Book Review: History, Law, and Christianity by John Warwick Montgomery

Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith. There have been many apologetics that defended the faith and did it well whether it was through lectures and/or books. Such men include C.S. Lewis, James White, and William Lane Craig. Lewis' book, Mere Christianity, seems to be the one many go to for a simple discussion on the Christian faith.

Enter John Warwick Montgomery, who is not well known as the men mentioned above. Montgomery holds a few degrees in law and theology, and is a Lutheran clergyman. He has written a brief defense of Christianity called, History, Law, and Christianity. This book was written in 1964 and it still continue to be reprinted over the last 50 years.

Montgomery takes the defense of Christianity in a unique way. He first takes up the defense of the faith looks at the historical evidence of Jesus Christ as well as the reliability of the New Testament documents. This section of the book is based from a series of lecture at the University of British Columbia in Canada. These lectures were a response to a professor who made a statement that our historical knowledge of Jesus is inadequate, which Montgomery said this professor arrives at his conclusions by making some serious historical-philosophical errors which Montgomery does address in the book.

The next section addresses if Christianity can be defended in a legal way. If Christianity were to be put on trial, could be defended as one who would be on trial for committing a crime. Montgomery says, yes, because we have the Bible which was written by eye witnesses or close associates to those eye witnesses. Mark and Luke were not of the original twelve disciples but they knew people who were witnesses of the things of Christ while here on earth.

When I think of a book defending the Christian faith, I think of one that is big with chapters that will take two or three days to read in its entirety. This book is a good simple book. Montgomery gets to the point without chasing a rabbit or using words to confuse the reader.

Thanks 1517 Legacy for letting me review this book.