The Case Against The Case For Christ

This monograph presents a comprehensive critical examination of Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ (1998), one of contemporary evangelicalism's most influential apologetic works. Price systematically deconstructs Strobel's arguments for the historical reliability of the Gospels and the resurrection of Jesus, offering a counter-apologetic from the perspective of historical-critical biblical scholarship.

The work follows Strobel's original structure, addressing each chapter and interview subject in turn. Where Strobel presents conversations with conservative scholars as an investigative journey toward faith, Price interrogates both the selection of interviewees and their arguments. He contends that Strobel's presentation creates an illusion of balanced inquiry while actually offering a one-sided brief that ignores substantial scholarly criticism of traditional Christian claims.

Price employs the tools of form criticism, redaction criticism, and comparative mythology to challenge the Gospel accounts' historical reliability. He argues that Strobel's experts consistently minimize or dismiss the contradictions between Gospel narratives, the evidence of legendary development, and parallels with other ancient religious traditions. The monograph particularly focuses on resurrection accounts, examining their discrepancies and arguing that they reflect evolving theological interpretations rather than eyewitness testimony.

The author situates his critique within the broader context of the "Third Quest" for the historical Jesus, drawing on scholars like Burton Mack, John Dominic Crossan, and the Jesus Seminar's findings. Price demonstrates how Strobel's apologetic approach systematically excludes this scholarship, creating what amounts to an echo chamber of conservative evangelical positions presented as scholarly consensus.

Methodologically, Price combines detailed textual analysis with broader observations about apologetic rhetoric. He argues that works like Strobel's succeed not through scholarly rigor but by exploiting readers' unfamiliarity with critical biblical scholarship. The monograph serves both as a specific rebuttal and as a case study in how popular apologetics obscures the actual state of biblical studies.

This work contributes significantly to contemporary debates about the historical Jesus and the nature of religious epistemology. By exposing what he sees as the intellectual insularity of evangelical apologetics, Price challenges not just specific historical claims but the entire framework within which popular Christian apologetics operates. His critique extends beyond Strobel to question how religious communities engage with historical evidence and scholarly methodology.