The Historical Jesus
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
Ratings1
Average rating4
The introduction to this new guide sets out the sources (Graeco-Roman, Jewish and Christian), noting the problems connected with them, paying particular attention to the nature of the gospels, and the Synoptic versus the Johannine tradition. A substantial section will discuss scholarship on Jesus from the nineteenth century to the explosion of works in the present day, introducing and explaining the three different 'quests' for the historical Jesus.
Subsequent chapters will analyse key themes in historical Jesus research: Jesus' Galilean origins; the scope of his ministry and models of 'holy men', particularly that of prophet; Jesus' teaching and healing; his trial and crucifixion; the highly contentious question of his resurrection; and finally an exploration of the links between the Jesus movement and the early church. Throughout, the (often opposing) positions of a variety of key scholars will be explained and discussed (eg. Sanders, Crossan, Dunn, Wright, Brown).
Reviews with the most likes.
As someone who studied Ancient History (and loved it) this was the mental version of a fireworks show. While the author takes a very agnostic approach to the actual person of Jesus, she uses this thread as the centre around which she brings in a million fascinating facts about this little corner of the Roman world at a particularly interesting time.
