God Among Sages by Kenneth Richard Samples. The idea behind the book is to take the founders/leaders of the most of the world's religions today (Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity) and offer a comparison of all of them not so much through religious dogmas and traditions, but by closely examining what is know of the lives of these men, their teachings, and how their teachings may (or not) have been lived by these founders and their immediate followers. Even a fairly cursory and shallow comparison would provide immediate differences, but the author is very thorough in the details provided, and leaves no doubt that the historical Jesus and His teachings --- even the actions of His immediate followers are of a much higher category than any other religious leader the world has ever seen. A very interesting read.

‘God Among Sages: Why Jesus Is Not Just Another Religious Leader.’
Kenneth Richard Samples
Baker Books, 2017, 262 pp, $16.99/£10.99

Matthew’s Gospel account records Jesus asking two very direct and challenging questions. ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is? However, ‘…who do you say that I am?’

After two millennia, Jesus’ questions still demand an answer.

As in Jesus’ day, there are a number of responses given to the former.

At the outset of his latest work, Samples rightly states that most people have a particular take on Jesus’ identity (p. xvii). Often, and not to any surprise, the true identity of Jesus is held in contrast with the revelation of Scripture, and the historic affirmations and understanding of the Church.

The author’s purpose for writing is simple: It is a book written for those Christians wanting to ‘deepen their understanding of Christ’s identity’ (p. xviii).

A book for our age, where we come into contact with those of competing world views, philosophies, and spiritual sages, not only is it important to know Jesus’ true identity, but also to know something about those who are ranked among earth’s sages.

The author is equipped to write such a work. Kenneth R. Samples is a senior research scholar with Reasons to Believe, as well as holding the position of adjunct instructor of apologetics at Biola University, and is the author of a number of other apologetic works.

However, these accolades should not dissuade any potential reader. The work is accessible, readable, and engaging. Yet it is scholarly and studied, well researched and thorough. There are sections of the book that do require some extra concentration and engagement in places, although well-presented tables afford help, along with suggested further reading and review questions.

The author has structured the book in three parts, of which are also internally well divided. The flow of the chapters is good, strongly building the case and presenting the arguments logically. As regards formatting, credit should go to the publisher for a well-formatted book with a clear print and clean positioning on the page. One comment would be the lack of footnotes; the provision of citations and commentary delivered via endnotes. Footnotes would simply help in engaging with the current thought without having to skip to the back.

Part 1 lays the foundation for the rest of the book. Samples indeed structures the book correctly by laying out the historic Christian portrait of Jesus at the beginning. In the first two chapters of Part 1, Samples examines Jesus’ own views on his identity (what he said and believed about himself), along with a detailed look at the biblical record of the life and works of Christ. Samples is like an artist composing a remarkable portrait of Jesus, not using artistic licence or an artist’s impression, rather the portrait is primarily drawn from the biblical record itself with some reference to extra-biblical historical literature.

The latter two chapters of Part 1 present a concise treatment and defence of orthodox Christology (doctrines relating to Christ) and the reliability of the biblical texts and historical evidence outside Scripture. Whilst the topics covered in these two chapters is rich in content, Samples is able to pack in so much here that it is a little compendium of historical theology, church history, apologetics, and a Greek lesson in two chapters.

Having ensured readers are provided and equipped with a sure portrait of Jesus’ true identity, both from the biblical record, and from the historic understanding of orthodox Christianity, Samples moves on in Part 2 to look at four of the world’s ‘sages.’

Samples has chosen to present an apologetic comparison between Jesus Christ and four other ‘leaders’ of the major world religions: Krishna (Hinduism), Buddha (Buddhism), Confucius (Confucianism), and Muhammad (Islam).

The author’s criteria for the biographical sketch and summary of each leader involves eight important areas of what is known about the leader, and what the leader says of himself. These criteria are History, Nature, Character, Mission, Role, State (is the leader alive or dead), Life, and Future (can it assure faith, is there hope of eternal life).

These sections are both fascinating and educational. One of many things that come across is how much of what is known was recorded at a much later date, historical evidence is debated or sparse or wrapped in myth and legend, and even that historical fact is not required for adherents of these religions. Much of the work and focus of Part 1 is extremely helpful here. Having previously laid down the claims of Christ, his identity, how we have the Bible etc., it will be clear to the reader that Christianity is a religion based on historical events, supported by eyewitness events, and recorded and disseminated within a few decades of the resurrection event. The historicity of the gospel message is fundamental to the claims of Christianity. Historicity is not fundamental for these other religions; they can survive without.

Having laid a biographical sketch and summary of belief within each Chapter dealing with the religious leader, Samples provides a reflection on each religion, an apparent appeal and strength, and common ground shared with Christianity. Samples engages fairly with each of the selected religions, acknowledging that in many of the moral and ethical issues there is common ground. However, he then robustly shows the challenges these religions pose to orthodox, historic Christianity and how they do differ, and then provides a Christian response. Each Chapter then closes with suggestions for evangelistic encounters that focus on some of the key areas. The inclusion of these bookends of the chapters is helpful in making this an engaging and interactive work rather than theory. It provides practical suggestions for real life.

Rather than simply transmitting information and fact, statistics and history, this Section of the book is interactive, engaging, thoughtful, and stimulating. Recognising their need of the Saviour, Samples does not demonise, nor attack straw men, but rather gives a logical and coherent argument throughout, always pointing to Christ.

In the final Section of the book, Part 3 is entitled Christianity and the World’s Religions, which examines Christianity’s relationship to world religions. Samples covers this Part in two chapters.

The first chapter in Part 3 examines the modern appeal to truth, tolerance, and religious pluralism. It could be easy for readers to become bogged down in this chapter as it deals with understanding the philosophical arguments and presuppositions of the religious and social pluralists. However, Samples is logical and clear here, with various tables to act as aids that illustrate some of the points. The author shows that any approach that states all religions are the same is inconsistent and illogical.

Amidst the cry of our age for tolerance, Samples is able to give a brief explanation and diagnosis that the term is one that suffers from ambiguity and imprecision. Samples provides a thoughtful, careful consideration of true tolerance (and genuine intolerance), clarifying an appropriate Christian approach to the whole issue.

In the final Chapter of the book, Samples wants readers to build a true Biblical perspective in assessing and classifying the world’s religions by providing twelve principles. Samples is clear in stating his critique is in line with the historic Christian position of exclusivism in relation to the claims of the Christian message, and his formulations reflect his commitment to a Protestant-Augustinian theological tradition. His view is patient and gentle, whilst being firmly committed to demonstrating that an exclusivist position is biblically true, consistent, and logical. The Section closes with a helpful resource of how to respond to objections raised to an exclusivist position.

The book concludes with a question. ‘If God were to make an appearance on earth, what would you expect him to be like?’ The reader is then asked to answer this in light of what he knows about the four sages studied and whether they had the qualities and characteristics one would expect of God. Whilst Samples acknowledges some of the exceptional aspects of some of their lives, they were merely human and far from divine.

Samples then turns to Jesus and asks the same question. Using the same criteria, and placed alongside the sages of the world, Jesus not only looks, speaks, and acts like God in human flesh; he is God in human flesh. Samples challenges us to answer Jesus’ question about his identity.

This book is a helpful, concise, and clearly presented informative resource that most households - never mind churches - should have on their shelves, especially as we live in a society where we rub shoulders with people from various religious backgrounds and philosophical schools almost on a daily basis. Read it from cover to cover, or turn to it as a reference tool. This book will equip readers and prepare them, so that they informed to give biblical, logical, and reasonable answers.