Ep 157: Behold the Man with Peter S. Williams

Original air date: July 24th, 2025

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross welcome back philosopher and author *Peter S. Williams* to discuss his book, *Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus*. This engaging conversation explores the intersection of worldview, epistemology, and historical scholarship in the search for the real Jesus.

Topics Covered:
The Structure and Purpose of Behold the ManA collection of revised essays exploring various historical, philosophical, and theological dimensions of Jesus.

Worldviews and Historical InquiryHow modernism, postmodernism, and the emerging metamodern perspective affect approaches to the historical Jesus.
Epistemology and Openness to EvidenceWhy the worldview and theory of knowledge you bring impacts whether you can honestly assess historical claims about Jesus.

An Early High Christology in JamesPeter argues for early Christian belief in Jesus’ divinity based on linguistic and contextual clues in the Epistle of James.

Dating the Gospels – Especially JohnExamination of internal and external evidence supporting the traditional dating of the Fourth Gospel and its authorship by the Apostle John.

Miracles and the ResurrectionResponding to philosophical objections to miracles, with particular focus on David Hume and the resurrection as a historically reasonable belief.

Minimal Facts vs. Maximal Data ApproachesComparison between Gary Habermas’s minimal facts method and broader evidential strategies in defending the resurrection.

Responding to UFO and Ancient Alien TheoriesWhy Christian apologists should engage with these alternative explanations, and how to challenge them both philosophically and scientifically.

Emotional Barriers to BeliefHow personal experience and discomfort with change often block serious consideration of evidence—and how to engage that pastorally.

The Role of Apologetics in Spiritual FormationWhy apologetics is a signpost, not a substitute, for commitment to Christ. Knowing about Jesus is not the same as following Him.

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