Was Jesus of Nazareth a real person? Did all of the events described in the gospels really happen? How was the world Jesus lived in different from our own? In The Historical Jesus For Dummies, you'll discover the answers to these questions and hundreds more.
This accessible, plain-English guide to the life and times of Jesus paints a vibrant picture of his world, examining records in the New Testament and Roman history as well as recent archeological finds that shed new light on his life. You'll find informative explanations of Jesus's birth, infancy, and childhood; meet his followers and enemies; learn about his teachings and miracles, and discover how modern scholars and historians have arrived at these conclusions. This fascinating primer to the real-life Jesus explores: The different stories of Jesus in the gospels The three quests for the historical Jesus The miracles of Jesus Jewish society and the influence of Rome in Jesus's time The Roman practice of crucifixion The politics of Roman-occupied Judea What people though of Jesus when he was alive The Gnostic gospels and other non-biblical texts of the time The top controversies surrounding Jesus Portrayals of Jesus in art and film.
Complete with a concise account of the spread of Christianity throughout the world, The Historical Jesus For Dummies puts you in touch with the human Jesus who walked the earth and whose teachings changed the world.
Chapter 1. Meeting the Man from Nazareth
Chapter 2. Comparing the Gospels: A Biblical Biography of Jesus
Chapter 3. Pursuing the Historical Jesus in the Gospels
Chapter 4. Sharing in the Quests: Appreciating Modern Scholars' Efforts
Chapter 5. Checking the Sources for Evidence of Jesus
Chapter 6. Introducing the Great and Powerful Rome
Chapter 7. Taking a Snapshot of Jewish Society in Jesus's Time
Chapter 8. Feeling Rome's Influence
Chapter 9. Examining Jesus's Family and Early Life
Chapter 10. Starting a New Movement
Chapter 11. Teaching Wisdom and Telling Tales
Chapter 12. Working Miracles and Confounding Crowds
Chapter 13. Scouting the Competition: Jesus's Opponents
Chapter 14. Examining Jesus's Crucifixion
Chapter 15. The Resurrection: From the Messiah to the Son of God
Chapter 16. A Western Savior Goes Global
Chapter 17. From Graffiti to the Guggenheim: Jesus in Art
Chapter 19. Top Ten Historical Controversies about Jesus
Chapter 20. Top Ten Pilgrimage Sites Associated with Jesus