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Michael Licona, PhD Profile and Contact Information

School of Christian Thought
Apologetics
  • Professor of New Testament Studies
  • Program Coordinator, Christian Leadership (MA) and the Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Education

  • PhD, New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria
  • MA, Religious Studies, Liberty University

Courses Taught

  • Philosophy of History & Resurrection
  • Scripture and Apologetic Implications
  • Introduction to the Bible
  • New Testament Theology

Teaching Focus

New Testament Studies, Apologetics

Publications

Books

  • Raised on the Third Day: Defending the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus, Essays in Honor of Dr. Gary R. HabermasÌę(co-edited with W. David Beck, Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020)
  • Why are there differences in the Gospels? What we can learn from ancient biography (New York: Oxford University Press, 2017)
  • The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2010).
  • Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Science (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010), co-edited with William A. Dembski.
  • Paul Meets Muhammad (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006).
  • The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004), co-authored with Gary R. Habermas. Recipient of Christianity Today’s “Award of Merit” (i.e., second place for “Book of the Year”) in Apologetics.
  • Cross Examined (Virginia Beach: TruthQuest Publishers, 1998).
  • Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock: What to say to Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses when they knock on your door (Virginia Beach: TruthQuest Publishers, 1998).

Essays/Chapters in Books

  • “Resurrection” inÌęDictionary of Paul and His Letters, 2ndÌęEdition, Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick, Nijay Gupta, eds. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2023).
  • “Did Jesus Think He Was God?” in Chris Tilling and Darren Sumner, eds.ÌęT&T Clark Companion to ChristologyÌę(London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2023, projected).
  • “Habermas, Gary R” in Douglas Geivette, ed.ÌęDictionary of Christian Apologists and Their CriticsÌę(Hokoken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2024, projected).
  • “Jesus’s Resurrection, Realism, and the Role of the Criteria of Authenticity” in Darrell Bock and Ed Komoszewski, eds.ÌęJesus, Skepticism, and the Problem of History: Criteria and Context in the Study of Christian OriginsÌę(Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2019), 285-302.
  • “Compositional Techniques Within Plutarch and the Gospel Tradition” inÌęChristian Origins and the Establishment of theÌęEarly Jesus MovementÌę(ECHC 4), Stanley E. Porter and Andrew W. Pitts, eds. (Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2018), 134-48.
  • “Viewing the Gospels as Ancient Biographies Resolves Many Perceived Contradictions,” pp. 319-24 inÌęBiographies and Jesus: What Does It Mean for the Gospels to be Biographies?ÌęCraig S. Keener and Edward T. Wright, eds. (Lexington, KY: Emeth Press, 2016).
  • Interviewed by Lee Strobel inÌęIn Defense of Jesus: Investigating Attacks on the Identity of ChristÌę(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016).
  • “A New Starting Point in Historical Jesus Research: The Easter Event” inÌęThe Quest for the Real Jesus, Jan van der Watt, ed. (Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2013), 99-127.
  • “Fish Tales: Bart Ehrman’s Red Herrings & the Resurrection of Jesus” in Come Let Us Reason: New Essays in Christian Apologetics, Paul Copan and William Lane Craig, eds. (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2012, pp. 137-50).
  • “Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?” and “What are the Crucial Differences between Muhammad and Jesus” in the Apologetics Study Bible for Students (Nashville: B&H, 2010).
  • “Paul on the Nature of the Resurrection Body” in Buried Hope or Risen Savior: The Search for the Jesus Tomb, Charles L. Quarles, ed. (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2008), 177-198.
  • “Crucifixion of Christ” in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics: Surveying the Evidence for the Truth of Christianity, Ed Hinson and Ergun Caner, eds. (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2008), 118-121.
  • “The Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection” in The Big Argument: Twenty-Four Scholars Explore How Science, Archaeology, and Philosophy Have Proven the Existence of God, Ashton, John F. and Michael Westacott, eds. (Sydney, Australia: Strand, 2005), 428-448.

