Hi everyone! Welcome to the first book review on the blog! Today, we will be looking at Tom Gilson's Too Good To Be False.
Tom Gilson in his novel, Too Good to Be False, evaluates the unique and incredibly influential character of Jesus Christ through illuminating the things he didn’t do while here on earth. The ultimate argument Gilson makes by doing this is that Jesus’s character was not only perfect and in no way flawed, but that his life and resurrection is too good to be false. The book also dives into the validity of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in order to further support his claim about Jesus’s character and life. In other words, he tackles skeptics arguments for the four gospels being inconsistent, scrambled, and made up (instead of historically accurate events) and turns them on their head with justification for these gospels in support of Jesus’s character, mission, and influential power. Finally, Gilson also concludes our necessity for Jesus Christ in our lives and encourages the reader to pursue Jesus with passion and strength. In all, Tom Gilson provides a witty, well researched, and unique approach to the character of Jesus in a way that will have both believers and skeptics marvel at the Messiah.
Gilson pulls from a plethora of sources he has deeply looked into to support his claims of what Jesus didn’t do while here on earth in addition to his claims about the gospels not being legend. His own narrative is thorough, clear, and obviously passionate throughout this novel. The passion he has for illustrating Jesus Christ as a unique, loving, and good man and God is infectious. As previously stated, this book is both for believers and skeptics. For example, Part Two of the book, which deals with the legend theory, directly takes on specific skeptics and their belief that four men made up this idea of Jesus and the fact that Jesus was resurrected. He includes skeptics like Karen Armstrong, R.J. Hoffman, and Paula Frederickson and their works on why the Gospels are simply legends and stories. Gilson’s retorts to these skeptics are kind, but stern in his factually backed responses. Believers are able to solidify their belief that the Gospels are historically accurate and depict the real Jesus while skeptics are met with astounding arguments that may challenge their beliefs and give them a better idea of both Jesus and the Christian religion.
The other great thing about how Gilson explains and defends Jesus and his life is that he doesn’t completely dismiss skeptics’ assumptions right off the bat. He understands that both skeptics and believers have their doubts and may not be entirely familiar with Jesus as a person. Therefore, he takes a skeptic’s belief or retort about Jesus (or the Gospels) and exercises understanding about their doubt. He carefully and slowly peels back the layers of the skeptics’ theories to reveal that they are not factually or historically accurate and presents them with truth. This level of gentleness and understanding to someone else’s viewpoint, to me, is hard to come by these days and it was refreshing to see an author approach skeptics and believers with this compassion.
Those who are unfamiliar with Jesus’s character get a thorough and clear look into who he is as described in the Gospels (which he then supports as true and written by ordinary people (the disciples)). He constantly refers back to credible sources (the Bible included) in order to push the idea, the fact, that Jesus walked this earth and wasn’t made up by some weirdos who wanted a savior. The great thing about the use of sources as well is that the research isn’t monotone. Every single claim or argument made lacks this academic voice in pursuit of a voice that is eager to get the news out about Jesus. Gilson’s expert knowledge of the four Gospels (he has extensive knowledge of the whole Bible as well, the four Gospels just surround Jesus’s life on earth) also illuminates his own passion for this particular subject and it clearly shows on paper. In fact, I would go so far as to say that his research and personal voice made me fall even more in love with Jesus.
The entire novel is captivating in its prose and exposure of Jesus’s unique character. Gilson provides a new and refreshing look into the life of Jesus and encourages all readers to take a step back and appreciate the truth and love of Jesus.
Personally, I highly recommend this book no matter if the reader is a skeptic or a believer. Gilson tackles topics both about Jesus and Christianity that are resolved in a fulfilling and satisfying way that encourages the reader to look for themselves in Jesus himself. Like I said before, this book challenged the way I see Jesus and encouraged me, invited me, to come closer and see Jesus for who he is. And I am in awe. Gilson has done a wonderful thing by writing Too Good To Be False and I encourage everyone to pick up this book and take their time with it. I might even reread it a second time!
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