The Gospels and the Jesus of History

For many years the area of debate concerning the truth about Jesus of Nazareth and the answer to the question he himself is reported to have asked his own followers: "Who do you say that I am?" has been regarded as almost the exclusive preserve of liberal Protestant theologians. Now, with the growing accord between Christians and the remarkable renaissance of Roman Catholic biblical scholarship, a masterly contribution to the debate comes from a leading European scholar. Father Léon-Dufour's survey and evaluation of the controversy (specially edited for English-speaking readers by the author and his chosen translator Father John McHugh of Ushaw College) is a frank and open inquiry into just how far we can discern the real identity and personality of Jesus Christ by applying the most rigorous methods of historical criticism to the sources available. He surveys the positions of past and present scholars, and then examines each gospel - the basic primary sources - in detail.