Journal Articles

  • “Are the Gospels ‘Historically Reliable’? A Focused Comparison of Suetonius’sÌęLife of AugustusÌęand theÌęGospel of Mark.ÌęReligions 2019,Ìę10 (3), 148.
  • “Is the Sky Falling in the World of Historical Jesus Research?” inÌęBulletin for Biblical Research 3 (Fall-Winter 2016), 353-68.
  • “What are the Primary Sources for Jesus’s Resurrection” inÌęThe City: ResurrectionÌę9:1 (Spring 2016), 23-30.
  • “What Jesus’ Enemies Said About Him” inÌęThe City: Jesus and His Enemies 1 (Summer 2015), 92-100.
  • “Historians and Miracle Claims” in Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus 12 (2014), 106-129
  • “In Reply to Habermas, McGrew, and McCullagh” in Southeastern Theological Review 3.1 (2012), 55-69.
  • “A Roundtable Discussion with Michael Licona on The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach (Danny Akin, Craig Blomberg, Paul Copan, Michael Kruger, Michael Licona, and Charles Quarles)” in Southeastern Theological Review 3.1 (2012), 71-98.
  • “Did Jesus Predict His Death and Vindication/Resurrection?” in Journal for the Study of -the Historical Jesus 8.1 (2010), 47-66.
  • “Historians and miracles – the principle of analogy and antecedent probability reconsidered” with Jan G. van der Watt in Hervormde Theological Studies 65.1 (2009).
  • “The adjudication of miracles: Rethinking the criteria of historicity” with Jan G. van der Watt in Hervormde Theological Studies 65.2 (2009).
  • “Using the Death of Jesus to Refute Islam” in Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics 2.1 (2009), 87-110.
  • “Proof of the Resurrection” in Discover (November, 2007).
  • “Making a Case for the Resurrection at 36,000 Feet” in Christian Research Journal 29:5 (2006).

Book Reviews

  • A review of Richard Bauckham,ÌęJesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony, Second Edition inÌęThe Journal of Theological Studies, Volume 70, Issue 1, 1 April 2019, Pages 369–371.
  • An Overview of Perplexing Matters Related to Jesus’ Resurrection.ÌęA review of Lidija Novakovic,ÌęResurrection: A Guide for the PerplexedÌęinÌęThe Expository TimesÌę3, December 2016, 149-50.
  • Why Resurrection (When There Is A Better Way)? A review of Carlos Blanco , Why Resurrection? An Introduction to the Belief in the Afterlife in Judaism and Christianity in The Expository Times, Volume 124, Number 4, January 2013, 191.
  • The Reliability of the New Testament: Bart Ehrman and Daniel Wallace in Dialogue by Robert Stewart, ed. (Review of Biblical Literature [RBL], August 12, 2011)
  • Revisiting the Empty Tomb: The Early History of Easter by Daniel A. Smith (RBL, December 15, 2010)
  • The Resurrection: History and Myth by Geza Vermes (RBL, July 5, 2008)
  • The Empty Tomb Tradition of Mark: Text, History, and Theological Struggles by Mark W. Waterman (RBL, March 31, 2007)
  • Lo, I Tell You a Mystery: Cross, Resurrection, and Paranesis in the Rhetoric of 1 Corinthians by David A. Ackerman (RBL, September 16, 2006)
  • The Resurrection of Jesus: John Dominic Crossan and N. T. Wright in Dialogue by Robert B. Stewart, ed. (RBL, September 9, 2006)
  • Resurrecting Jesus: The Earliest Christian Tradition and Its Interpreters by Dale C. Allison (RBL, August 12, 2006)
  • Text and History: Historiography and the Study of the Biblical Text by Jens Bruun Kofoed (RBL, February 18, 2006)
  • Exegetical Essays on the Resurrection of the Dead by Samuel M. Frost (RBL, November 5, 2005)
  • Historiography and Hermeneutics in Jesus Studies: An Examination of the Work of John Dominic Crossan and Ben F. Meyer by Donald L. Denton (RBL, June 11, 2005)
  • The Resurrection of the Son of God by N. T. Wright (RBL, June 19, 2004)

