Book Review
More than a Carpenter, By Josh McDowell, Wheaton, Il: Tyndale House Publishers, 1977. 128 pages. $4.99 (paper). ISBN 0-8423-4552-3.
Argument Summary
As will be seen in the chapter summaries, McDowell presents an argument which affirms that Jesus was the son of God and the Messiah. In chapter one, Jesus is presented as someone who claimed to be God. Further, McDowell shows that Jesus’ enemies acknowledged his claim as God. In chapter two, the author narrows down the options, given the facts of chapter one. That is, Jesus was either who He claimed to be, a liar (a liar who realized he was lying) or he was a lunatic (a madman who mistakenly was convinced that he was God). Finally, in chapters three through six, we are given plenty of evidence to show that the Biblical record is reliable. The argument put forth in the book may be summarized thusly:
CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Chapter 1 – What Makes Jesus So Different?
McDowell opens his book by presenting the argument that Jesus claimed to be God. Not only does the New Testament present Jesus as divine, but Jesus himself claimed to be God. Even his enemies acknowledged his claim to be deity. This chapter effectively sets up the next. Having concluded that Jesus did, in fact claim to be divine, we find that we have only a few choices as to the identity of the savior.
Chapter 2 – Lord, Liar, or Lunatic?
Here McDowell points out that many people reject clear reasoning about Christ because of the moral implications of doing so. As a result, they are comfortable saying he was a good and moral man, but not God. There are a number of problems with this attitude. First, Jesus always regarded himself and his message inseparable. Second, given the conclusion in the first chapter, that Jesus claimed to be God and that all those around Him acknowledged it, McDowell presents three options as to who Jesus was. If He was who He said He was, He is our Lord and we must obey, honor and love Him. Further, he could have been a liar. It is possible that Christ deliberately lied about who he was. In this case, he would then NOT be a moral and good man and teacher, but, rather, a hypocrite and a fool. Still further, he could have been mistaken, or an ignorant liar. If this was true, he was a madman; someone who was deluded as to his own identity. McDowell argues effectively against the two latter possibilities.
Chapter 3 – What About Science?
In chapter three, McDowell notes that many will object to obeying and accepting Christ as the son of God on the basis of a lack of scientific proof. He then makes a distinction between a scientific proof and legal-historical proof. In the case of events that happened in the Biblical accounts, we must used legal-historical proof. Faith is said to be something other than a blind leap. An interesting statement in this chapter is found on page 40. Here McDowell states “Never has an individual been called upon to commit intellectual suicide in trusting Christ as Savior and Lord.” In this chapter, the author prepares us for a study of the reliability of the Biblical records to come.
Chapter 4 – Are the Biblical Records Reliable?
Chapter four is a response to the modern attempts to attack the reliability of the Bible itself. In the opening pages of this chapter, McDowell presents many scholars who refute a second century date for the writing of the Bible including a wonderful passage about Sir William Ramsey, a great archaeologist who calls Luke “a historian of the first rank.” Next, the author refutes the form critics by showing that “the period of oral tradition was not long enough to have allowed the alterations in the tradition that these critics have alleged.” Here also are presented three methods of testing the reliability of any historical document: the Bibliographical Test, the Internal Evidence Test, and the External Evidence Test. Following is a brief review of each.
Bibliographical Test – This test is an examination of the textual transmission by which the documents reach us. It deals with the reliability of the copies, the number of the MSS, and the time it took to get from the original to the copies.
Internal Evidence Test – Having completed the Bibliographical Test, we can now look at whether the writing is credible or a fraud. The fact that the Bible writers were close to the events geographically and chronologically helps the Bible pass this test. Also, as McDowell points out, the Bible writers include things in their work that frauds would likely have left out.
External Evidence Test – This final test is called by Gottschalk (quoted by McDowell) “often the decisive test of evidence, whether of one or of more witnesses.” This test looks at whether other sources and historical material apart from the work under question, confirms or denies the internal testimony of the documents themselves. The author quotes a number of second century sources which affirm the historical reliability of the Bible. Additionally, archaeology is enlisted as an external source of validation to the Bibles historicity.
Chapter 5 – Who Would Die for a Lie?
In chapter five, the author deals with an overlooked area in the discussion of the Bible’s reliability, the transformation of Jesus’ apostles. Given the manner of death many of the apostles suffered, it becomes highly unlikely that they would have pressed on for a lie. To understand this argument, we must be aware of at least three things. First, the apostles were writing as eyewitnesses to the events they described. Second, they had to be convinced that the Messiah was raised from the dead. Third, we notice the immediate boldness the apostles and disciples exhibited after the resurrection. Near the end of the chapter we find a great quote from Tertullian: “no man would be willing to die unless he knew he had the truth.” How true.
Chapter 6 – What Good is a Dead Messiah?
