Synoptica
The Historical Jesus

Theories of Jesus developed immediately after his death, in order to explain his death. The previous studies in this section have attempted to clarify the lines along which those theories developed, and to identify the later stages of that development. It now becomes possible, by subtracting the later developments, to ask the Historical Jesus question: what was the message of Jesus, and the character of his movement, prior to his death? It has already become clear that the Jesus movement was centered in Galilee, and that it had a certain relationship with the repentance movement of John the Baptist; that according to early Christian tradition it indeed began with Jesus's baptism by John. Disregarding everything in the earliest Gospel that seems to have been inserted to explain Jesus's end, or provide precedents for the early Church, what is left to speak of Jesus's beginning?

There are several points to be considered.

• John the Baptist
• Jesus's Healings
• Jesus and the Mosaic Tradition
• Parables of the Kingdom
• What Was Expected of Jesus's Followers?
• The Messiah Question
• The Residual Markan Gospel
• Conclusion

   

25 Sept 2005 / Contact The Project / Exit to Synoptica Page