Did Jesus Exist?

Professor Wells argues that there was no historical Jesus, and in thus arguing he deals with the many recent writers who have interpreted the historical Jesus as some kind of political figure in the struggle against Rome, and calls in evidence the many contemporary theologians who agree with some of his arguments about early Christianity. The question at issue is what all the evidence adds up to. Does it establish that Jesus did or did not exist? Professor Wells concludes that the latter is the more likely hypothesis. This challenge to received thinking by both Christians and non-Christians is supported by much documentary evidence, and Professor Wells carefully examines all the relevant problems and answers all the relevant questions. He deliberately avoids polemic and speculation, and sticks so far as possible to the known facts and to rational inferences from the facts. Contents......Page 2 Introduction......Page 6 1 Jewish and Pagan Testimony to Jesus......Page 15 2 Early Christian Epistles......Page 23 3 The Origin and Nature of the Gospels......Page 77 4 Christologies......Page 106 5 The Twelve......Page 132 6 Galilee and John the Baptist......Page 154 7 Was Jesus a Political Rebel?......Page 173 8 The Pagan and Jewish Background......Page 189 9 The Debate Continues......Page 218 Conclusion......Page 227 Numbered List of References......Page 230 Argues that there was no historical Jesus, and in thus arguing, here, the author deals with the writers who have interpreted the historical Jesus as some kind of political figure in the struggle against Rome, and calls in evidence the contemporary theologians who agree with some of the arguments about early Christianity.