The Gospel of John: Historically Accurate or Highly Embellished?

You may or may not be aware of the debates surrounding the historicity of the Gospel of John. Many scholars have suggested that John’s Gospel contains unhistorical embellishments or is “metaphorically” but not historically true as are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This accusation has serious implications for our understanding of Jesus and His teachings, as well as for the reliability of the New Testament as a whole. Did John truly alter the facts and put words in Jesus’ mouth to serve his own theological goals? Analytic philosopher Lydia McGrew refutes these claims in The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage, arguing in detail that John never invents material and that he is robustly reliable and honestly historical.

Resources:

• Dr. McGrew’s website
• The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage by Lydia McGrew