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- Ecce Homo! Or, A Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels
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Ecce Homo! Or, A Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels
by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach
Chapters
21 totalTranscriber's note: archaic spellings such as "desart" for "desert" have been retained, as have inconsistent spellings such as "Galilee"/"Gallilee", etc.
ECCE HOMO! OR, A CRITICAL INQUIRY INTO THE HISTORY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH: BEING A RATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE GOSPELS by BARON d'HOLBACH (Paul Henri Thiry Holbach)
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I. ACCOUNT OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR PROPHETS.—INQUIRY INTO THE PROPHECIES RELATING TO JESUS.
CHAPTER II. THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
CHAPTER III. ADORATION OF THE MAGI AND SHEPHERDS—MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS;—AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH FOLLOWED THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
CHAPTER IV. BAPTISM OF JESUS—HIS ABODE IN THE DESERT—COMMENCEMENT OF HIS PREACHING AND MIRACLES—MARRIAGE AT CANA.
CHAPTER V. JOURNEY OF JESUS TO JERUSALEM.—THE SELLERS DRIVEN OUT OF THE TEMPLE.—CONFERENCE WITH NICODEMUS.
CHAPTER VI. ADVENTURE OF JESUS WITH THE FEMALE SAMARITAN—HIS JOURNEY AND MIRACLES IN THE COUNTRY OF THE GERASENES.
CHAPTER VII. JESUS CURES TWO PERSONS POSSESSED WITH DEVILS—MIRACLE OF THE SWINE—WONDERS PERFORMED BY JESUS TILL THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS MISSION.
Description
This thoughtful 18th‑century treatise takes a skeptical eye to the New Testament, arguing that the Gospels were deliberately written with confusing language, contradictions and anachronisms to keep ordinary readers dependent on clerical interpretation. The author suggests that the biblical style was chosen to dazzle the imagination while obscuring clear understanding, positioning the scriptures as a tool for maintaining ecclesiastical authority rather than a transparent historical record.
Through a methodical comparison with contemporary historiography, the work highlights the rough manners of the apostles, the lack of literary polish, and the puzzling “mysteries” that dominate the text. It invites listeners to separate the historical figure of Jesus from later theological embellishments, offering a clear‑sighted glimpse into Enlightenment‑era criticism of religious tradition. This analysis provides a compelling foundation for anyone curious about how early modern thinkers questioned the foundations of Christianity.
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Full title
Ecce Homo! Or, A Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (423K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by the Freethought Archives (www.ftarchives.net) and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2012-03-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
About the author
baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach
1723–1789
A bold Enlightenment thinker who challenged religion and monarchy with strikingly direct prose, he became one of the most outspoken defenders of atheism and materialism in 18th-century Europe.
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