The Life of Jesus Critically Examined / (4th ed.)

Introduction to the present edition,

Preface to the first german edition.

Preface to the fourth german edition.

The life of jesus. introduction. development of the mythical point of view in relation to the gospel

§ 1. inevitable rise of different modes of explaining sacred histories.

§ 2. different explanations of sacred legends among the greeks.

§ 3. allegorical interpretations among the hebrews.—philo.

§ 4. allegorical interpretations among the christians.—origen.

§ 6. natural mode of explanation adopted by the rationalists.—eichhorn.—paulus.

§ 7. moral interpretation of kant.

§ 8. rise of the mythical mode of interpreting the sacred history, in reference first to the old tes

§ 9. the mythical mode of interpretation in reference to the new testament.

§ 10. the notion of the mythus in its application to sacred histories not clearly apprehended by the

§ 11. the application of the notion of the mythus too circumscribed.

§ 12. opposition to the mythical view of the gospel history.

§ 13. the possibility of the existence of mythi in the new testament considered in reference to the

§ 14. the possibility of mythi in the new testament considered on internal grounds.

§ 15. definition of the evangelical mythus and its distinctive characteristics.

§ 16. criteria by which to distinguish the unhistorical in the gospel narrative.

First part. history of the birth and childhood of jesus.

Annunciation and birth of john the baptist.

§ 17. account given by luke.1 immediate, supernatural character of the representation.

§ 18. natural explanation of the narrative.

§ 19. mythical view of the narrative in its different stages.

Davidical descent of jesus, according to the genealogical tables of matthew and luke.

§ 20. the two genealogies of jesus considered separately and irrespectively of one another.

§ 21. comparison of the two genealogies—attempt to reconcile their contradictions.

§ 22. the genealogies unhistorical.

Announcement of the conception of jesus.—its supernatural character.—visit of mary to elizabeth.

§ 23. sketch of the different canonical and apocryphal accounts.

§ 24. disagreements of the canonical gospels in relation to the form of the annunciation.

§ 25. import of the angel’s message.—fulfilment of the prophecy of isaiah.

§ 26. jesus begotten of the holy ghost. criticism of the orthodox opinion.

§ 27. retrospect of the genealogies.

§ 28. natural explanation of the history of the conception.

§ 29. history of the conception of jesus viewed as a mythus.

§ 30. relation of joseph to mary—brothers of jesus.

§ 31. visit of mary to elizabeth.

Birth and earliest events of the life of jesus.

§ 32. the census.

§ 33. particular circumstances of the birth of jesus. the circumcision.

§ 34. the magi and their star. the flight into egypt and the murder of the children in bethlehem. cr

§ 35. attempts at a natural explanation of the history of the magi. transition to the mythical expla

§ 36. the purely mythical explanation of the narrative concerning the magi, and of the events with w

§ 37. chronological relation between the visit of the magi, together with the flight into egypt, and

§ 38. the presentation of jesus in the temple.

§ 39. retrospect. difference between matthew and luke as to the original residence of the parents of

The first visit to the temple, and the education of jesus.

§ 40. jesus, when twelve years old, in the temple.

§ 41 this narrative also mythical.

§ 42. on the external life of jesus up to the time of his public appearance.

§ 43. the intellectual development of jesus.

Second part. history of the public life of jesus.

Relations between jesus and john the baptist.

§ 44. chronological relations between john and jesus.

§ 45. appearance and design of the baptist. his personal relations with jesus.

§ 46. was jesus acknowledged by john as the messiah? and in what sense?

§ 47. opinion of the evangelists and jesus concerning the baptist, with his own judgment on himself.

§ 48. the execution of john the baptist.

Baptism and temptation of jesus.

§ 49. why did jesus receive baptism from john?

§ 50. the scene at the baptism of jesus considered as supernatural and as natural.

§ 51. an attempt at a criticism and mythical interpretation of the narratives.

§ 52. relation of the supernatural at the baptism of jesus to the supernatural in his conception.

§ 53. place and time of the temptation of jesus. divergencies of the evangelists on this subject.

§ 54. the history of the temptation conceived in the sense of the evangelists.

§ 55. the temptation considered as a natural occurrence either internal or external; and also as a p

§ 56. the history of the temptation as a mythus.

Locality and chronology of the public life of jesus.

§ 57. difference between the synoptical writers and john, as to the customary scene of the ministry

§ 58. the residence of jesus at capernaum.

§ 59. divergencies of the evangelists as to the chronology of the life of jesus. duration of his pub

§ 60. the attempts at a chronological arrangement of the particular events in the public life of jes

Jesus as the messiah.1

§ 61. jesus, the son of man.

§ 62. how soon did jesus conceive himself to be the messiah, and find recognition as such from other

§ 63. jesus, the son of god.

§ 64. the divine mission and authority of jesus. his pre-existence.

§ 65. the messianic plan of jesus. indications of a political element.

§ 66. data for the pure spirituality of the messianic plan of jesus. balance.

§ 67. the relation of jesus to the mosaic law.

§ 68. scope of the messianic plan of jesus. relation to the gentiles.

§ 69. relation of the messianic plan of jesus to the samaritans. his interview with the woman of sam

The disciples of jesus.

