Lee Martin McDonald - The Story of Jesus in History and Faith: An Introduction

2013 by Lee Martin McDonald

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www . bakeracademic . com

Ebook edition created 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-4152-8

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Lee Martin McDonald is world famous for his books on the development of the biblical canon. In the present book, designed for nonspecialists, Lee focuses on the Jesus story. In light of the advances in perceiving the evidence of eyewitness accounts in the Gospels and the fact that oral tradition is not always untrustworthy, Lee wisely points out the vast amount of reliable historical information in the Gospels, although they were primarily composed to defend the faith and win converts ( kerygmata ). Lee assesses the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for comprehending Jesus time and his unique message and astutely includes not only the so-called apocryphal gospels but also the Jewish traditions about Jesus. Lee writes with skill, insight, and spiritual energy. His insight that Jesus message proves we are significant enough to be loved will be moving for many readers, as well as the notion that the biblical Jesus is also the Christ of faith. This book is highly recommended for classes and all who find Jesus story riveting and compelling.

James H. Charlesworth , director and editor, Princeton Dead Sea Scrolls Project; George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary

The Story of Jesus in History and Faith is perhaps the best technical survey of Jesus research now in print. It is at once exhaustively thorough, painstakingly fair, and enormously readable. This is simply a great book that will serve scholars and students alike who need to become current on virtually every critical issue surrounding the Gospels, the life of Jesus, and the intersection of history and faith.

Gary Burge , professor of New Testament, Wheaton College and Graduate School

In what must be regarded as a tour de force in Jesus studies, Lee McDonald has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by David F. Strauss in the nineteenth century, effectively challenging his two dichotomies: that the Jesus of history must be divorced from the Christ of faith, and that the historicity of the Fourth Gospel is decimated by that of the Synoptics. As a fourth quest for Jesus seeks a way to include the Gospel of John, this book will play a pivotal role in restoring the critical integration of history and faith regarding the greatest subject of both fields: Jesus.

Paul N. Anderson , professor of biblical and Quaker studies, George Fox University; author of The Riddles of the Fourth Gospel

Lee McDonald writes as a veteran scholar with a depth of experience in both the church and the academy. The Story of Jesus in History and Faith distinguishes itself by offering readers a learned and carefully nuanced discussion of what history is, how it is written, and what relevance it has for our understanding of Jesus. McDonald skillfully leads his readers through all of the important topics and questions, including the historical reliability of the New Testament Gospels and the miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Careful reading of this book will profit believers and skeptics alike. I am pleased to recommend it.

Craig A. Evans , Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada

Lee McDonald has provided a wide-ranging compendium of useful information on the study of the historical Jesus, including an account of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that engages the major critical issues. This material will be well suited to students at various levels of engagement. This is vintage McDonald.

Stanley E. Porter , president, dean, and professor of New Testament, McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

McDonald surveys the broad range of issues and sources in historical Jesus research in a way that is irenic toward all sides. Rather than pursuing a partisan line he writes as an independent observer and yet with sensitivity to the scholars with whom he disagrees.

Craig Keener , professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary

To my many colleagues and friends in the Institute for Biblical Research who trusted me as their president from 2006 to 2012