The Quest of the Historical Jesus

This groundbreaking work, which established the reputation of Albert Schweitzer as a theologian, traces the search for the historical figure of Jesus (apart from the Christ of faith) and establishes the author's own views. While Schweitzer's own proposals no longer command endorsement, his lasting contribution-comprising the bulk of the book-is the critique of his predecessors. By examining the works of more than 50 eighteenth- and nineteenth-century authors and scholars, he endeavored to show the fanciful nature of their historical reconstructions of Jesus. Schweitzer's work has proved to be the touchstone for all subsequent quests for the "Jesus of history." It contributed to the remarkable resurgence in Jesus studies in the latter part of the twentieth century and culminated in the much publicized and highly controversial findings of the Jesus Seminar. An influential and detailed study by the 1953 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, The Quest of the Historical Jesus is essential reading for biblical scholars, theologians, pastors, and serious Christians. Book jacket.