The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Licona vs. Ehrman - Part 1
September 3, 2025
Risen JesusMike Licona
In this episode, frequent debate opponents Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Bart Ehrman face off on the historical reliability of the gospels. Held in 2018 at Kennesaw State University, Dr. Licona begins by defining historical reliability as related to the gospels, stating that the gospels, ancient biographies, got things right when focusing on the larger biographical narrative of Jesus. The specifics of the various stories may differ between books, but that is due to the literary conventions of the genre at that time. Licona then lists six criteria for historical reliability, including:
1. the author’s intent to be accurate,
2. a good choice of sources,
3. a good use of sources,
4. the author and sources being capable of accurate reporting,
5. numerous details being verifiable
6. a small percentage of more information being known to be false.
Dr. Ehrman’s contention is summed up in his claim that he doesn’t think the gospels are accurate in many of the things they state regarding Jesus. He then focuses on examples that he concludes are contradictions and mistakes in the gospels' birth, ministry, and death and resurrection narratives.
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