"This is one of the most important books on methodological issues in the study of Jesus and the Gospels to have appeared for a long time. It deserves to be widely read."--__Richard Bauckham__, University of St. Andrews  
  
"The Jesus Legend is the best book in its class. Eddy and Boyd demonstrate mastery of the disciplines essential for critical assessment of the Gospels and competent investigation of the historical Jesus. I recommend this book in the highest terms."--__Craig A. Evans__, Acadia Divinity College; author of Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels "A clearly written, carefully researched, and powerfully argued defense of the historical reliability of the Synoptic Gospels. What makes this book noteworthy is the careful treatment of underlying issues in historical methodology and philosophy. A pleasure to read and a wonderful resource for those who have encountered troubling skeptical claims about the Gospels."--__C. Stephen Evans__, Baylor University  
  
"I am gratified that my friends and colleagues Paul Eddy and Greg Boyd have taken my work as seriously as they have in this comprehensively researched book. I urge any reader of my books to read this one alongside them!"--__Robert M. Price__, Center for Inquiry Institute and fellow of the Jesus Seminar  
  
"Eddy and Boyd have provided a thoroughly compelling cumulative argument--one of the very best available--for the reliability of the Synoptic Jesus tradition. Their book constitutes a superb treatment of the various issues, involving both fresh research and a brilliant synthesis of material from a variety of relevant disciplines."--__Craig S. Keener__, Palmer Seminary  
  
"Eddy and Boyd have surveyed technical and popular writing alike, in meticulous detail, and present what can be concluded responsibly about the trustworthiness of the Synoptic Gospels and the portraits of Jesus they contain. They compile a detailed and erudite case that supports Christian faith. Highly recommended!"--__Craig L. Blomberg__, Denver Seminary  
  
"Well-written and organized, containing a masterful command of the literature. Eddy and Boyd show the difference between an open historical investigation of the life of Jesus and much of today's fictional writing that claims to be historical research concerning the origin of Christianity. A very useful introduction for college and seminary students."--__Robert H. Stein__, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

__Paul Rhodes Eddy__ (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.   
  
__Gregory A. Boyd__ (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is the senior pastor at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.  
  
Eddy and Boyd are authors or coauthors of several books, including Across the Spectrum.

__Christianity Today 2008 Book Award (Biblical Studies)__   
Even mature Christians have trouble defending the person and divinity of Christ. The Jesus Legend builds a convincing interdisciplinary case for the unique and plausible position of Jesus in human history. He was real and his presence on the planet has been well-documented.  
  
The authors of the New Testament didn't plant evidence, though each writer did tell the truth from a unique perspective. This book carefully investigates the Gospel portraits of Jesus--particularly the Synoptic Gospels--assessing what is reliable history and fictional legend. The authors contend that a cumulative case for the general reliability of the Synoptic Gospels can be made and boldly challenge those who question the veracity of the Jesus found there.

Confronts the "legendary Jesus" case, showing how the Synoptic Gospels are the most historically probable representation of the actual Jesus of history.

Introduction: The Case for the Legendary Jesus   
Part 1: Historical Method and the Jesus Tradition: Miracles, Parallels, and First-Century Palestine  
1\. Miracles and Method: The Historical-Critical Method and the Supernatural   
2\. A Jewish Legend of "Yahweh Embodied"? How "Pagan" Was First-Century Judaism?   
3\. One Among Many Legends? Do "Parallels" Relativize the Jesus of History?  
Part 2: Other Witnesses: Ancient Historians and the Apostle Paul  
4\. A Conspiracy of Silence? What Ancient Non-Christian Sources Say, and Do Not Say, About Jesus   
5\. The "Silence" of Paul? What, if Anything, Did Paul Know about the Jesus of History?  
Part 3: Between Jesus and the Gospels: The Early Oral Jesus Tradition  
6\. Ancient Literacy and Oral Tradition: Assessing the Early Oral Jesus Tradition   
7\. Historical Remembrance or Prophetic Imagination? Memory, History, and Eyewitness Testimony in the Early Oral Jesus Tradition  
Part 4: The Synoptic Gospels as Historical Sources for Jesus: Assessing the Evidence  
8\. The Genre and Nature of the Canonical Gospels: Did the Gospel Authors Intend to Write Historically Reliable Accounts?   
9\. Evaluating the Synoptic Gospels as Historical Sources: Methodological Issues and Preliminary Considerations   
10\. The Synoptic Tradition and the Jesus of History: A Cumulative Case for the Reliability of the Synoptic Portrait(s) of Jesus   
Author Index   
Subject Index

