The only book on the market summarising the work of 40 international historical Jesus scholars - conservative, liberal and sceptical.
The only book on the market summarising the work of 40 international historical Jesus scholars - conservative, liberal and sceptical.
Anthropology, Christology
A century after Albert Schweitzer s Quest of the Historical Jesus, modern historians with new techniques are back on the trail. In the most comprehensive survey yet published, David Boulton presents an engrossing account of the debate between contemporary scholars on what we can know about the human Jesus of history before he became the divine Christ of faith. The best and most thorough account of the breadth and variety of historical Jesus scholarship. Lively, informed, fair, and highly recommended. Marcus Borg Brilliant and timely... Everyone ought to read it, especially those with no sympathy for religion and its crazier adherents... David Boulton is an investigative journalist and the book is an enormous achievement, with its vivid descriptions of what scholars have uncovered... Apart from the excitement of the story of the historical quest, here is the perfect resource for people who want a one-volume guide to a multi-volume industry. It is all here, and it is as up-to-date as you are likely to get. Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church A great place to start the search for the Jesus of the past and his relevance for the present. Robert Funk, Director, Westar Institute and the Jesus Seminar If you know anything about David Boulton you will know how lightly he wears his erudition and with what wit. Anne Ashworth, editor The Universalist A unique treasure. A fair, objective and exhaustive summary of historical Jesus discoveries... Scholarly, yet lucidly written for non-academic readers... A masterly achievement. Lloyd Geering, International bible scholar
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The fundamental question raised as to whether Jesus taught his ultimate return, or his post-death return, and whether we are waiting for God to act or God is waiting for us or is it God and humanity who need to act together. All this takes 400 plus pages and is well worth the £14.99. ~ David Storey, CANA
At no level, popular, student or specialist, have I encountered so comprehensive and comprehensible a presentation of the issues involved... It is a book which should be not merely read, but fought over until it is dog-eared and tattered... David Boulton has performed an important service to gospel studies which will be appreciated and argued over by Christians and non-Christians alike.
~ Henry Wansbrough, General Editor of The New Jerusalem Bible and former chair of the Oxford Faculty of TheologyStarred Review. What happens when the Christ of faith meets the Jesus of history? How can it be that scholars can arrive at such startlingly different interpretations of the reported sayings [of Jesus], and thereby such very different profiles of Jesus himself? This is the question that preoccupies Boulton in an amazingly good synthesis of historical Jesus scholarship. Boulton gives an overview of several factions of Jesus scholars, comparing their conclusions and explaining their theses. His scope is as wide-ranging as it is evenhanded; from theologians to scholars to popes, he distills their thoughts into a comprehensible and comprehensive survey of the best of the contemporary thinkers. Boulton is a British Quaker and has been involved in transdenominational religious activities for many years. Readers will find no overt proselytizing in this book. Instead, the author treats them to an unbiased look at the ever-changing discipline of Jesus studies. In the end, Boulton understands that it is not the scholar or the theologian who will define the kingdom on earth. Rather, it will be the job of all of us to discern the Jesus of today from words written long ago. This book is not to be missed.
This is an excellent work. An investigative journalist David presents a mass of material, muchn of it otherwise rather inaccessible, in a way that is always interesting. ...I believe that catholics should take this quest for Jesus of History seriously. ~ John Challenor, Renew
A monumental story, told with dispassionate clarity, looking fairly at contributions from both orthodox and unorthodox research.
~ Judy Kirby, Editor of The FriendThe book I always wanted to read but never knew existed.
~ BBC Radio \"Sunday Breakfast Show\"This 419 page book was nothing short of astounding. I would recommend this exceptional labor of love to anyone with questions concerning the "Messiah".
~ Riki Frahmann, Planet StarzFrom RICHARD HOLLOWAY, former Bishop of Edinburgh: "Brilliant and timely. Everyone ought to read it, especially those with no sympathy for religion and its crazier adherents...This book is an enormous achievement, with its vivid descriptions of what scholars have uncovered... A useful resource for people who want a one-volume guide to a multi-volume industry. It's all here, and it's as up-to-date as you are likely to get." From LLOYD GEERING, International Bible scholar: "A unique treasure. A fair, objective and exhaustive summary of historical Jesus discoveries... Scholarly, yet lucidly written for non-academic readers... A masterly achievement". ~
From MARCUS BORG: "The best and most thorough account of the breadth and variety of historical Jesus scholarship. Lively, informed, fair, and highly recommended." ~
.. His exhaustive summary of the modern quest for the Jesus of history is as much a required reading for those with no sympathy for religion as well as for its crazier adherents. ~ Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity
