Studying the Historical Jesus : A Guide to Sources and Methods

by Bock, Darrell L.

• ISBN13: 9780801024511
• ISBN10: 080102451X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

Interest in the historical Jesus continues to occupy much of today's discussion of the Bible. The vexing question is how the Jesus presented in the Gospels relates to the Jesus that actually walked this earth. Studying the Historical Jesus is an introductory guide to how one might go about answering that question by doing historical inquiry into the material found in the Gospels. Darrell Bock introduces the sources of our knowledge about Jesus, both biblical and extra-biblical. He then surveys the history and culture of the world of Jesus. The final chapters introduce some of the methods used to study the Gospels, including historical, redaction, and narrative criticisms. Bock, a well respected author, provides an informed evangelical alternative to radical projects like the Jesus Seminar. His audience, however, is not limited only to evangelicals. This book, written for college and seminary courses, offers an informed scholarly approach that takes the Gospels seriously as a source of historical information.

Author Biography

Darrell L. Bock (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is Research Professor in New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of more than ten books, including the two-volume BECNT commentary on Luke.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	7	(2)
Preface	9	(2)
Abbreviations	11	(2)
Introduction: Sources of Our Knowledge	13	(30)
Part 1: Jesus in His Cultural Context	43	(94)
Nonbiblical Literary Evidence for Jesus	45	(20)
A Basic Chronology of Jesus' Life	65	(14)
Political History	79	(28)
Sociocultural History	107	(30)
Part 2: Methods for Studying the Gospels	137	(80)
The Three Quests for the Historical Jesus	141	(12)
Historical Criticism	153	(10)
Source Criticism	163	(18)
Form Criticism	181	(8)
Redaction Criticism	189	(10)
Tradition Criticism	199	(6)
Narrative Criticism and Gospel Genre	205	(12)
Selected Bibliography	217	(4)
Subject Index	221	(6)
Scripture Index	227