The Historical Jesus:
Can We Get Behind the Gospels? Should We Try?

1. Early attempts to reconstruct the Jesus of history

• H. S. Reimarus (1778): fanatical politician who was rejected by his people and his God
• W. Wrede (1901): largely a figment of early Christian imagination
• Albert Schweitzer (1906): apocalyptic preacher who tragically expected the end of the world in his lifetime

2. Current attempts to reconstruct the Jesus of history

• E. P. Sanders (1985): restoration prophet who predicted the temple's destruction and Israel's subsequent restoration
• The Jesus Seminar (1993, 1998): itinerant, Cynic-philosopher who preached a counter-cultural message of equality
• N. T. Wright (1992, 1996): Israel's Messiah who was called to die vicariously for Israel and for the world

3. Text or Event? Where to begin?

• linear or circular?

• locus of salvation: in a story or on the cross?
• starting point for ethics: the moral vision of individual texts or the teachings of the historical figure of Jesus

4. Foundational Questions

• Jesus and Palestinian Judaism: how was Jesus' relevant for his people?
• Jesus and the early church: why did his followers remember and worship him?
• Jesus' life and death: why was he executed?
• Jesus words and deeds: should we begin with Jesus' sayings or teachings or both?
• The Synoptics and John: how can we hold these two portraits together?
• Other Gospels: how should we weigh the gospels of Thomas and of Peter?
• Burden of proof: are the Gospels essentially trustworthy?

5. Historical Jesus 101

• a Jew from Nazareth in Galilee
• baptised by John the Baptist
• considered to be a prophet
• preached the imminent arrival of God's Kingdom, justice, mercy, non-violence
• had reputation for teaching and healing
• showed particular interest in the poor and lowly (including women and children)
• demonstrated in the temple
• was crucified by Pontius Pilate under Roman rule c. 30 CE
• was executed as a revolutionary/security risk
• came back to life to be seen by various disciples