Chapter 1: The Importance of Eyewitness Testimony
* Real example: The eyewitness testimony of a young woman who witnessed a hit-and-run accident helped apprehend the driver.
* Importance of eyewitness testimony: Provides firsthand accounts of events, can be crucial for legal proceedings and historical accuracy.
Chapter 2: The Eyewitnesses to Jesus' Life
* Real example: The apostles, disciples, and other followers of Jesus who witnessed his teachings, miracles, and resurrection.
* Biblical witnesses: 12 apostles, 70 disciples, 500 followers after the resurrection, and others mentioned throughout the Gospels.
Chapter 3: The Nature of New Testament Eyewitness Accounts
* Real example: The differing accounts of the same event in different news articles, highlighting the subjective nature of eyewitness testimony.
* New Testament accounts: Varied perspectives and emphases, due to different authors' purposes and cultural contexts.
Chapter 4: The Reliability of New Testament Eyewitness Accounts
* Real example: The consistency of eyewitness accounts of a major disaster, indicating their reliability.
* New Testament accounts: Consistent in their core message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, despite minor discrepancies.
Chapter 5: The Impact of New Testament Eyewitness Accounts
* Real example: The influence of eyewitness testimony in shaping public opinion about a political scandal.
* Biblical accounts: Transformed the world's religious landscape, inspiring millions to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.
Chapter 6: The Eyewitnesses to Jesus' Resurrection
* Real example: The eyewitness testimony of soldiers guarding Jesus' tomb who witnessed the resurrection.
* Biblical accounts: The testimony of Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and others who encountered the resurrected Jesus.
Chapter 7: The Objectivity of New Testament Eyewitness Accounts
* Real example: The challenges of maintaining objectivity in high-stakes situations, such as military combat.
* New Testament accounts: Written decades after the events, reflecting the biases and perspectives of the authors.
Chapter 8: The Internal Coherence of New Testament Eyewitness Accounts
* Real example: The cross-referencing of different eyewitness accounts of a crime to enhance their overall coherence.
* Biblical accounts: Interwoven stories and cross-references support the overall reliability of the New Testament narrative.
Chapter 9: The External Evidence for the New Testament Eyewitness Accounts
* Real example: Historical records and archaeological findings that corroborate eyewitness accounts of ancient events.
* Biblical accounts: Archaeological evidence, such as the Pilate Stone and ossuaries, support the historical context of the New Testament.
Chapter 10: The Eyewitnesses and the Formation of the New Testament
* Real example: The role of eyewitness testimony in shaping the development of a legal case.
* Biblical accounts: Eyewitness accounts formed the foundation of the Gospels, which became the authoritative texts of Christianity.
