Rusting Car Bumper

Then knowing that would be knowing the state of scholarship.

DC

Celsus

You reckon you can get that from three or less books?

Joel

justsumner

The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold
The Suns of God: Buddah, Christ, Vishnu

these two will just about cover it all.

Toto

Please no. If you mention those books you lose all credibility, instantly.

DC - Mack's book will fill your needs for the New Testament.

Rusting Car Bumper

Can you indulge me and give me a one paragraph review?

DC

Toto

I haven't read the book in a while. But the thesis is that the New Testament was not written as history, that the gospels were not written close to the time of Jesus, that some of Paul's letters were clearly not written by him. It has the sort of things you might need to know if you local Christian missionary tells you that there is historical proof in the Bible that Jesus existed and his tomb was empty.

The II Bookstore says:

Synopsis:
Burton Mack proposes that the Gospels are fictional mythologies created by different communities for various purposes and are only distantly related to the actual historical Jesus.

If you click on the Amazon link, you will find longer reviews, and some dissent.

If you are looking for a scholarly consensus, you need to be aware that there are academic Christian apologists who try to make a scholarly case for the validity of the Christian faith. There is no consensus between religiously motivated scholars and what is referred to as "liberal scholarship."

Peter Kirby

I would suggest Raymond Brown or Udo Schnelle over "Who Wrote the New Testament?" by Burton Mack for an introduction to the New Testament. Brown and Schnelle work more to provide a consensus presentation and include more detail on the historiographic decisions made.

For a one-volume commentary on the Bible, which can be used as a reference work or as a guide while reading a biblical book, The Oxford Bible Commentary is excellent.

As for your third book, take your pick:

The Formation of Christian Biblical Canon on the selection of the books in the Christian's bible

The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide for ideas on the HJ

Gospel Fictions by Helms or Incredible Shrinking Son of Man by Price for a skeptical view of the Gospels in light of, among other things, reworking of the OT

Or, indicate that you still have questions that wouldn't be broached in the above.

best,
Peter Kirby

CX

Who Wrote the Bible - Richard Friedman
History & Theology of the New Testament Writings - Udo Schnelle
Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography - Dom Crossan

Rusting Car Bumper

Kirby,

Thanks.

I assume you mean: Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond Brown.

DC

Rusting Car Bumper

And thanks to everyone who is responding to this thread. It is much appreciated.

DC