Objection · Case 09 · Atheism
John 20:29 says “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Isn’t that a blessing on believing without evidence, whatever is said about testimony?
One objection from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.
Response
The contrast in John 20 is between seeing for oneself and believing on the testimony of witnesses who saw, which is how nearly all historical knowledge works. Believing reliable testimony is not believing without evidence; testimony is evidence. Thomas is not rebuked for wanting evidence but for refusing the evidence the other disciples’ testimony already provided. The blessing is on those who will weigh that testimony without demanding to put their own hands in the wounds.
About this exhibit
This objection is to Hebrews 11:1 and the meaning of the Greek word “pistis”.
The New Testament word for faith, pistis, means first of all trust or confidence, and such trust can rest on evidence, the way trust in a reliable friend rests on experience of that friend. Hebrews…
Under Claim 07: In the Bible the word “faith” means grounded trust, not belief without evidence.