THE COURSE

The Bible is the foundation of Christianity. But today the Bible is under attack on all sides. Who hasn't tuned in to the news to hear a skeptic, atheist, or liberal raving against the Bible?

COMMON ATTACKS

  • The Bible isn't reliable because its authors lived before modern scientific discoveries.
  • The early Christians changed the Bible to suit their own needs. We don't know what the originals said.
  • The Bible has been translated so many times, we might as well be playing the telephone game.

These attacks are common and completely wrong. This course examines the manuscripts, scribes, and techniques used to create the Bible.

This seminary-level course has 37 sessions (see full session list below) and addresses all the major topics of textual criticism.

If you're tired of the anti-intellectualism in today’s church, get involved in reclaiming your mind for Christ. This study aims at turning the tides toward a new age of humble theological depth.

THE EXPERT

Dr. Daniel Wallace is arguably the foremost scholar of New Testament textual criticism in the world. He's professor of NT at Dallas Theological Seminary and director of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. He has also authored multiple books including, Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament and Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics.

Textual Criticism Session List +
  1. Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism
  2. How to Count Textual Variants
  3. The Number of Variants
  4. Weighing the Discrepancies
  5. Recent Attempts to Change the Goals of NT Textual Criticism
  6. Materials and Methods in Making Ancient Books
  7. The Materials Used Making a Codex Manuscript
  8. A Brief History of the Transmission of the Text
  9. The Role of the Canon in Shaping the NT Text
  10. The Emergence of Local Text Forms
  11. Illustrations of Scribal Corruptions (Part 1)
  12. Illustrations of Scribal Corruptions (Part 2)
  13. Some Famous Manuscripts: Papyri (Part 1)
  14. Some Famous Manuscripts: Papyri (Part 2)
  15. Some Famous Manuscripts: Majuscules (Part 1)
  16. Some Famous Manuscripts: Majuscules (Part 2)
  17. Resources for NT Manuscripts
  18. Resources for NT Manuscripts: CSNTM
  19. The Greek Text Behind the KJV
  20. Textus Receptus/Doctrine of Preservation (Part 1)
  21. Textus Receptus/Doctrine of Preservation (Part 2)
  22. Tischendorf and the Discovery of Sinaiticus (Part 1)
  23. Tischendorf and the Discovery of Sinaiticus (Part 2)
  24. History of NT Textual Criticism Since the TR
  25. Who Were Westcott & Hort?
  26. Reasoned Eclecticism (Part 1)
  27. Reasoned Eclecticism (Part 2)
  28. Reasoned Eclecticism (Part 3)
  29. Some Famous Textual Problems (Part 1)
  30. Some Famous Textual Problems (Part 2)
  31. Some Famous Textual Problems (Part 3)
  32. Some Famous Textual Problems: Matthew 24:36
  33. Some Famous Textual Problems: John 7:53-8:11
  34. Some Famous Textual Problems: Mark 16:9-20
  35. Which Translation is Best?
  36. Is What We Have Now What They Wrote? (Part 1)
  37. Is What We Have Now What They Wrote? (Part 2)

THE COURSE

With hundreds of millions of followers across the globe, Christianity has, for centuries, stood at the forefront of intellectual thought. But many have begun to question the Christian worldview. The faith of many has been shaken by the perceived divide between faith and science.

Should Christians be worried that their beliefs don’t measure up in an age of modernity? In this course, Dr. Douglas Groothuis presents a compelling case for Christianity and a case against non-Christian worldviews.

THE EXPERT

Dr. Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary in Colorado and the author of numerous books including Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. We’re not sure which he loves more, theology or jazz. Dr. Groothuis is a connoisseur of both.

Rather than sit on the sidelines, Groothuis encourages his students to take what they’ve learned and jump into the marketplace of ideas. In the last lecture of this course, “Taking It to the Streets” (which is more than a song by the Doobie Brothers), Dr. Groothuis gives examples and advice for very practical ways believers can apply what they’ve learned.

Christian Apologetics 101 Session List +
  1. Introduction to Apologetics
  2. The Biblical Basis for Apologetics
  3. Logic, Methodology, and Worldview Analysis
  4. Apologetical Limits and the Christian Worldview
  5. Objections to Christianity
  6. Truth: Defined and Defended (Part 1)
  7. Truth: Defined and Defended (Part 2)
  8. The Search for and Significance of Truth
  9. The Place of Prudence in Apologetics
  10. Objections to Natural Theology
  11. The Ontological Argument
  12. The Cosmological Argument
  13. The Design Argument
  14. Darwin and Intelligent Design (Part 1)
  15. Darwin and Intelligent Design (Part 2)
  16. The Moral Argument
  17. The Religious Experience Argument
  18. The Uniqueness of Humanity
  19. Deposed Royalty: Pascal’s Anthropological Argument
  20. Jesus and History
  21. Claims and Credentials of Jesus
  22. The Incarnation of Jesus
  23. The Resurrection of Jesus (Part 1)
  24. The Resurrection of Jesus (Part 2)
  25. The Problem of Religious Pluralism
  26. The Problem of Islam
  27. The Problem of Evil
  28. The Problem of Hell
  29. Apologetics and the Old Testament
  30. Taking It to the Streets

THE COURSE

There is no more important event in human history than the resurrection of Christ. This event not only evidences God’s intervention and love for the human condition, it proclaims to the world that Christ is Lord.

