AP103: The Deity of Jesus Christ

This episode examines the historical foundations of Christianity, specifically focusing on the divine self-understanding of Jesus and the reliability of historical knowledge. One core argument suggests that Jesus made unique claims to authority, such as forgiving sins and superseding Jewish Law, which imply a divine identity rather than a merely prophetic one. The sources defend the objectivity of history against postmodern relativism, asserting that the past can be accurately reconstructed using evidential criteria similar to those used in science. By analyzing titles like "Son of Man" and the "Abba" address, the authors conclude that the early Church’s worship of Christ was rooted in Jesus’ own radical self-concept. Ultimately, the texts maintain that Christianity stands or falls on the historicity of these events, making the academic study of the "historical Jesus" essential for theological defense.