The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed

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 discusses 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 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, such as Sanders, Crossan, Dunn, Wright, and Brown.