Can You Really Trust the Gospels?

Can You Really Trust the Gospels?

Ever wondered what it takes to actually trust the Gospel accounts rather than just hoping they’re true? This episode of *The Call with Nancy Sabato* brings in New Testament scholar Dr Craig Evans to tackle that question head-on for people who want to believe in Jesus but feel nagging doubts underneath their faith. You’ll hear Dr Evans explain how his confidence in the Gospels shifted from childhood teaching to evidence-based conviction once he began studying history, manuscripts and ancient sources.

He sums up his journey simply: “The evidence for the truth of the gospel narratives is compelling. In fact, it’s more than compelling. It’s overwhelming.” The conversation looks at why historians and archaeologists take Matthew, Mark, Luke and John seriously, while largely ignoring later writings like the Gospel of Thomas, Peter or Barnabas. Dr Evans points to “real people, real places, and real events” and talks about concepts like *verisimilitude*—whether documents reflect the actual realities of the time.

Archaeology comes into focus with examples of first-century synagogues and the Dead Sea Scrolls, including texts that echo phrases like “son of God” and “son of the most high” well before Jesus’ birth. You’ll also hear how early expectations about the Messiah and accounts of Jesus as a healer line up with material from Qumran and historians such as E. P. Sanders.

For anyone anxious that the stories might have turned into myth, Dr Evans stresses how early the Gospels are, the role of eyewitnesses, and Paul’s own investigations after meeting the risen Christ. The episode repeatedly returns to the idea that questions are welcome and that faith doesn’t need to be “blind” to be genuine.

If you’re wrestling with whether the Bible can be trusted and what that means for your own life, this conversation might be a helpful place to sit with your questions and ask, "What if this really is true?"