Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels

Written by J. Warner Wallace

Narrated by J. Warner Wallace

Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator.
 
Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity.
 
A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories, Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David C. Cook
• Release date: Jan 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781646892686

J. Warner Wallace

J. Warner Wallace is a Dateline-featured homicide detective, popular national speaker, and best-selling author. Relying on over two decades of investigative experience, Wallace provides the tools needed to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview.

Reviews for Cold-Case Christianity

[Laura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Phenomenal! Detective Wallace lays out an extremely compelling case for the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[Abby Harding · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was everything I was searching for. Intellectual and evidentiary proof for the case for Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus is not Intellectual suicide! I feel equipped to pursue more

[Jean Wan Chen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolute must read for the rational thinking person who wants to take an objective look at the evidence from the point of view of a cold case detective.
Good for the already committed Christian to understand the basis for their faith.
Good for the nonChristian to examine the history to come to their own conclusion.

[Vándor, Péter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This (audio)book is absolutely astounding. J. Warner Wallace brings his expertise as a cold case detective and applies it to determine whether or not the gospels pass as trustworthy historical accounts. An excellent read for Christians and skeptics alike.

[Breanne Mosher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is perfect for people looking to deepen proof about Jesus. I loved listening to the bits and pieces of the cases he has worked on. I also love that it is narrated by the author.

[Karl Foxley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely enthralling from beginning to end. I feel I am in a better position to understand my faith and also to defend my faith. I will listen to this again and recommend everyone goes through it at least twice. If you love true-crime and the methodology used to solve crimes, you'll take away a lot from reading/listening to Cold-Case Christianity.

[Sheldon Feakes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well worth the read, especially if you are a Christian!

[Edgar Sala · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a really good book for apologetics. It doesn’t matter if you are that much into apologetics, I think this book is really practical and for every level

[Greg Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An apologist dream. Thanking the Lord for this man and his testimony, God is so good.

[ricky · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I truly enjoyed the investigative approach. Apply your trade skills to factualize the Bible and Jesus my savior.
I appreciate how your experience in the field, the real cases, and that process supports how Bible day living is true.

Whenever I learn how our Bible can be validated, it helps me, encourages me, and gives me the certainty to walk in confidence with my belief.

I encourage everyone to study the evidence he provides and practice instill the information to others.

God Bless

[Nick Arnold · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing! If you're a follower of Christ READ THIS! If you have a heart for the lost, then this book will work wonders in your defense of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ?

[Lillian Maalawy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perfection. It makes you think critically and allows you to see it from a different perspective.

[Fit For Faith 〣 Your Christian Ministry. · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A great and overall recommendable book, but under the almost entire absence of spiritual discernment.

PROS

+ Good defense of Christianity, although on a theoretical and rather dry level.

+ Good reflection on the early church 'fathers' (see Mat 23:9).

+ Some good insights into his profession. Especially helpful was the realization that witnesses have a greater value, when their testimony has obviously not been harmonized.

CONS

- He wrongly claimed that IESOUS had in Mat 8:16 to wait until the evening, in order to cast out demons, because it was the Weekly Sabbath. But reading the previous two verses, it is very clear that IESOUS healed earlier that day. The author has also a faulty understanding of the Weekly Sabbath itself. Only 2 out of 7 High Sabbaths began in the evening (Passover & Atonement), while a Weekly Sabbath is biblically stipulated to begin with sunrise. Modern Mainstream Judaism is no reference for us, if not we would have to start the biblical year in autumn et al.

- No spiritual guidance for unbelievers on how to come to CHRISTOS. No reflection on the role of the HOLY SPIRIT in the conversion of people and what role his book can play. No reflection on how the veil of people can be lifted.

- Incorrect statement that IESOUS died the day before Passover, clearly contradicting the Bible in numerous accounts.

- Incorrect statement that Jewish scribes protected the OT. This might be the case for the Masoretes in the 8c. AD, but it ignores the well-known fact that the Masoretes themselves admitted to have received a corrupted text, meaning the Proto-Masoretic text had been manipulated by Jewish scribes (2c. AD). It is also remarkable that the Greek OT is not even mentioned in this book, although having been the predominant Bible for at least half a millennia, also predominantly used for translations of nearly all codices and early translations.

- He provides a platform to Bart Ehrman. It is sad that so many writers are copying each other in their references. Without people like Strobel, Turek, Wallace and Winger, Mr. Ehrman would not constantly increase his visibility and attention.

- He repeatedly referenced Josephus and went as far as to compare his works to biblical writings. If he would have done his homework, he should have known that he was not even one of the Jews anymore, and was most certainly far away from being a Christian and to be fully relied upon. Yes, he was and is an important witness, but it does not suffice to mention in the addendum that readers of the previous edition of the book did exhort and urge this author for spiritual discernment, which he now proudly brushes off with the argument that 'differing views are not disqualifiers'.

Yes, 'secondary beliefs can be relevant for historicity', but to say e.g. that Origen was an 'important CHRISTIAN leader' (which is a ridiculous claim and shows a significant spiritual blindspot; Origen was one of the greatest anti-Christs of history) is to actively mislead people. A spiritually mature author can mention such characters, but he gives between the lines a quick warning to readers. At least he does intentionally not mention Augustine ...

- The mention of C.S. Lewis (believed in purgatory; Tao is the highest morality; rejected biblical inerrancy; theistic evolutionist; considered Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims as brothers in CHRISTOS) in a Christian book is shocking (no matter how many others do the same). He uses him to open and close the book, meaning he gives him special importance.

- Mother Teresa was a fraud, and direct enabler of sexual abuser and JESUIT priest Donald McGuire. Nevertheless, Wallace describes her in this book as 'noble' and the opposite of H**ler.

- Endorsement of Billy Graham (great admirer of the 33° Mason Norman Vincent Peale, strong tendency towards Universalism, Key figure in the ecumenical movement, used Roman Catholic lay people as supervisors and altar workers, close collaboration with the Vatican and the Pope).

- The (de-facto Catholic) Lee Strobel wrote the foreword, which is problematic.