§ 70. calling of the first companions of jesus. difference between the first two evangelists and the

§ 71. peter’s draught of fishes.

§ 72. calling of matthew. connexion of jesus with the publicans.

§ 73. the twelve apostles.

§ 74. the twelve considered individually. the three or four most confidential disciples of jesus.

§ 75. the rest of the twelve, and the seventy disciples.

The discourses of jesus in the three first gospels.1

§ 76. the sermon on the mount.

§ 77. instructions to the twelve. lamentations over the galilean cities. joy over the calling of the

§ 78. the parables.

§ 79. miscellaneous instructions and controversies of jesus.

Discourses of jesus in the fourth gospel.

§ 80. conversation of jesus with nicodemus.

§ 81. the discourses of jesus, john v.–xii.

§ 82. isolated maxims of jesus, common to the fourth gospel and the synoptical ones.

§ 83. the modern discussions on the authenticity of the discourses in the gospel of john. result.

Events in the public life of jesus, excluding the miracles.

§ 84. general comparison of the manner of narration that distinguishes the several evangelists.

§ 85. isolated groups of anecdotes. imputation of a league with beelzebub, and demand of a sign.

§ 86. visit of the mother and brethren of jesus. the woman who pronounces the mother of jesus blesse

§ 87. contentions for pre-eminence among the disciples. the love of jesus for children.

§ 88. the purification of the temple.

§ 89. narratives of the anointing of jesus by a woman.

§ 90. the narratives of the woman taken in adultery, and of mary and martha.

Miracles of jesus.

§ 91. jesus considered as a worker of miracles.

§ 92. the demoniacs, considered generally.

§ 93. cases of the expulsion of demons by jesus, considered singly.

§ 94. cures of lepers.

§ 95. cures of the blind.

§ 96. cures of paralytics. did jesus regard diseases as punishments?

§ 97. involuntary cures.

§ 98. cures at a distance.

§ 99. cures on the sabbath.

§ 100. resuscitations of the dead.

§ 101. anecdotes having relation to the sea.

§ 102. the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes.

§ 103. jesus turns water into wine.

§ 104. jesus curses a barren fig-tree.

The transfiguration of jesus, and his last journey to jerusalem.

§ 105. the transfiguration of jesus considered as a miraculous external event.

§ 106. the natural explanation of the narrative in various forms.

§ 107. the history of the transfiguration considered as a mythus.

§ 108. diverging accounts concerning the last journey of jesus to jerusalem.

§ 109. divergencies of the gospels, in relation to the point from which jesus made his entrance into

§ 110. more particular circumstances of the entrance. its object and historical reality.

Third part. history of the passion, death and resurrection of jesus.

Relation of jesus to the idea of a suffering and dying messiah; his discourses on his death, resurre

§ 111. did jesus in precise terms predict his passion and death?

§ 112. the predictions of jesus concerning his death in general; their relation to the jewish idea o

§ 113. precise declarations of jesus concerning his future resurrection.

§ 114. figurative discourses, in which jesus is supposed to have announced his resurrection.

§ 115. the discourses of jesus on his second advent. criticism of the different interpretations.

§ 116. origin of the discourses on the second advent.

Machinations of the enemies of jesus; treachery of judas; last supper with his disciples.

§ 117. development of the relation of jesus to his enemies.

§ 118. jesus and his betrayer.

§ 119. different opinions concerning the character of judas, and the motives of his treachery.

§ 120. preparation for the passover.

§ 121. divergent statements respecting the time of the last supper.

§ 122. divergencies in relation to the occurrences at the last meal of jesus.

§ 123. announcement of the betrayal and the denial.

§ 124. the institution of the lord’s supper.

Retirement to the mount of olives, arrest, trial, condemnation and crucifixion of jesus.

§ 125. agony of jesus in the garden.

§ 126. relation of the fourth gospel to the events in gethsemane. the farewell discourses in john, a

§ 127. arrest of jesus.

§ 128. examination of jesus before the high priest.

§ 129. the denial of peter.

§ 130. the death of the betrayer.

§ 131. jesus before pilate and herod.

§ 132. the crucifixion.

Death and resurrection of jesus.

§ 133. prodigies attendant on the death of jesus.

§ 134. the wound by a spear in the side of jesus.

§ 135. burial of jesus.

§ 136. the watch at the grave of jesus.

§ 137. first tidings of the resurrection.

§ 138. appearances of the risen jesus in galilee and in judea, including those mentioned by paul and

§ 139. quality of the body and life of jesus after the resurrection.

§ 140. debates concerning the reality of the death and resurrection of jesus.

The ascension.

§ 141. the last commands and promises of jesus.

§ 142. the so-called ascension considered as a supernatural and as a natural event.

§ 143. insufficiency of the narratives of the ascension. mythical conception of those narratives.

Concluding dissertation. the dogmatic import of the life of jesus.

§ 144. necessary transition from criticism to dogma.

§ 145. the christology of the orthodox system.

§ 146. objections to the christology of the church.

§ 147. the christology of rationalism.

§ 148. the eclectic christology of schleiermacher.

§ 149. christology interpreted symbolically. kant. de wette.

§ 150. the speculative christology.

§ 151. last dilemma.

§ 152. relation of the critical and speculative theology to the church.