Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 25:2 (Jun 1982)
Article: The Shroud Of Turin: A Rejoinder To Basinger And Basinger
Author: Gary R. Habermas

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JETS 25:2 (June 1982) p. 219

The Shroud Of Turin: A Rejoinder To
Basinger And Basinger

Gary R. Habermas*

The response to my article (and partially to my book) on the Shroud of Turin by Basinger and Basinger is a fair treatment. It is much more pleasurable and certainly preferable to answer such honest queries than it is to respond to attacks. Because this is a subject that generates questions, I welcome such an opportunity to explain my research.

Initially I must point out that, while Basinger and Basinger have raised some good issues, they have generally failed to take note of clear indications in both the article and the book that point out that my argument is somewhat different than they surmise. In the introduction to the JETS article two limitations were specifically listed. First, a limitation of space was mentioned,1 and I noted my preference to cover much ground briefly rather than to specialize on certain issues. I also stated that I especially concentrated on the questions frequently asked by evangelicals. Second, I indicated my limitation in not having shared certain facts. Yet I also referred to my manuscript on this topic as a more complete treatment of the subject.2 Basinger and Basinger include the book in their article but appear to miss the fact that this volume both voices the same concerns that they have and also answers them.

Basinger and Basinger are generally accurate in their statement of my premises (1) to (10). Concerning one more or less minor point, they switch the order of (8) to (10), as they acknowledge. Since the (9)-(8)-(10) order was originally used in both the article and the book, I will maintain this sequence in my rejoinder.

I. The Identification Of The Man In The Shroud

Basinger and Basinger deal with two major issues in their response. First, can the man buried in the shroud be identified with the Jesus of the gospels? Second, does the shroud present new evidence for the resurrection of Jesus? An additional implicit issue concerns whether there is enough evidence on the shroud to conclude that the man buried in it was raised from the dead, whoever he was (i.e., apart from his identification).

*Gary Habermas is associate professor of apologetics and philosophy at Liberty Baptist College and Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia.

JETS 25:2 (June 1982) p. 220

We will deal first with the question of whether the man in the shroud can be identified to any degree of probability. Basinger and Basinget appear to argue in the following manner: (1) It is not clear whether I am arguing from trustworthy gospels as an independent basis for comparison with...

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