The book Jesus and the Gospels which is written by Craig L. Blomberg gives an intensive guide of the gospels and the life of Jesus as well as his ministry. There is a brief sketch of the four gospels and their different accounts of the historical Jesus. The survey of the life of Christ that one encounters in the book perhaps is the most reflective research method for the historical Jesus is ‘the first quest. Blomberg offers a scholarly overview of the narratives of different schools of thought which brings forth a historical dive of their study and criticism.
According to the gospels Jesus was a mere man but because of his miraculous act, at least according to the rationalists and mythologizers, he performed miracles (207). The romantics on their part, was a teacher of love and joy as well as beauty. According to them, he gave people moral percepts. He also performed miracles, something that resonated well with the need of religion at the time, and this worked well for him. His acts and deeds would later transform him into martyrdom, and that catapulted him into a messianic figure.
At least these beliefs and accounts form part and parcel of the biblical Jesus put in a historical context. From the context of the gospels, Jesus performed miracles, attracted a huge following and preached love and joy to his followers. This account gives a reflective picture of Jesus that can be related to what is written in the bible about him. In as much as they may not seem to agree on his true nature, at least they point out some of his attributes which make him a historical figure, when looked at from outside the bible context (Crossan 108).
Works Cited
Blomberg, Craig, L. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Second Edition. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009. Print
Crossan, John, Dominic. The Historical Jesus. New York, 1991. Print.
