History and Christianity

This monograph presents a vigorous defense of Christianity's historical foundations against skeptical challenges from modern historiography and theology. Montgomery argues that the resurrection of Jesus Christ and other central Christian claims can be verified through standard historical methods, directly opposing both secular historians who dismiss religious claims a priori and theological movements that divorce faith from historical investigation.

Montgomery critiques the prevailing separation between "historical Jesus" research and theological commitment, particularly targeting Rudolf Bultmann's demythologization program and existentialist approaches that treat Gospel narratives as primarily kerygmatic rather than historical. He contends that such approaches unnecessarily surrender Christianity's factual basis to accommodate modern skepticism. Against this trend, Montgomery insists that Christian faith stands or falls on actual historical events accessible to empirical investigation.

The work engages extensively with philosophy of history, examining how historical knowledge functions and what constitutes adequate evidence for past events. Montgomery argues that the same criteria historians apply to secular ancient history—documentary evidence, archaeological corroboration, eyewitness testimony—overwhelmingly support the New Testament's reliability. He addresses common objections about miracles and supernatural claims, arguing that philosophical prejudices rather than historical evidence drive their rejection.

Montgomery's methodology combines legal-evidential apologetics with historical criticism, drawing parallels between courtroom standards of proof and historical verification. He examines Gospel accounts as one would evaluate testimony in legal proceedings, considering factors like multiple attestation, hostile witnesses, and the psychological profile of the disciples. This approach aims to demonstrate that accepting the resurrection requires no special pleading or abandonment of rational standards.

The monograph's significance lies in its systematic challenge to the mid-twentieth century consensus that historical research and religious faith occupy separate spheres. Montgomery's work influenced subsequent evangelical scholarship by providing a template for defending Christianity's historical claims without retreating into fideism. His arguments anticipate later debates about the relationship between faith and reason, the possibility of objective historical knowledge, and the proper scope of historical methodology when examining religious texts.

While critics question whether Montgomery adequately addresses hermeneutical complexities and the role of interpretive frameworks in historical research, his work remains influential among those seeking to ground Christian belief in empirically verifiable events rather than subjective religious experience or philosophical speculation alone.