Gary Habermas

Last updated

Gary Habermas
Born
Gary Robert Habermas

(1950-06-28) June 28, 1950 (age 75)
Spouses
  • Debbie (m. c.1972; d. 1995)
  • Eileen
Children7
Academic background
Alma mater
Thesis The resurrection of Jesus: a rational inquiry  (1976)
School or tradition Evangelicalism
Institutions Liberty University (since 1981), William Tyndale College (1979–1981)
Main interests Resurrection of Jesus
Website www.garyhabermas.com

Gary Robert Habermas (born June 28, 1950) is an American New Testament scholar and theologian who frequently writes and lectures on the resurrection of Jesus. He has specialized in cataloging and communicating trends among scholars in the field of historical Jesus and New Testament studies. He is distinguished research professor and chair of the department of philosophy and theology at Liberty University.

Contents

Career

Habermas is a distinguished research professor of apologetics and philosophy and chairman of the department of philosophy at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. [1] He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in interdisciplinary studies from Michigan State University in 1976; his thesis was titled "The resurrection of Jesus: a rational inquiry". Habermas previously acquired a master's degree (1973) from the University of Detroit in philosophical theology. [2] He has specialized in cataloging and communicating trends among scholars who study topics pertaining to the historical Jesus and New Testament studies. [3]

Habermas is the creator of the "minimal facts argument," an apologetic method that attempts to use widely accepted assumptions about Jesus to advocate for the historicity of his resurrection. [4]

Habermas formerly coached the Liberty Flames club hockey team for 9 years. [5]

Reception

In his memoir Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi relates how Habermas was influential in his conversion to Christianity, and describes him as looking like "a mix between Santa Claus and an offensive lineman". [6]

Works

Books

Edited by

References

  1. "Institution Faculty Profile". Liberty University.
  2. "Publications of Dr. Gary R. Habermas - Online Resource for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ". garyhabermas.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. "Gary Habermas". The Veritas Forum. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  4. Habermas, Gary (September 28, 2016). "Minimal Facts on the Resurrection that Even Skeptics Accept". Southern Evangelical Seminary. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  5. Satterthwaite, Cameron (October 4, 2021). "Liberty Hockey's Journey from Inception to Five Competitive ACHA Teams". Liberty Champion. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  6. Qureshi, Nabeel (2014). Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity. Zondervan. p. 148.
  7. "What's Good about Feeling Bad?: Finding Purpose and a Path through Your Pain" . Retrieved May 13, 2019.