Who on EARTH was JESUS?

by Boulton David

The first fully comprehensive account of the debate between modern scholars on the Jesus of history before he became the Christ of faith. David Boulton surveys all the major schools of historical Jesus scholarship in the liberal Jesus Seminar, the conservative 'New Questers' and the radical skeptics, covering over 30 experts. He lays out the sources, biblical, 'heretical' and secular, taking in the most recent discoveries and explaining where historians agree and disagree in recovering a credible portrait of the man behind 'the greatest story ever told'.

448 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2008

Reviews

[Vicki]

I always wondered if Jesus was like a more ‘regular guy’ before he became the divine Christ of faith? One man has taken on this challenge and written a one-volume, engrossing account on this often-controversial subject that has been the center of debates between contemporary scholars for years. If my research is correct this is the first one volume text since Albert Schweitzer’s a century ago. In this book, the author David Boulton cuts through the mystery and hype and goes straight to the meat of the issues: the result, a book that is the most comprehensive study to date.

Everyone has a different opinion on this subject. This is evidenced by the countless books that have been written – everything from Christians writing about the Christ of faith to books by atheists proposing Jesus is a myth, or those proposing a married or gay Jesus. What really makes this book different is the fact that Boluton’s informative and well-researched approach incorporates the actual experiences gained by serious scholars throughout history, delving into theories and conclusions of all the main competing schools of historical Jesus scholarship.
I read this book because of the enthusiastic suggestion by a fellow member of my book club. I am so glad I took the leap and read this volume, try it for yourself.

[Travis]

This is an excellent survey of the best scholarly work in the modern quest for the historical Jesus, assessing the work of such scholars as Geza Vermes, John Dominic Crossan, NT Wright, Marcus Borg, Burton Mack, and John P Maier. Boulton does a very good job of objectively presenting the various portraits of Jesus of all these (and several others) scholars. There is also some great background information on some of the less mainstream questers (GA Wells, for example) and some of the earliest questers (Reimarus, Strauss, Wrede, and Schweitzer). I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the current state of Jesus scholarship.

If, however, you are a Christian fundamentalist, this will present a stern challenge to your views of Jesus, even in the works of the more conservative Jesus scholars (like Wright).

[Ivy-Mabel Fling]

I am no expert in this field (as yet at any rate!) but I found this very interesting as an introduction to the various scholars who have tried to come to conclusions about the dating of the NT and non-NT documents. Boulton also presents a variety of views on who jesus really was. Interesting!

[Jonathan]

Not organized in the way i would have expected, but a good summary of scholarly ideas about the historical Jesus.

[Michael Bell]

The Author has done extensive research on the life of Jesus. There are numerous stories that abound about this impactful historic figure. Was he a Jew? Why did he rail against the existing religious system? Why was he executed after three years of itinerant preaching? I don't believe in the virgin birth. His lineage was traced to David in the Bible history. David was a flawed character. Was he literate? These questions would make present day Christians cringe but they have been discussed. I loved the book. I will go back to fiction for awhile.

[Tom]

A very readable and seemingly balanced summary of (relatively) contemporary scholarship on Jesus. A good intro for a beginner like me!

[Jenny T]

This book is fair collection of scholarship about Jesus, but it's repetitive. Liberal experts hold a "Jesus seminar" - a group of people who have voted on the likelihood that Jesus did or said certain things or was or wasn't what He claimed. I wasn't convinced by these folks' opinions. Vote doesn't equal truth. Then there is Wright, a conservative scholar who is putting together (has put together) a four-volume work on the divinity of Christ. The author seems to believe Christ didn't exist. I don't see the point in spending one's life on proving someone doesn't exist or isn't divine. Even so, the author claims that even if Jesus is "fake" (which I strongly don't believe He is), we can still be inspired by His character. I think there is way too much evidence -don't deny the scrolls and all Scripture. Jesus is the real deal. Know him and turn back to Him.

[Casper Denck]

http://nicodemist.wordpress.com/2010/...