Who is Gary Habermas? – Biography

Gary Habermas is a renowned philosopher, theologian, and author famous for his work in Christian apologetics. Habermas has authored or edited over 45 books, several academic papers, and articles on various theological topics. However, he is most well known for his research and defense of the resurrection of Jesus. Currently he works as a visiting professor at about 15 different graduate schools and seminaries around the world.

Early Life

Born on April 18, 1950, in Michigan, USA, Gary R. Habermas was raised in a Christian home and attended a German Baptist Church. Despite this God-centered upbringing, he began to seriously doubt the validity of Christianity. So Habermas embarked on a journey of exploration.

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For over ten years, he studied various world views – including naturalism – to determine the quality of their claims. He also dedicated a considerable amount of time and effort to analyzing the central beliefs of Christianity. For Habermas, his exploration into the ins and outs of Christianity was not a part-time or side endeavor. In a short bio of his life, he says,

“The last thing I did at night was recall what I had learned that day to further my search. Early the next morning, it seems that the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘Where did I end my studies last night?’”

A Short Life of Gary R. Habermas

His search for truth took him through many subjects, including textual criticism, Biblical archeology, and theology. Although these topics enriched his understanding of the Bible and Christianity, they did not satisfy his doubts. That is until he began investigating the resurrection. According to his website,

“During this time, one subject began to appeal to Habermas more than any other. He realized that if Jesus had been raised from the dead, this would go a long way toward arguing that Christianity was true.”

The Search for an Argument

Habermas understood that every faith has some linchpin concept that makes or breaks the rest of the religion’s claims. After years of thoughtful study, he concluded that the resurrection is the foundational claim of Christianity. And so he began passionately digging into the validity of the resurrection.

The philosophical and historical evidence surrounding Christ’s empty tomb became his primary area of focus and the topic of his doctorate.

During his doctoral study, Habermas developed what he now terms the “minimal facts” approach to the resurrection. According to this method, the chief (if not the only) historical data that could be utilized were those that passed two critical tests: 1) each datum had to be multiply attested by normal critical means, preferably from more than one angle. 2) The vast majority of critical scholars had to concede the probability of this historical fact.

Gary Habermas and the Resurrection

Of all the things Habermas has done throughout his distinguished career, his work on the resurrection is by far the most notable. In his books, Habermas argues that the resurrection is not merely a matter of faith or belief. On the contrary, he claims it’s a historical fact that can be demonstrated through logical reasoning and careful evidence-based investigation.

According to Liberty University:

“Dr. Gary Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue.”

In Defense of the Resurrection

Habermas’ research has allowed him to develop different arguments and methodologies for defending the event’s historicity, which he considers the cornerstone of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:13-22). His books, such as “The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus” and “Resurrected? An Atheist and Theist Dialogue,” have become classics in New Testament studies and are widely referenced by scholars and apologists alike.

In his books, Habermas makes several compelling arguments for his position. He also examines non-Christian explanations of the empty tomb, such as the swoon, hallucination, and conspiracy theories. He illustrates the flaws of these ideas and their inability to explain all evidence supporting the resurrection.

Other Work

Aside from his work on the resurrection, Habermas has also taken a crack at other significant theological quandaries, such as the problem of evil, the nature of God, and the existence of objective morality. He is known for his analytic and rigorous approach to these topics, drawing from a wide range of Christian and secular sources. He is also a skilled debater who has engaged in several public debates with atheists, Muslims, and skeptics over the years.

The Influence of Gary Habermas

Gary Habermas Online

Sources

1. Gary Habermas website
2. Liberty University