Eddy, Paul Rhodes ;Boyd, Gregory A.

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Endorsement

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction: The Case for the Legendary Jesus

Part 1. Historical Method and the Jesus Tradition: Miracles, Parallels, and First-Century Palestine

1. Miracles and Method: The Historical-Critical Method and the Supernatural

2. A Jewish Legend of "Yahweh Embodied"? How Open to "Pagan" Influence Was First-Century Judaism?

3. One among Many Legends ? Do "Parallels" Relativize the Jesus of History?

Part 2. Other Witnesses: Ancient Historians and the Apostle Paul

4. A Conspiracy of Silence ? What Ancient Non-Christian Sources Say, and Do Not Say, about Jesus

5. The "Silence" of Paul? What, If Anything, Did Paul Know about the Jesus of History?

Part 3. Between Jesus and the Gospels: The Early Oral Jesus Tradition

6. Ancient Literacy and Oral Tradition: Assessing the Early Oral Jesus Tradition

7. Historical Remembrance or Prophetic Imagination? Memory, History, and Eyewitness Testimony in the Early Oral Jesus Tradition

Part 4. The Synoptic Gospels as Historical Sources for Jesus: Assessing the Evidence

8. The Genre and Nature of the Canonical Gospels: Did the Gospel Authors Intend to Write Historically Reliable Accounts?

9. Evaluating the Synoptic Gospels as Historical Sources: Methodological Issues and Preliminary Considerations

10. The Synoptic Tradition and the Jesus of History: Completing a Cumulative Case for the Reliability of the Synoptic Portrait(s) of Jesus

Index of Scripture and Ancient Writings

General Index

Notes

Even mature Christians have trouble defending the person and divinity of Christ.The Jesus Legendbuilds a convincing interdisciplinary case for the unique and plausible position of Jesus in human history. He was real and his presence on the planet has been well-documented.  
  
The authors of the New Testament didn't plant evidence, though each writer did tell the truth from a unique perspective. This book carefully investigates the Gospel portraits of Jesus--particularly the Synoptic Gospels--assessing what is reliable history and fictional legend. The authors contend that a cumulative case for the general reliability of the Synoptic Gospels can be made and boldly challenge those who question the veracity of the Jesus found there.

Even mature Christians have trouble defending the person and divinity of Christ. This book investigates the Gospel portraits of Jesus - particularly the Synoptic Gospels - assessing what is reliable history and fictional legend. It contends that a cumulative case for the general reliability of the Synoptic Gospels can be made.

Even mature Christians have trouble defending the person and divinity of Christ. "The Jesus Legend" builds a convincing interdisciplinary case for the unique and plausible position of Jesus in human history. He was real and his presence on the planet has been well-documented. The authors of the New Testament didn't plant evidence, though each writer did tell the truth from a unique perspective. This book carefully investigates the Gospel portraits of Jesus - particularly the Synoptic Gospels - assessing what is reliable history and fictional legend. The authors contend that a cumulative case for the general reliability of the Synoptic Gospels can be made and boldly challenge those who question the veracity of the Jesus found there.

Paul Rhodes Eddy (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Gregory A. Boyd (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is the senior pastor at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Eddy and Boyd are authors or coauthors of several books, including Across the Spectrum.

The Jesus Legend [eBook]

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

The Jesus Legend [eBook]

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App