The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed

An up-to-date picture of Jesus of Nazareth, highlighting the problems and pitfalls encountered in such a venture, and including a survey of current scholarship.

Presents a picture of Jesus of Nazareth, highlighting the problems and pitfalls encountered in such a venture. This title sets out the sources (Graeco-Roman, Jewish and Christian), noting the problems connected with them, and focusing on the nature of the gospels, and the Synoptic versus the Johannine tradition.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).