McDowell begins this chapter with the contrasting statements “a lot of people have died for a good cause” and “the problem with the apostles is that their good cause died on the cross.” He then spends most of the chapter showing that the Jewish concept of the Messiah was that of a “reigning, victorious, political leader.” The idea of a suffering, meek and oppressed Messiah was completely non-sensical to the Jews at that time. As a result of this, the apostles held the same misconceptions. These wrong ideas continued through the crucifixion and were finally wiped away the morning of the resurrection. The seemingly instant transformation of the apostles’ attitude about Jesus Christ supports the truth of the risen Christ.
Chapter 7 – Did You Hear What Happened to Saul?
The apostle Paul is presented next as a proof of the reliability of the Bible. McDowell presents a great deal of information that makes the conversion of Saul of Tarsus highly unlikely. The conversion of Paul was sudden, powerful, unexpected and had at least three effects. First, it transformed his character. Second, his relationship with the followers of Christ was transformed. Third, his message was most surprisingly transformed. Lastly, his mission was clearly transformed. Elias Andrews is quoted as calling the conversion of Saul of Tarsus “the most convincing evidence of the truth and the power of the religion to which he was converted.”
Chapter 8 – Can You Keep a Good Man Down?
The title of this chapter is a direct reference to the burial and resurrection of Christ. The author presents two options concerning the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Either it is “one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon people, or it is the most important fact of history.” He points out that the resurrection account takes the validity of Christianity out of the realm of philosophy and puts it in the realm of history. McDowell then presents much good and useful information regarding the burial and resurrection. A number of objections in the form of false theory are presented. They include: The Wrong Tomb Theory, The Swoon Theory, and The Stolen Body Theory. He finishes by presenting pages of evidence for the bodily resurrection of our Lord. George Eldon is quoted near the end of the chapter saying “The only rational explanation for these historical facts is that God raised Jesus in bodily form.” I agree.
Chapter 9 – Will the Real Messiah Please Stand Up?
Chapter nine deals with how we can be certain that Jesus of Nazareth was the true messiah, prophesied in the Old Testament. McDowell describes an “historical address” which belongs only to Jesus. A number of objections are handled by the author. One such objection is that the prophecies may have been written down AFTER Christ had lived. Evidence is presented to show that, at the least, the latest prophecies we have, thanks to the Septuagint, are dated no later than 150-200 BC Two other objections are that the fulfillment of all of the prophecies about Jesus was purely coincidental and that Jesus tried to deliberately live his life in such a way that he would fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies. Both these objections are ably refuted in this chapter.
Chapter 10 – Isn’t There Some Other Way?
This chapter deals with the question “Why is Jesus the only way to God?” McDowell gives at least three answers to this question. First, Jesus claimed to be the only way to God (see chapter one). Second, the testimony of scripture and the apostles is reliable (see chapters 4-7). Third, there is sufficient evidence to warrant faith in Jesus as savior. The author presents misunderstandings regarding the nature of God as a possible explanation of why so many have a hard time accepting Jesus as the only way to God. As God is good, loving and just, sin is not part of God. As a result, forgiveness of sin comes with a price. That price was paid by Jesus who bore the burden of sin and paid the price for each of us.
Chapter 11 – He Changed My Life
The book takes an unfortunate turn in this final chapter. McDowell recounts his own “salvation experience” for the reader. On page 124, he writes that his conversion consisted of praying “four things to establish a relationship with the resurrected, living Christ.” Ironically, McDowell spoke rightly when he said “Well, after I prayed, nothing happened. I mean nothing.” Also of note are the various comments he gives immediately after his conversion account. Notice the like phrases: “I felt worse. I literally felt I was going to vomit. I felt sick deep down . . . I wondered. I really felt I’d gone off the deep end” (emphasis JJN). Clearly, here is a person that places an extraordinary amount of weight on how he feels when he makes a decision. I am thankful that my conversion to Christianity was not so troublesome. There are at least two problems with this chapter.
First, the plan of salvation is misrepresented. McDowell says that he became a Christian upon putting “his trust in Christ.” Further, the action he took, having believed in Jesus Christ as God, was to pray “four things to establish a relationship with . . . Christ.” He claims that Jesus came into his life “by faith.” Further, there is no mention at all about confession, repentance or baptism by immersion. McDowell clearly believes that salvation comes to the sinner by faith alone, even though he said that he “prayed four things” to establish his relationship with Jesus.
Second, the fact that people who have not become Christians according to the scriptures (although they believe they have) are happy could be confusing to some. How do we account for the fact that people who have not followed the Bible plan of salvation, but claim they are, and may be happy? Part of the reason may be that some people misunderstand the term happiness. Happiness can either be the shallow, subjective happiness that some seek after (and find) or true and lasting happiness that comes from following, loving, and obeying Jesus Christ. It is true that in order to be truly happy, it may be that we do not experience as much “shallow happiness” that some in the world may experience.
Summary
As with any work of man, the reader would do well to be diligent in comparing the assertions made with the truth of the Bible. This work is a useful tool and offers excellent argumentation regarding the subject of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
John J. Natiw, Editor, Biblical Christianity Review