C ONTENTS
Guide
A CCLAIM FOR R OBERT J. H UTCHINSON
The Dawn of Christianity is a fascinating look at the early days of the Jesus movement that became the church (from Jesus through the early days of the church). Shunning a skeptical read of this material, author Robert Hutchison works his way through the events and disputes that circulate around the origins of the Christian movement. It is a worthwhile journey with a capable guide that richly repays the reader.
D ARRELL L. B OCK. P H D, SENIOR RESEARCH PROFESSOR OF N EW T ESTAMENT S TUDIES, D ALLAS T HEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
Jesus was to be a sign of contradiction, as Simeon prophesied in the Temple when Jesus was just an infant. History and now Robert J. Hutchinsons latest book, The Dawn of Christianity, continue to bear this out. Its amazing that so many books have been written about Jesus and yet there is still room for this one. The Dawn of Christianity will enlighten and delight those who love Jesus and maybe rile and more deeply engage those who oppose him... Absolutely worth reading more than once!
R EV. E AMON K ELLY, LC, P ONTIFICAL I NSTITUTE N OTRE D AME OF J ERUSALEM C ENTER
This entertaining book, setting its scenes with plenty of local color, demonstrates just how far the modern skepticism about Jesus has overreached itself. Questions remain, but Robert Hutchinson reminds us that we do not need to be browbeaten by those who say that only negative answers are available.
N. T. W RIGHT , P H D, U NIVERSITY OF S T . A NDREWS
For most of those involved in the modern search for the historic Jesus, it was really a search to debunk the biblical Jesus. But, as Robert Hutchinson demonstrates in this charming book, their efforts were not up to that taskthe new evidence turns out to be more compatible with the biblical account.
R ODNEY S TARK , P H D, AUTHOR OF T HE T RIUMPH OF C HRISTIANITY: H OW THE J ESUS M OVEMENT B ECAME THE W ORLDS L ARGEST R ELIGION AND CODIRECTOR OF THE I NSTITUTE FOR S TUDIES OF R ELIGION , B AYLOR U NIVERSITY
Robert Hutchinsons Searching for Jesus reviews the evidence, the theories, and the proposals in an informed and engaging way. Students and veteran scholars alike will profit from reading this well-written book. And dont skip the footnotes; they are a trove of famous quotations from primary and secondary literature.
C RAIG A. E VANS, P H D, J OHN B ISAGNO D ISTINGUISHED P ROFESSOR OF C HRISTIAN O RIGINS , H OUSTON B APTIST U NIVERSITY
Robert Hutchinsons Searching for Jesus provides a wonderful introduction to some of the issues and debates about the Jesus of history. Hutchinson shows that the Gospels remain our best sources of information about Jesus. Searching for Jesus is a great place to begin learning about Jesus, the Gospels, and history.
M ICHAEL F. B IRD , P H D, L ECTURER IN THEOLOGY AT R IDLEY C OLLEGE , M ELBOURNE , A USTRALIA
Robert Hutchinsons new bookSearching for Jesus: New Discoveries in the Quest for Jesus of Nazarethis a significant and very welcome contribution to the discussion about the historical Jesus. In his book, Hutchinson reviews recent archaeological finds and new directions in New Testament scholarship that challenge some of the older theories. He does it with great clarity and in a lively and intriguing way.
I SRAEL K NOHL , P H D, THE H EBREW U NIVERSITY, J ERUSALEM
Searching for Jesus is an excellent, informed, up-to-date review of biblical research presented in clear, engaging prose for the average reader. Robert Hutchinson shows how recent historical and archaeological investigations have overturned many of the bias-laden and unverified conclusions of biblical scholarship in the past century. I highly recommend Searching for Jesus to anyone who is seeking the truthabout Jesus of Nazareth and about the historical accuracy of the Gospels.
M ARK D. R OBERTS , P H D, AUTHOR OF C AN W E T RUST THE G OSPELS?
Searching for Jesus offers the reader a readable and accessible overview to the complex field of biblical studies, archaeology, and history related to the life of Jesus. Although I do not share many of the presuppositions or conclusions of Hutchinson, he does attempt to navigate the minefield of disputes, discoveries, and controversies in the field of Jesus studies and offers, particularly in his extensive notes, a useful introductory guide for general readers who wonder what is the latest in historical Jesus research.
J AMES D. T ABOR , P H D, U NIVERSITY OF N ORTH C AROLINA AT C HARLOTTE
Searching for Jesus manages to combine some of the latest (and often technical) scholarly research with a highly readable and accessible styleno mean feat! All of this is infused with relevant anecdotes, which make the book a pleasure to read. Hutchinsons book is ideal for anyone wanting to discover the controversies surrounding the historical figure of Jesus and will hopefully make more people realize why this is such a fascinating area of research.
J AMES G. C ROSSLEY , P H D, U NIVERSITY OF S HEFFIELD
An excellent conversation starter for study groups, perfect for public and seminary library collections.
L IBRARY J OURNAL
A LSO BY R OBERT J. H UTCHINSON
Searching for Jesus: New Discoveries in the Quest for Jesus of
Nazarethand How They Confirm the Gospel Accounts
The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible
When in Rome: A Journal of Life in Vatican City
The Book of Vices: A Collection of Classic Immoral Tales
2017 Robert J. Hutchinson
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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked BSB are taken from the Berean Study Bible (BSB) 2016 by Bible Hub and Berean Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked CEB are from the Common English Bible. Copyright 2011 Common English Bible.
Scripture quotations marked CJB are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible. Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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