This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Did the authors of the Gospels base their texts on real people or pagan myths? How can we know for sure? Find out in this course! We’ll explore evidence that claims accurate accounts were made from the time of Jesus and onwards and how we can verify whether recorded events actually happened.
Total classes: 6
Prerequisite: Introduction to Apologetics (available through Unlimited Access), or equivalent
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Suggested credit: ½ semester Apologetics or Theology. For a full credit, add another theology course or add the optional reading list provided by the instructor.
Description
Did the authors of the Gospels fabricate a hoax? Did they base their texts on legends or pagan myths? How do we know that what the Gospel record is truthful and actually happened? In this course, we will learn that such things simply cannot be the case. We will look at the evidence that a concerted effort was made to accurately transmit what happened accurately from the time of Jesus onwards and how we can verify whether the things they record really did happen.
Outline
Class 1: What are the Gospels compared to other ancient works?
Class 2: Did the writers of the events know the subject they recorded?
Class 3: Who wrote the four Gospels? (Authenticity)
Class 4: When were the Gospels written?
Class 5: Are our copies of the Gospels accurate?
Class 6: Could the Gospel authors have lied?
Materials and Homework
Course materials:
Required: The Gospel Truth: How We Can Know What Christ Taught by Gary Michuta (Catholic Answers Press, 2013)
Highly recommended (but not required):
The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ by Brant Pitre
Is the New Testament Reliable? by Paul Barnett
Homework: Each class will have a multi-choice quiz. There will also be a final exam to review material from the course. Quizzes and the exam are automatically graded by the computer so that students have immediate feedback. Students will be encouraged to review the material and practice the responses. Expect to spend ½ hour per class on homework.
Important Dates
Class dates: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26, 2024.
Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central, 8:00 Mountain, 7:00 Pacific)
Duration of each class: 55 minutes
