J. D. Atkins was a scholar-in-residence at the Lanier Theological Library in Autumn 2025. He stopped by to talk with David Capes on the Stone Chapel Podcast about his book, The Doubt of the Apostles and the Resurrection Faith of the Early Church: The Post Resurrection Appearance Stories of The Gospels in Ancient Reception and Modern Debate.

According to Atkins, "doubt" in the Gospels does not have an apologetic purpose, it has another purpose altogether. What is that? Give the podcast a listen and you can see.

• You can find a transcript for this episode here.
• Listen to more fascinating episodes of The Stone Chapel Podcast!
• The Stone Chapel Podcast is part of the ChurchLeaders Podcast Network.

For Atkins book, The Doubt of the Apostles and the Resurrection Faith of the Early Church: The Post Resurrection Appearance Stories of The Gospels in Ancient Reception and Modern Debate. The book is now in open access from its German publisher. Link below.

https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/en/book/the-doubt-of-the-apostles-and-the-resurrection-faith-of-the-early-church-9783161581663/

This is part two of David Capes' discussion with Caleb Friedeman about his book Gospel Birth Narrative and Historiography: Reopening a Closed Case (Baylor University Press, 2025).

In this podcast Friedeman comments on the historical sources behind the birth stories in Matthew and Luke. There are many opportunities for scholars to do further study into these matters.

Listen to more great episodes of The Stone Chapel Podcast.

Email us at podcast@lanierlibrary.org

Here is a transcript of this episode.

The Stone Chapel Podcast is part of the Church Leaders Podcast Network.

For Caleb's book: Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography: Reopening a Closed Case

For decades historical Jesus scholars assumed the birth stories in the Gospels (Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 & 2) were not historical accounts; but they were legends or myths. Case Closed.

Not so fast. Caleb Friedeman is reopening the cold case and asking the right kinds of questions. Not just of the Gospels, but of other kinds of ancient biographies. The kinds you read in Suetonius, Philo, and Plutarch, just to name a few.
Did they intend to write history? Or not? How can you tell? This is part one of a two-part conversation.

Here is a link to the transcript of this episode.

Listen to more great episodes of The Stone Chapel Podcast.

Email us at podcast@lanierlibrary.org

The Stone Chapel Podcast is part of the Church Leaders Podcast Network.

For Caleb's book: Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography: Reopening a Closed Case