In this episode of The Christian Clinician, Dr. Tanya Paynter welcomes The Apologetics Guy, Dr. Mikel Del Rosario, a professor of Bible and Theology at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and author of "Did Jesus Really Say He Was God?" Dr. Del Rosario, with over 31 journal articles published and extensive experience hosting apologetics podcasts, discusses the historical evidence for Jesus’ divinity claims and the importance of engaging skeptics using both faith and historical methodology. Together, they unpack the “blasphemy accusation scenes” in the Gospel of Mark and examine how historical reliability and cultural context can deepen our understanding of scripture. Dr. Del Rosario shares insights on defending Jesus’ divine authority and practical ways to bridge faith and evidence-based reasoning when discussing apologetics. The conversation is filled with both scholarly knowledge and real-world applications for Christians navigating questions of faith and history.

Today's Action Steps

• Familiarize yourself with the criteria historians use to assess the reliability of Gospel accounts, such as multiple attestation and dissimilarity.
• Approach conversations with skeptics by referencing the Bible as a historical document, not just as scripture.
• Study the cultural and situational context behind biblical passages to gain a more accurate interpretation.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Episode

• Book: Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? by Dr. Mikel Del Rosario
• The Apologetics Guy Show (podcast, YouTube & Christianity Today Network)

Where to find Dr. Mikel Del Rosario

• Website with free sample chapter: https://apologeticsguy.com
• Purchase the book on Amazon (or other major book retailers):

https://www.amazon.com/Did-Jesus-Really-Say-Was/dp/1514011018/

Time Stamps

00:05 – Explanation of the “blasphemy accusation scenes” in Mark’s Gospel.

00:07 – Meaning of the title “Son of Man” and its historical context.

00:08 – Defining “divine authority” and Jesus’ unique claims.

00:10 – How historians assess the reliability of gospel documents as historical texts.

00:14 – Why the Bible faces a higher standard of scrutiny than other ancient texts.

00:17 – Importance of cultural and situational context for interpreting scripture.

00:20 – Application of historical rules of evidence to Jesus’ miracles and claims.

00:26 – Comparison to other religious figures in history and analysis of alleged parallels.

00:31 – Detailed response to common critics and their arguments.

00:35 – The Pharisees’ reaction as evidence of Jesus’ divine claim.

00:41 – Dr. Del Rosario’s final advice: evaluate Jesus’ claims and apply his lordship to all of life.

About the Host

Dr. Tanya Paynter is the creator and host of The Christian Clinician, where she brings together faith and evidence-based medicine to help listeners revitalize their health and renew their faith journeys. With her experience in both healthcare and apologetics, Dr. Paynter is passionate about equipping Christians to navigate complex spiritual and wellness questions with confidence.

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