
This work opens a bold inquiry into the origins of the Gospel stories, tracing how Protestant scholars of the Reformation first began to question traditional Catholic narratives and how that critical spirit culminated in David Strauss’s revolutionary study. By situating Strauss’s method within the broader history of theological debate, the author shows how the early modern challenge to biblical authority set the stage for a systematic re‑evaluation of the New Testament’s historicity.
The author follows Strauss’s uncompromising logic, applying the “myth” concept to every episode of the Gospel accounts and exposing the gaps and contradictions that have long been glossed over. Listeners will encounter a clear, rigorous analysis that dismantles familiar apologetic defenses while acknowledging the limits of pure criticism. The book invites anyone curious about the scholarly foundations of faith to consider what remains uncertain and what new questions arise when the familiar stories are examined with fresh, scholarly eyes.
Full title
The Life of Jesus Critically Examined (4th ed.)
Language
en
Duration
~45 hours (2600K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2020-12-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1808–1874
Best known for a bold and controversial life of Jesus, this 19th-century German thinker helped shake up modern debates about religion, history, and belief. His work made him one of the most talked-about theologians of his time.
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