On Chapter 1 in the book, "More Than a Carpenter"

Discussion on the book, More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell
By Nakwana Leofman

Have you ever tried to talk about God? Have you tried to talk about Jesus Christ? According to Josh McDowell, it is easier to talk about God than Jesus because of who he claimed he was. Jesus was according to some historians (H. G. Wells & Kenneth Scott Latouette), the most notable person, who ever lived on earth. Then Josh asks several questions concerning other famous people in history, “How is Jesus different from other religious leaders? Why don’t the names of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius offend people?” (McDowell 10). The answer given by Josh is that none of those people other than Jesus ever claimed to be God.
Jesus claimed that He was God.

Titus 2:13
John 1:1
Hebrews 1:8
Romans 9:5
1 John 5:20, 21

These scriptures according to Josh McDowell are saying that Jesus was God.

Characteristics

Then Josh talks about the characteristics that are only used when describing God. The characteristics, self-existent , omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and eternal life.

John 1:4; 14:6
Matthew 28:20; 18:20
John 4:16; 6:64
Matthew 17:22-27
Revelations 1:8
Luke 4:39-55; 7:14, 15
Matthew 8:26, 27
1 John 5:11, 12, 20;
John 1:4

The honor and worship that Jesus received that was reserved for God.

Matthew 4:10; 14:33; 28:9
Hebrews 1:6
Revelations 5:8-14

Who were the followers of Jesus? “Most of the followers of Jesus were devout Jews who believed in one true God. They were monotheistic to the core, yet they recognized him as God incarnate.” (McDowell 12).

The trial that Jesus went through was over his identity unlike most trials. “An analysis of Christ’s testimony shows that he claimed to be (1) the Son of the Blessed One (God); (2) the One who would sit at the right hand of power, and (3) the Son of Man who would come on the clouds of heaven.” (McDowell 20).

In today’s time there is the misconception that the Jews were uneducated savages, but that is wrong for as Josh McDowell puts it, “We must remember that the Jews were not a tribe of ignorant savages, but a highly cultured and intensely religious people;” (McDowell 21). This is the same as thinking that those before us were not as intelligent as we are today. The more I learn about the ancient cultures, the more I realize that they are far more intelligent, than we are today. Yes. It may well be true that we have more technology than they did, but they used their minds more than we do today.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Nakwna Leofman

McDowell, Josh More Than a Carpenter. Wheaton Illinois: Living Books Tyndale House Publishers, Inc 1977.

More Than a Carpenter

After reading the book, "More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, which I enjoyed reading. I decided that my next posts will be over the author's journey to discredit Christianity, which he tried, but failed to do so. I will add more to what he said plus what I have found in other places on why Christianity cannot and will not be proven to be wrong.

God Bless You All,
Nakwana Leofman