The possibility of finding reliable
information about the life of the
historical Jesus has fascinated the
imagination of generations of scholars
from as early as the seventeenth
century. Opinion on the issue has moved
in waves, coming and going along with
moods of pessimism and optimism. Until
now, no one has brought together a
comparison of the points of view of the
most influential writers about the
historical Jesus.
The Historical Jesus Quest
brings together substantial extracts
from the seminal works in Jesus studies
over the last two centuries. The
extracts are accompanied by brief
introductions to each writer, helpful
summaries of the central arguments of
the works from which the extracts are
taken, and incisive assessments of their
continuing relevance to current debates.
In one resource, this compendium provides
the foundation upon which modern research
is based and allows these great scholars
— Spinoza, Troeltsch, D. F. Strauss, Wrede,
Schweitzer, Kahler, Bultmann, Kasemann, and
others — to speak in their own words. It
is essential reading for all serious
students of the Gospels and of the historical
Jesus.