You make some excellent points, Danny. I must admit that you seem to be better read on these topics than I am. You’ve definitely given me a lot to think about.

I want to point out one thing, though. You wrote, “If the creativity involved is hard for some to believe, then they must find Shakespeare, Homer and Chaucer to be stunningly miraculous as well.”

I really don’t think this is an accurate comparison at all. None of the writers you mention were considered historians by their contemporaries. Shakespeare’s historical plays are at best like today’s biopics, or even like films that claim to be “inspired” by true stories. Chaucer dealt exclusively in older tales, both fictional and legendary, and Homer’s equivalent would be the Torah: a written version of oral myths. I have the impression that the gospels were treated much more as history within their culture.

As for the time of their writing, I’ll point to the oldest passage in the New Testament. It’s a pre-existing hymn Paul quotes in Philippians 2:6-11, also known as the Kenosis Hymn. It is believed this was a familiar hymn in the Christian church and predates the gospels and Paul’s letters. What’s interesting is it’s thematically very similar to Isaiah 53.

This would suggest that teachings about Jesus’ death and resurrection were around very early in the history of the church.

Ditto.

Kyle really is a very bright guy.