“An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists” by Simon Greenleaf is a legal treatise written in the mid-19th century. Published in 1847, this work aims to investigate the reliability of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John through the lens of legal evidence principles as applied in courts of justice, and it further includes an analysis of the trial of Jesus. The author, a distinguished lawyer and professor at Harvard University, intended to establish the credibility of the Evangelists as witnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The opening of the text sets the stage for a scholarly review, emphasizing the need for an unbiased and open-minded approach when examining the testimonies provided by the Evangelists. Greenleaf argues that, much like a legal case, the evidence presented in the Gospels needs to be scrutinized for credibility and reliability. He acknowledges the monumental importance of the events recounted in these texts and prepares to dissect the backgrounds and motivations of the Evangelists themselves, starting with Matthew, who he describes as a tax collector turned disciple. This initial portion establishes the author’s intent to rigorously apply the rules of evidence to ascertain the truth behind the foundational narratives of Christianity. Greenleaf’s laws of evidence are still the mainstay for evidence in western courts of law. His book is considered one of the most important contributions to apologetics, even today.

This classic is in the public domain and available for free digital download at Project Gutenberg here or on Amazon in paperback here.