A Case for the Divinity of Jesus: Examining the Earliest Evidence

Whether Jesus was really the Son of God or not is a central question for Christians–and one that has provoked heated debate since the time…

Opinion & Commentary · Published 17 years ago · 3 min read

Whether Jesus was really the Son of God or not is a central question for Christians–and one that has provoked heated debate since the time of Jesus’ birth. Dean L. Overman examines the earliest Christian records to build a compelling case for the divinity of Jesus. Overman analyzes often overlooked evidence from liturgies and letters written in the years immediately following Jesus’ death–decades earlier than the Gnostic gospels or the New Testament gospels. Addressing questions raised by books such as Bart Ehrman’s Misquoting Jesus and Elaine Pagels’ The Gnostic Gospels, Overman presents powerful evidence from the earliest Christian communities that will be new for many modern Christians and builds a carefully reasoned case for Jesus truly being the Son of God.

Reviews of “A Case for the Divinity of Jesus: Examining the Earliest Evidence”

“Dean Overman brings the investigative skill of a brilliant lawyer together with the insights of an outstanding Christian intellectual leader to make a compelling case for the divinity of Jesus and his resurrection. The careful argument he makes needs to be taken seriously by all who want to examine the foundations for the astonishing claim that Jesus uniquely is the Son of God. No assertion of truth is more revolutionary in the world’s history than this. Overman presents an accessible, persuasive case for why this assertion is historically grounded and intellectually trustworthy.”
–Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America; Co-founder, Sojourners

“Dean Overman covers a lot of very important ground in this well organized and easy to read book. He makes a solid case for the divinity of Jesus, as seen especially in the historically credible accounts of the resurrection. But Overman deals with many other important topics, such as the reliability of the New Testament Gospels and the unreliability of the second-century gnostic Gospels and the complicated question of how other religions of the world fit into the picture. Students, clergy, experts and non-experts alike will benefit greatly from this book.”
–Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College; author of “Fabricating Jesus” and co-author with N.T. Wright, “Jesus, The Final Days”

“Skillful lawyer Dean L. Overman has carefully marshalled the earliest evidence available from the early church’s earliest confessions and set out a compelling case for the divinity of Jesus. What results is not just an enjoyable ‘good read’–it is an excellent and perceptive ‘must read’ for laypeople and scholars alike, which calls for an intelligent response in the court of public opinion.”
–Richard N. Longenecker, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, University of Toronto, author of “The Christology of Early Jewish Christianity”

Read more about A Case for the Divinity of Jesus: Examining the Earliest Evidence or buy the book here. Learn more about Dean Overman.

(Source: Christian Newswire)