Missing Jesus

Roger Olson

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First you answer my question: If it was revealed to you in a way you could not deny that God did NOT command Israel to do what the OT texts of terror report would you still worship him? It seems to me yours is a book faith that requires you to wait for every issue of Biblical Archeology Review to know whether you can still be a Christian. Mine is a Jesus faith like that of the disciples and apostles who didn't have a full Bible yet and still knew Jesus was Lord of all. 

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2013/07/the-old-testament-and-contemporary-christian-ethics/#comment-962717936

Several obvious problems:

i) Why does he assume that faith in the veracity of Scripture is contingent on archeological corroboration?

ii) As a matter of fact, Christian faith (as well as Jewish faith), is a "book faith." 

iii) The disciples had direct knowledge of Jesus. They heard what he said and saw what he did. 

Olson lacks that kind of unmediated access to the person and work of Jesus. Our knowledge of Jesus relies on the historical record and theological interpretation of the Bible. 

iv) In addition, their faith in Christ was also conditioned by the OT. That supplied a standard of comparison as well as an interpretive frame of reference.