Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible (Zondervan, 2021) by J. Warner Wallace is an apologetics winner! Jim is one of the best known cold-case homicide detectives in America. He's also a former atheist.
I've known Jim Wallace for many years, though we've never met. That's one of the neat things about social media. I contacted him soon after his first book, Cold-Case Christianity, was published. I had seen him on Dateline and was excited to learn he had become a Christian.
I was especially interested because we had both used similar methods as atheists investigating the truth claims of Christianity. J. Warner had used decades of investigative experience as a detective. I had used my experience as an investigative journalist. We both came to similar conclusions. The truth claims of Christianity were true!
I've enjoyed all of Jim's books and Person of Interest is no exception. One thing about his new book that I especially enjoy is he shares something he didn't do in previous books.
I investigated the claims of the Gospels using every tool I possessed as a detective. I tested the Gospels as eyewitness accounts, investigated the history of early Christianity, evaluated the nuanced differences among the New Testament texts, and applied forensic states analysis to the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I've written about this analysis in Cold-Case Christianity, but there was another important aspect of my investigation I've never written about, until now:
I also investigated Jesus as if he were a person of interest in a no-body homicide case. Person of Interest, p xvii
Jim weaves the story of a very difficult "no-body" murder case and how he solved it along with his methodology for determining whether Jesus Christ was a real person of ancient history. Many atheists and other non-believers challenge Christians to demonstrate the historicity of the person of Jesus without using the Bible. Can that be done? J. Warner says yes!
The more I investigated the existence and deity of Jesus, the more I realized the Bible wasn't the only available source of information. I didn't need the evidence provided by the Gospels to know the truth about Jesus. If some evil regime had destroyed every Christian Bible before I was born-if there hadn't been a single New Testament manuscript to testify about the life or deity of Jesus-I would still have been able to determine the truth about him. If I had investigated the case for Jesus like a no-body homicide cold case, I would have discovered everything I needed to know. Person of Interest, p xvii
J. Warner is always innovative in the way he produces a new writing project. Person of Interest is no different. The special project includes the Book, Video Study and Investigator's Guide.
I highly recommend Person of Interest for yourself, your family and friends, your small group and your church. May this book increase our faith and knowledge as we go forth to present the soul-saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Contents
Preface: No-Body Homicides
- The Fuse and the Fallout
- Jesus, the Average Ancient?
- Jesus, the Copycat Savior?
- Jesus, the Mistaken Messiah?
- In the Fullness of Time
- Jesus, the Unfounded Fiction?
- Jesus, the Dreary Deity?
- Jesus, the Illiterate?
- Jesus, the Science Denier?
- Jesus, the One and Only?
Postscript: The Unlikeliest of Suspects
Case Notes
Publisher's Description
Can the truth about Jesus be uncovered-even without a body or a crime scene? Join cold-case detective and bestselling author J. Warner Wallace as he investigates Jesus using an innovative and unique approach he employs to solve real missing person murder cases.
In Person of Interest, Wallace carefully sifts through the evidence from history alone, without relying on the New Testament. You'll understand like never before how Jesus, the most significant person in history, changed the world.
Features:
- Join a cold-case detective as he uncovers the truth about Jesus using the same approach he employs to solve real murder cases
- Marvel at the way Jesus changed the world as you investigate why Jesus still matters today
- Learn how to use an innovative and unique "fuse and fallout" investigative strategy that you can also use to examine other claims of history
- Explore and learn how to respond to common objections to Christianity
Wallace was skeptical of the Bible, but he'd investigated several no-body homicide cases in which there was no crime scene, no physical evidence, and no victim's body. Could the historical life and actions of Jesus be investigated in the same way?
In Person of Interest, Wallace describes his own personal investigative journey from atheism to Christianity as he carefully considers the evidence. Creative, compelling, and fully illustrated, Person of Interest will strengthen the faith of believers while engaging those who are skeptical and distrusting of the New Testament.
Reviews
"Wallace has an uncanny ability to discover clues where no one else sees them. Now he tackles perhaps his toughest case ever: solving a deeply personal mystery involving his own religious faith."
-ROBERT DEAN, producer of NBC News Dateline
"A creative and eye-opening work. You'll be captivated as Wallace takes you on a thrilling journey of discovery."
-LEE STROBEL, bestselling author of The Case for Christ
"If you read this book, you will have to reckon with Jesus, not just as a historical person but as Lord and Savior. This is not your typical apologetics book!"
-ALISA CHILDERS, author of Another Gospel
"Bring your doubts, bring your skepticism-but if you bring them in open-minded honesty . . . be prepared to render a shocking verdict."
-SCOTT HANSON, host of NFL RedZone
Person of Interest: Why Jesus Matters In A World That Rejects The Bible, J. Warner Wallace, Zondervan, 2021, 336 pages
Faith and Self Defense © 2021
