Characterizations of Jesus abound: "dying Savior," "monk," or "troublemaker," for example. But who is Jesus? Who was Jesus--really? By surveying literary sources (including the Gospels), historical reconstructions, and aspects of Jesus' life and ministry that have engendered continuing debate, Tatum enables readers to develop a conceptual framework for evaluating the various cultural and scholarly expressions of the Jesus story.

Questions concerning the historical John the Baptist and Jesus are answered in this provocative and lucid report prepared by W. Barnes Tatum. The Jesus Seminar has considered all the historical evidence related to John the Baptist found in the gospels, Josephus, the documents known as the Pseudo-Clementines, and the traces of the Baptist tradition preserved in Mandaeism, a baptizing sect that continues to exist in southern Iraq and neighboring Iran. This volume contains a summary of the deliberations and votes of the Seminar, together with a concise sketch of the historical figure of John...

• A concise, accessible and engaging exploration of Jesus's life and enduring influence
• Charts the changing global status and influence of Jesus, a Galilean Jew born when the ancient Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean world, and how he has come to be honored as the Christ and recognized by billions of people around the world
• Traces the reception history of...