Truth Matters: Confident Faith in a Confusing World is written for high school and college students, and serves as a clarion call for a "reasoned faith" that has more to offer skeptics than Sunday School platitudes. It's an informed and informing book that looks at intelligent and biblical responses to common objections to Christian faith.
Its unifying thrust is to look at one scholar, in this case Bart Ehrman, and offer reasonable analyses of his arguments -- as an example of the way to handle these sceptics a critics with a reasonable, biblical and loving response.
Choosing Ehrman's work is the best choice of these renowned New Testament professors. Because Ehrman's work is found in nearly every college classroom in one form or another. It also pervades the popular culture on Discovery and History Channel specials. Ehrman is a prolific scholar, whose intellect and charm can be appealing and overwhelming unless you think through his arguments closely.
Truth Matters helps the reader do just that.
Apologetics books these days are a dime a dozen. So initially, I wasn't very excited about this book. "Why another one?" I thought. But after reading the first chapter, I realized that the wisdom here blends a rigorous learning with a pastoral sensitivity. That's rare in apologetic books these days. But it makes the material here that much more significant and rewarding.
With Richard Bauckman and NT Wright as some of their conversation partners, this book brings a rich flavor for students who will find it useful. In fact, it'll be required reading the next time I teach a New Testament introuctory class in college.
Churches should see that every graduating high school student gets a copy of Truth Matters this year. It also makes great material for senior high and college-age Church School classes, particularly given the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
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I was provided a free copy of this book by B&H Academic Books for my honest review.
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