Reena

Incredible Shrinking Son of Man: How Reliable Is the Gospel Tradition?

I would like to read a biblical criticism book, but I don't have a lot of time on my hands and if possible would like to read the best one out there.

Do you think this one is a good place to start?

Thanks!

robto

I wouldn't start with Price if I were you. He is from the radical edge of scholarship - doubts that we can discover ANYTHING about the historical Jesus. (He may be correct in that, but he certainly isn't in the mainstream.)

I'm a big fan of J. D. Crossan, The Birth of Christianity. You can't beat Crossan for being clear in his statement of his presuppositions and of his arrangement of the data (his appendix lists all the versions of all the sayings in the NT and classifies them according to what level of the tradition they come from). It's also great fun to read his responses to L.T. Johnson's criticism of him. This was one of the first books I read that got me interested in the whole area of study, and (100 or so books later) it's still one of the best.

Julian

It is an excellent book by a very good author, well worth any time spent on it. I do agree that Crossan is a better representation of the mainstream view. I prefer Price, however.

Julian

youngalexander

Do not wish to be picky but, 'a biblical criticism book' and 'start' are slightly contradictory. As per previous advice Crossan is a better place to 'start'.

However, if you already have some knowledge and understanding of what 'critical' might entail then Price will certainly give you value for money. Somewhat less radical is Lost Christianities by Bart Ehrman - sound scholarship and a useful perspective upon the canon.

gregor

Crossan's TBofC is great, but I fear too long and detailed as a primer.

Who Wrote the Gospels
Followed by Price's Shrinking Son
Followed by Ehrman's Lost Christianities
Followed by Crossan's TBoC