Baptist Press Articles

  • “We must prepare the next generation to defend the faith.” (May 18, 2011)
  • “Faith, Doubt, and the Resurrection of Jesus.” (April 21, 2011)
  • “Why were the four N.T. Gospels selected and not others?” Fifth column in a five-part series examining Bart Ehrman’s objection to the reliability of the Gospels (Sept. 18, 2009)
  • “The problem of differences: Do the Gospels contradict one another?” Fourth column in a five-part series examining Bart Ehrman’s objection to the reliability of the Gospels (Sept. 17, 2009)
  • “The problem of dating: When were the Gospels written?” Third column in a five-part series examining Bart Ehrman’s objection to the reliability of the Gospels (Sept. 16, 2009)
  • “The problem of authorship: Who wrote the Gospels?” Second column in a five-part series examining Bart Ehrman’s objection to the reliability of the Gospels (Sept. 15, 2009)
  • “Bart Ehrman: A skeptical scholar not to be ignored” First column in a five-part series examining Bart Ehrman’s objection to the reliability of the Gospels (Sept. 14, 2009)
  • “Bill Maher, gullibility and the glass house” (February 23, 2009)
  • “Darwin at 200: Academic fascism” (February 13, 2009)
  • “Is Jesus the only way? (Part 4)” Final column in a four-part series on the exclusivity of Christianity (July 25, 2008)
  • “Is Jesus the only way? (Part 3)” Third column in a four-part series on the exclusivity of Christianity (July 24, 2008)
  • “Is Jesus the only way? (Part 2)” Second column in a four-part series on the exclusivity of Christianity (July 23, 2008)
  • “Is Jesus the only way? (Part 1)” First column in a four-part series on the exclusivity of Christianity (July 22, 2008)
  • “Is Mormonism Christian? (Part 3)” Final column in a three-part series on Mormonism (December 7, 2007)
  • “Is Mormonism Christian? (Part 2)” Second column in a three-part series on Mormonism (December 6, 2007)
  • “Is Mormonism Christian? (Part 1)” First column in a three-part series on Mormonism (December 5, 2007)
  • “Has the family tomb of Jesus been found?” (February 27, 2007)
  • “What are we to do about Islam?” (January 26, 2007)
  • “Should Christians see ‘Da Vinci’?”(May 26, 2006)
  • “Who selected the books in the New Testament?” Final column in a five-part series examining the claims of The Da Vinci Code (May 19, 2006)
  • “Is our Bible what originally was written?” Fourth column in a five-part series examining the claims of The Da Vinci Code (May 18, 2006)
  • “Did Christianity ‘borrow’ from other religions?” Third column in a five-part series examining the claims of The Da Vinci Code (May 17, 2006)
  • “Was Jesus’ divinity an afterthought?” Second column in a five-part series examining the claims of The Da Vinci Code (May 16, 2006)
  • “Making evangelism good news again” (May 16, 2006)

Conference Papers

  • “Harmonization or Compositional Devices: Which is better for understanding Gospel differences?” delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society on November 21, 2019 in San Diego, CA.
  • “Compositional Devices in Ancient Biography: Reading Gospel Differences in View of Compositional Devices vs. Harmonization” delivered at the annual meeting of the Institute of Biblical Research on November 16, 2018 in Denver, CO.
  • “Synthetic Chronological Placement in Ancient Biography,” delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological society on November 18, 2015 in Atlanta, GA.“A Critical Review of Reading the Gospels Wisely by Jonathan Pennington” delivered as part of a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society on November 19, 2014 in San Diego, CA.“Viewing the Gospels as Ancient Biographies Resolves Many Perceived Contradictions (Part 2),”delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society on November 21, 2013 in Baltimore, MD.“Is it Appropriate for Biblical Scholars to Speak of Supernatural Causation?”Delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society on November 19, 2013 in Baltimore, MD.“Did Jesus Claim to be God in Some Sense?”Delivered at North-West University (Potchefstroom, SA) on August 20, 2013.“Viewing the Gospels as Ancient Biographies Resolves Many Perceived Contradictions (Part 2),”delivered at Stellenbosch University on August 16, 2013.
  • “Viewing the Gospels as Ancient Biographies Resolves Many Perceived Contradictions,” to be delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society on November 15, 2012 in Milwaukee, WI.
  • “When the Saints Go Marching In: Historicity, Apocalyptic Symbol, and Biblical Inerrancy,” delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society on November 17, 2011 in San Francisco, CA.
  • “The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach,” delivered at the Evangelical Philosophical Society on November 18, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.
  • “What are Historians to do with Miracle Claims,” delivered at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical Society on November 14, 2007 in San Diego, CA.
  • “The Risen Jesus: Casper or Corporeal,” delivered at the International Society of Christian Apologists on June 1, 2007 in Kansas City, MO.

Additional Information

Mike is a frequent speaker on university campuses and has engaged in dozens of public debates, usually on the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, the Society of Biblical Literature, and theÌęStudiorum Novi Testamenti Societas.ÌęVisit his web siteÌę and his YouTube channel .