Readability Scale (1–5):
Helping you find the right fit for where you are
- 1 – Introductory: Extremely accessible. No background knowledge required.
- 2 – Beginner-Friendly: Assumes basic familiarity with Christian terms. Light theology.
- 3 – Intermediate: Ideal for thoughtful readers. Engages scholarship but still readable.
- 4 – Advanced: Academic tone. Assumes theological background.
- 5 – Specialist: Dense scholarly work. Best for seminary or serious academic readers.
A Thoughtful, Accessible Defense of Gospel Diversity
If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t shy away from the differences in the Gospel accounts—but instead explains them in a clear, compelling way—Jesus Contradicted by Mike Licona is a must-read.
This book is a more accessible version of Licona’s earlier academic work, Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?, but it carries the same essential insight: that ancient biographies didn’t follow modern standards of journalistic precision, and that the variations in the Gospels are not contradictions—they’re features of the genre.
What makes this book especially interesting to me is not just the content, but the man behind it. Mike Licona is both a friend and debate partner of Bart Ehrman, and their dynamic—Licona as a thoughtful conservative scholar engaging deeply with skeptical arguments—is part of what makes his work so valuable.
If you’re coming from a conservative background and are wrestling with questions raised by textual or historical criticism, Licona is a great place to start. He doesn’t water down the issues, but he offers a faithful and well-researched perspective. On the flip side, if you’re looking to branch out a bit and learn how Gospel variation can coexist with trust in Scripture, this book is a perfect bridge.
Personally, this one lands in my favorites category. If you’re unsure whether it’s for you, feel free to reach out—I’d love to help you think through it. I don’t want you to walk away disappointed.
Readability: 3 – Intermediate
Engages scholarly content but presents it clearly. Best for readers familiar with Gospel studies or apologetics who are ready to think through nuance.
A Thought-Provoking Challenge to Assumptions—Even If You Don’t Agree with Everything
Bart Ehrman’s Jesus, Interrupted is not a casual read—but it is a necessary one. Whether you’re a believer—fundamentalist, evangelical, moderate, liberal—or a nonbeliever, this book is bound to stretch the way you see the Bible.
What makes this book powerful is not just Ehrman’s academic background (he’s a New Testament scholar with deep knowledge of textual criticism), but his transparency. Early on, he writes, “In the chapters that follow I try to explain why scholarship on the Bible forced me to change my views.” That line alone had a huge impact on me. It sets the tone: this is not an angry deconstruction; it’s an invitation to re-examine long-held assumptions.
Ehrman forces the reader to reckon with an essential truth: our view of the Bible affects how we interpret it. For example, many of us only harmonize stories across the Gospels because we assume the Bible is inspired and infallible. If we didn’t assume that, would we still do it? That’s a question worth sitting with.
Another strength of the book is how it presses the reader to weigh possibility and probability with equal seriousness. Ehrman doesn’t just challenge what’s possible within Christian theology—he evaluates how likely it is, based on historical and literary methods. That’s a subtle but important shift, and one that many readers (on all sides of the faith spectrum) would benefit from exploring.
For me, this book belongs in the “stretch me” category. You don’t have to agree with Ehrman to benefit from him. If you’re serious about engaging the Bible thoughtfully, and not just devotionally, Jesus, Interrupted is worth your time.
As always, feel free to reach out if you’re curious whether this book is right for you. I’m happy to help you find the books that meet you where you are.
Readability: 2 – Beginner-Friendly
Written for a general audience. Introduces critical issues without academic jargon. Accessible even for readers new to Bible scholarship.
A Must-Read for Anyone Who Wants to Understand Where Our Bibles Come From
James White’s The King James Only Controversy is one of my all-time favorite books. It had a huge impact on me—clarifying questions I didn’t even know how to ask about the transmission of Scripture, the history of the text, and the dangers of elevating one translation above all others.
White is one of the strongest conservative apologists of our time, and this book shows exactly why. He doesn’t just defend modern translations—he walks you through the actual process of textual transmission and comparison. If you’ve ever wondered where the Bible came from, how it has been preserved, or why there are different versions, this is your starting point.
One of the book’s most important contributions is its clarity. It helps readers understand that holding to a single translation—especially one based on a limited manuscript tradition—can create more confusion than clarity. And it does this without attacking the King James itself. White shows respect for the translation while dismantling the myths that surround its exclusivity.
If you’re serious about understanding the Bible’s textual history, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Have questions before diving in? Feel free to reach out—I’d love to talk through it with you.
Readability: 3 – Intermediate
Straightforward but assumes some prior interest in translation issues. Includes technical details, but they’re explained for thoughtful lay readers.
https://amzn.to/3SzwjGJ