Overview

This textbook by Germany's most interesting New Testament scholar and his assistant is likely to become a standard work on Jesus. After surveying the quest for the historical Jesus, it assesses the sources, non-Christian and Christian, for Jesus. Then it examines the historical, chronological, geographical and social setting of his activity and some of his major characteristics-as charismatic, prophet, healer, poet, and teacher. All this leads on to studies of the passion and resurrection and the beginnings of Christology. Each section discusses a specific topic in the clearest possible terms, using tables and diagrams where relevant. The main results of scholarly research are given with explanations of how they relate to a wider whole. Subdivisions clarify some of the more complex issues. The main parts of the book end in summaries. Throughout, suggestions are made for further study in the form of projects and problems to be solved. And there are full bibliographies, anglicized for this edition by Robert Morgan.

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9780334026969

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Reviews

More work-hours have been put into the debate about the historical Jesus than have been put into landing a man on the moon and a probe on Mars - not surprisingly, because Jesus kicked the world into an entirely different ball-game, and we live with the consequences to this day. But the Gospels are fantastically difficult to handle as historical documents. This book is far and away the best available guide to the problems and to the proposed solutions. Occasionally, as with all books on vast topics, it is out of its depth (on the Son of Man it is spectacularly wrong), but overall it is a brilliant achievement. It is a university text book, and therefore sets tasks and assumes a (limited) knowledge of Greek. But it is completely accessible without that; and yes, it's hard work in places. But this is an utterly serious guide, and worth working with. No other book will take you so far so fast. (Kirkus UK)

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