Incorrect, the claim that the gospels are not eyewitness accounts is unreasonable and does not hold up to scrutiny. If you are serious concerning your claim about the gospels and care about accuracy at all, then you will listen to this entire lecture which goes over the intricate details which verify that the gospels were indeed written by eyewitnesses.
"The gospels had just these kinds of eyewitnesses, as can be seen from the evidence of the text itself, which ironically, many critics claim to go by. For example, there are sworn eyewitness testimonies from most of the New Testament writers, which indicate that they were intending to transmit accurate history rather than conjured-up folktales:
- “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
- “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1)
- “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).
- “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe” (John 19:35).
- “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:24)
- “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea” (Luke 3:1).
- “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely, for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:25-26).
- “Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).
- This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses.” (Acts 2:32)
- “For we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
- “After that he {Jesus} was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present…” (1 Corinthians 15:5-6)
So the evidence of the text would make these writers liars, if they were just making up folktales. Remember, most of them were persecuted and/or martyred, and martyrs make very poor liars!"
Evidence that the Gospels are eyewitness accounts ‹ The Bible Can Be Proven