God doesn't ask believers to accept the resurrection with blind faith. This is an event that happened in human history with hundreds of historic details we're called to examine to gain confidence in their faith in Christ.

That is why this 30-session Credo Course is focused solely on the historicity of the resurrection of Christ. There is no event more important for Christians to know inside and out. The historicity of the resurrection is sure to tame any skeptic (within and without), causing us all to fall on our face and worship the one true Lord: Jesus Christ.

THE EXPERT

Dr. Gary Habermas is Distinguished Research Professor of Apologetics and Philosophy at Liberty University. Dr. Habermas is the most respected scholar of the resurrection of Jesus in America and in this class he aims to teach you everything he’s learned. He's written such titles as The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus and The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ.

The Resurrection of Jesus Session List +
  1. The Importance of the Resurrection of Jesus
  2. A Priori Objections (Part 1)
  3. A Priori Objections (Part 2)
  4. Principles of Historiography
  5. Methodology: How Do We Use Historiography in Apologetics
  6. Approaching Scripture
  7. Minimal Facts Method
  8. Preaching before Completion of the New Testament
  9. Naturalistic Theories: Alternative Explanations for the Resurrection
  10. Naturalistic Theory 1: The Disciples Stole the Body
  11. Naturalistic Theory 2: Someone Else Stole the Body
  12. Naturalistic Theory 3: The Swoon Theory
  13. Naturalistic Theory 4: The Hallucination Theory
  14. Naturalistic Theory 5: The Copycat Theory
  15. Supernatural Alternative Theories
  16. Categorical Problems with Naturalistic Theories
  17. Understanding the Mind of a Skeptic
  18. Changing the Skeptical Mindset of the Naturalist (Part 1)
  19. Changing the Skeptical Mindset of the Naturalist (Part 2)
  20. Evidence for the Death of Jesus
  21. Evidence for the Appearances of Jesus
  22. Evidence for the Empty Tomb
  23. Constructing a Historical Timeline
  24. Apologetics: Building a Bridge from Miracles to Christianity
  25. Apologetics: Establishing a Connection between the Resurrection and the Existence of God
  26. Who Did Jesus Think He Was? Establishing the Deity of Christ
  27. Grounding Theology (Part 1)
  28. Grounding Theology (Part 2)
  29. Grounding Christian Practice: Application Based on the Resurrection
  30. The Resurrection of Jesus

THE COURSE

The canonical gospels are constantly under attack. Some claim that they’ve been copied from earlier myths and legends. Others allege they can’t be depended on for historically accurate information. Still others argue that scribes changed the text so that we no longer have what the authors wrote. How should Christians respond to these claims?

In this Credo Course Dr. Blomberg addresses and debunks the allegations against the canonical gospels one at a time while affirming the orthodox Christian position.

THE EXPERT

Dr. Craig Blomberg is the author of The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. Dr. Blomberg is a New Testament scholar, ordained Baptist minister, and a professor of the New Testament at Denver Seminary (1986–present). He received a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, a M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and B.A. from Augustana College with a triple major in mathematics, Spanish, and religion.

The Historical Reliability of the Gospels Session List +
  1. Widely Held Myths about Ancient Sources
  2. The Formation of the Canon and the Choice of the Synoptic Gospels
  3. Books Not Included: The Contents of the Apocryphal and Gnostic Gospels
  4. The Text of the New Testament and Especially of the Gospels
  5. The Translation of the New Testament and Especially of the Gospels
  6. The Authorship and Dating of the Gospels
  7. The Reliability of the Oral Tradition (Part 1)
  8. The Reliability of the Oral Tradition (Part 2)
  9. The Composition of the Synoptic Gospels
  10. The Literary Genre of the Gospels
  11. Archeology for the Gospels
  12. Non-Christian Evidence for Jesus
  13. The Apocryphal and Gnostic Gospels Further Evaluated
  14. The Quests for the Historical Jesus
  15. Why Such Diversity Exists and the Criteria of Authenticity
  16. The Most Authentic Parts of the Synoptic Tradition
  17. The Resulting Identity of Jesus
  18. Problems of Harmonization among the Synoptics
  19. Problems of Harmonization between the Synoptics and John
  20. The Reliability of John (Part 1)
  21. The Reliability of John (Part 2)
  22. A Fourth Quest for the Historical Jesus
  23. The Knowledge of the Jesus Tradition in the Early Epistles (Part 1)
  24. The Knowledge of the Jesus Tradition in the Early Epistles (Part 2)
  25. The Unique Problem of Miracles (Part 1)
  26. The Unique Problem of Miracles (Part 2)
  27. The Virginal Conception: Nativity or Naiveté
  28. The Resurrection: Fact or Fiction
  29. The Jesus We Never Knew
  30. Summary and Conclusions