Episode 123: Mike Licona: The Bible Beyond Literalism, Biography, Literature, and Christian History

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Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1961, Mike became a Christian at the age of 10 and grew up in a Christian home. He attended Liberty University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance (Saxophone). During his undergraduate studies, he had a strong desire to know God, devoting himself to studying the Bible daily. He decided to learn Koine Greek in order to read the New Testament in its original language and later completed a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies.

Toward the end of his graduate work in 1985, Mike began to question the veracity of his faith and wondered if there was any evidence to support it. He decided not to go into Christian ministry at that time. Finding answers to his questions consumed him and he almost jettisoned his faith. He investigated the evidence for Christianity and a number of other major world religions. He also considered the arguments for atheism. His investigation solidified his belief that God exists and that he has actually revealed himself to mankind in Jesus Christ and that the Christian view provides the most plausible and unified theory of reality.

In July of 1997, Mike formed TruthQuest Ministries in order to give an official name to his growing ministry and to allow future donors to make tax-deductible gifts. In October 2001, the ministry was renamed “RisenJesus” in order to avoid confusion with other ministries named “TruthQuest” and more closely reflect its vision of equipping 100,000 Christians to share their faith using the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.

Mike has a Ph.D. in New Testament (University of Pretoria). He completed all requirements “with distinction” and the highest marks. He is a frequent speaker on university campuses, churches, Christian groups, retreats, frequently debates, and has appeared as a guest on dozens of radio and television programs. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological and Philosophical Societies, the Institute for Biblical Research, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the prestigious Studitorum Novi Testamenti Societas. Mike is Professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University and the president of Risen Jesus, Inc.

Mike is married to Debbie and they have two grown children, Alexandra and Zachary.

Mike is the author, co-author or editor of seven (7) books

Why Are There Differences in the Gospels? What We Can Learn From Ancient Biography (Oxford University Press, 2017)

The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach (IVP Academic, 2010)

Evidence for God: 50 Arguments for Faith from the Bible, History, Philosophy and Science, with co-editor William Dembski (Baker 2010)

Paul Meets Muhammad which is a debate on the resurrection of Jesus between the apostle Paul and the prophet Muhammad

The award winning The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus with co-author Gary Habermas which is a comprehensive self-study course

Cross Examined, a legal novel defending the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection

Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock which lays out in a concise manner what to say to Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses when they knock on your door.

Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels tell the same story differently (Zondervan Academic, 2024)

Raised on the Third Day: Defending the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus, with co-editor W. David Beck (Lexham Press, 2020)

For more, please see:

https://www.risenjesus.com/mike-licona Mike Licona - YouTube