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.