Michael R. Licona (Ph.D., University of Pretoria) is associate professor in theology at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of Paul Meets Muhammad (Baker, 2006) and coauthor with Gary Habermas of the award-winning book The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregel, 2004). Licona is a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, the Institute for Biblical Research and the Society of Biblical Literature. He is also a frequent speaker on university campuses and at churches, and has appeared on dozens of radio and television programs.
"For any reader [Licona] will be a most thorough, thoughtful, and
courteous companion on his book's long journey through it's
important and contested terrain."Rev. Robin Griffith-Jones, Church
Times, April 28, 2011
". . . [R]eaders of this well-written, well-documented book will
find that both the process used and the issues covered are
fascinating."D. Ingolfsland, Choice, June 2011
"Licona has tackled his subject energetically, with near-obsessive
thoroughness. He concludes that if one approaches the sources
without an a priori commitment to the impossibility of
resurrection, the 'Resurrection Hypothesis' is the interpretation
that most adequately accounts for the evidence. Thus, the book
boldly challenges the naturalistic presuppositions of
post-Enlightenment historical criticism. At the very least, Licona
has shown that the usual naturalistic explanations of the
resurrection tradition are, on the whole, weak, speculative and
often tendentious."I am not aware of any scholar who has previously
offered such a thorough and fair-minded account of the
historiographical prolegomena to the resurrection question.
Furthermore, Licona's discussion of the 'bedrock' historical
evidence is appropriately nuanced and carefully modulated, not
claiming more than can be supported by the consensus findings of
qualified scholars. This lends credibility to his conclusions.
Licona has presented a fair and vigorous case for his position. No
doubt many readers will be unconvinced by his arguments, but no one
can accuse him of naiveté or of ignoring counterarguments."This
study spans fields that are too rarely brought into conversation:
New Testament studies and historiographical theory. Licona is to be
commended for this undertaking and for producing a study that has
both wide range and significant depth."Richard B. Hays, George
Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament and dean, Duke Divinity
School
"At first glance this book is very provocative even for a
theologian who is convinced that the Easter faith is based on an
authentic encounter with God. But at second glance I became aware
that Michael Licona is not dealing with the 'resurrection faith'
but more modestly with the 'resurrection hypothesis'--in other
words, with those aspects of the resurrection faith that are
accessible to historical arguments. It is fascinating to follow his
arguments step by step in his investigation of theresurrection of
Jesus as a unique event in history. I once learned that
historiography is limited to events with analogies, immanent
causality and sources that must be criticized. These are, according
to Ernst Troeltsch, the great theologian and philosopher of
historicism, the three principles of modern historical research.
Must we revise these principles? Must we reformulate them? Perhaps!
In any case, it is refreshing to be confronted with quite another
approach that evaluates carefully the historical data, discusses
respectfully the arguments of opponents and demonstrates a humility
concerning the results, claiming only historical degrees of
plausibility for its own hypothesis. Many arguments are valuable
also for readers who do not agree. It is a necessary book, and I
recommend it to all who are interested in a responsible way to
interpret the Bible and the Christian faith."Gerd Theissen,
University of Heidelberg
"Licona develops a surprisingly fresh and rigorous
historiographical approach analysing data and interpretations from
the eighth century BC up to the third century AD."Frederic Mulder,
Evangelicals Now, May 2011
"With impressive erudition, Licona marshals all possible evidence
of Jesus' resurrection and considers its significance in a careful,
methodical way. He then compares several alternative explanations
of the disciples' faith in the resurrection, judging them according
to important criteria, and concludes that Jesus' bodily
resurrection provides the best explanation of their conviction, and
so is worthy of belief. This is an astonishing achievement and a
major contribution to the ongoing debate. It is clearly written and
full of fresh insights and arguments that will enrich discussion
for years to come."C. Behan McCullagh, author of The Logic of
History
"No episode in the life of anyone in history is more important than
the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Vehemently denied or
vigorously defended, it has intrigued the world for twenty
centuries. A host of scholars have addressed the phenomenon, so
what more could be said? In The Resurrection of Jesus, Michael
Licona tells us indeed. In brilliant detail, he begins with the
anomaly that I, as an ancient historian, have noted for years: that
secular historians often have a much higher regard for the New
Testament as source material than do many theologians and scholars
of religion. The latter tend to overlay their research with
preconceived and hopelessly subjective opinions, often ignoring the
basic rules of historiography. Licona corrects all this in showing
how the research and writing of history ought to be done
objectively, especially in dealing with Jesus. I warmly commend
this book to all who want to know if the resurrection of Jesus
really happened."Paul L. Maier, Russell H. Seibert Professor of
Ancient History, Western Michigan University
"All scholars who are interested in the historical evidence for
Jesus' resurrection will profit from this book. . . . No other work
matches its thoroughness, depth of research, or rigor in applying a
clear and responsible historical method to the question of Jesus'
resurrection."Charles L. Quarles, Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society, December 2011
"Michael Licona's thorough study of beliefs in Jesus' resurrection
is to be recommended, since it is informed of the social sciences,
ancient data, . . . attends to the New Testament witnesses and
engages most of the recent discussions. He rightly argues that the
early Christians did not interpret Jesus' resurrection in a
metaphorical or poetic sense to the exclusion of a literal event
that had occurred to his corpse."James H. Charlesworth, Princeton
Theological Seminary
"The most important event in the story of Christian beginnings is
the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, who was widely believed by
his followers to be the Messiah of Israel and the very Son of God.
Their conviction that Jesus was such a being wasconfirmed by the
resurrection. Without the resurrection of Jesus there really are no
grounds for Christian faith. Consequently, there is no topic more
important than this one and this is why Michael Licona's book on
the resurrection of Jesus is so welcome. Licona demonstrates
expertise in every field that is germane to the question. He knows
the philosophical arguments inside and out, as well as the relevant
historical, biblical, cultural and archaeological data. This is the
book for believersand skeptics alike."Craig A. Evans, Payzant
Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College,
Nova Scotia, Canada
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