Historians are also interested in studying the earthly Jesus portrayed in the New Testament, and they use the New Testament writings the same way that they use any other writings from antiquity. They view these writings as primary sources to be analyzed in order to extract information pertinent to a credible reconstruction of who Jesus was and what happened in the world because of him. In using the New Testament for this purpose, we should note, historians do not use it the same way theologians do when they seek to explicate what Christians should believe about Jesus, nor do they use it in the same way as do scholars whose goal is to understand the messages of individual books.
The object of the historian’s quest is not “the New Testament Jesus” who is important to Christian faith, nor is it “the Matthean Jesus” or “the Johan- nine Jesus” or any other such figure who is often the focus of New Testament study. They seek “the historical Jesus”—that is, the person who emerges from an analysis of sources in accord with generally accepted principles of histori- cal science. In this sense, the historical study of Jesus is a decidedly different field from New Testament studies: it is a field that uses the New Testament to understand history rather than a field that views interpretation of the New Testament as an end in itself. Still, the overlap of interest between these two
hyperlink 2.14
hyperlink 3.1
73 The Earthly Jesus as Understood by Modern Historians fields is considerable, such that some discussion of what is called “historical Jesus studies” may be appropriate.
The first thing to say is that “the historical Jesus” should not be equated with the actual man Jesus who lived in Galilee. Historians recognize that Jesus, the actual person, said and did many things that are unknown to us. They also allow that he may have said and done things reported in the New Testament that cannot be regarded as historical, simply because there is insufficient evidence to verify or confirm what is reported there.
Box 3.4
Images and Titles for Jesus in the New Testament
Advocate 1 John 2:1
Alpha and Omega Rev. 21:6
Apostle Heb. 3:1
Author of Life Acts 3:15
Bread of Life John 6:35
Bridegroom Mark 2:19–20
Brother Matt. 25:40
Chief Cornerstone Eph. 2:20 Chief Shepherd 1 Pet. 5:4 Christ (Messiah) Mark 8:29
Emmanuel Matt. 1:23
Firstborn from the Dead Col. 1:18 Firstborn of Creation Col. 1:15
Friend John 15:13–15
The Gate John 10:7
God Titus 2:13
Good Shepherd John 10:11
Guarantee Heb. 7:22
Head of the Body Col. 1:18
Heir Heb. 1:2
High Priest Heb. 3:1
Holy One of God Mark 1:24
Image of God Col. 1:15
Judge Acts 10:42
King Matt. 25:40
King of Kings Rev. 19:16
Lamb of God John 1:29
The Life John 14:6
Light of the World John 9:5
Lion of Judah Rev. 5:5
Lord Rom. 10:9
Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2:8
Lord of Lords Rev. 19:16
Master Luke 17:13
Mediator 1 Tim. 2:5
Minister Heb. 8:2
Morning Star Rev. 22:16
Our Peace Eph. 2:14
Perfecter of Faith Heb. 12:2
Pioneer Heb. 12:2
Prophet Luke 13:33
Rabbi John 3:2
The Resurrection John 11:25
Root of David Rev. 5:5
Root of Jesse Rom. 5:12
Sanctifier Heb. 2:11
Savior Luke 2:11
Savior of the World John 4:42
Second Adam Rom. 12:5–19
Servant Mark 10:45
Spirit Acts 16:7
Son of Abraham Matt. 1:1
Son of David Matt. 9:27
Son of God John 20:31
Son of Man Matt. 20:28
Teacher John 13:13
The Truth John 14:6
The Vine John 15:5
The Way John 14:6
The Word John 1:1
Historical science is skeptical by nature. For example, historians usually are unwilling to accept allegations that people performed miracles or other super- natural feats that defy known laws of science. They do not necessarily deny that such things occurred, but they usually maintain that such claims cannot be confirmed in ways that allow them to be regarded as historical facts. They are not matters that can be verified on the basis of what counts as historical evidence.
Historians are also cautious about accepting unsubstantiated reports from authors who are reporting things that they would have wanted to be true or that would have helped to promote their particular cause. Thus, from a historian’s perspective, the New Testament documents must be classified as “religious propaganda”; they were written for the express purpose of promoting the Christian faith and persuading people to believe certain things about Jesus.
For example, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke report that Jesus (who usu- ally was said to be from Nazareth) was actually born in Bethlehem. But this is something that Christians would have wanted people to believe about Jesus; a birth in Bethlehem would help to boost his credentials as the Jewish messiah, who was expected to be born there (see Matt. 2:4–6; cf. Mic. 5:2). Accordingly, historians are cautious about accepting such a report as historical fact.
hyperlink 3.2
MEDITERR AN
EAN SE
A
Sea of Galilee
Mt. Carmel
Mt. Tabor Ptolemais
Caesarea
Nazareth
Capernaum Gennesaret
Magdala
Chorazin Bethsaida
Gergesa
Nain Sepphoris
Gadara Tiberias
GA UL
AN IT
IS
Cana
10 mi 5 0
0 5 10 km
PHOENIC IA
DECAPOLIS S A M A R I A
UPPER GALILEE
LOWER GALILEE
03-02 - Galilee at theTime of Jesus Powell, Introduction to the New Testament International Mapping
Map 3.1. Galilee in the Time of Jesus.
75