prologue
Irenaeus, "Father of the Catholic Canon"
Church Father and Bishop Papias
Justin Martyr
The Rylands Papyrus
Late Dating of the Gospels?
Jesus Outside of the Bible
Titus Flavius Josephus
Pliny the Younger
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus
Publius/Gaius Cornelius Tacitus
Thallus, Phlegon and Mara Bar-Serapion, et al.
The Talmud
Gnostic Sources
Extrabiblical Christian Sources
Who are Elijah and Elisha?
Jesus as Fulfillment of Prophecy
Questions about the Gospel Story
Miracles, Impossibilities and Implausibilities
Failed Prophecies
Contradictions and Inconsistencies
Errors in Time and Place
Chronological Problems
Translation Errors and Language Problems
Illogic and Irrationality
Jesus's Character
Repellant Deeds, Sayings and Doctrines
Apology Accepted?
"It Doesn't Matter?"
Four Camera Angles
What Jesus Felt or Thought
History or Propaganda?
A Uniquely Divine Birth?
Salvation is from the Jews?
Son of Joseph?
Massacre or Myth?
Son of God?
The Resurrection of Lazarus?  Â
The Naked Youth
The "Twelve"
The Sacred Meal
The Bloody Sweat
The Trial and Crucifixion
The Sun of Righteousness
The Sacred Spear and The Side-Wounding
The Empty Tomb Redux
The Ascension into Heaven
The Sayings of Jesus?  Â
Conclusion
Terror in the Name of God
Vacuous Christianity?
This detailed but succinct analysis includes quotes from Christian authorities, apologists and evangelists, as well as New Testament scholars, such as:
John Ankerberg
Craig L. Blomberg
F.F. Bruce
William Lane Craig
John Dominic Crossan
Bart Ehrman
Norman Geisler
Gary Habermas
Josh McDowell
John P. Meier
Bruce M. Metzger
J.P. Moreland
Ronald H. Nash
Lee Strobel
Merrill C. Tenney
Ben Witherington
Edwin Yamauchi
Using the Bible itself, as well as the research of these individuals and others, Murdock demonstrates that what you see is not what you get when it comes to Christ and Christianity.