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Who Is Jesus?: Linking the Historical Jesus with the Christ of Faith
From the author of Discovering the Da Vinci Code , this new book is the result of a ten-year study that offers concrete evidence to reconcile the Jesus of history with the Christ of faith.
IS JESUS WHO HE SAID HE WAS? Some say he was just a man; others claim he was the Son of God. Historian Darrell Bock tests the authenticity of Jesus’ claims against the rules of history to find out if he truly is the Christ of Faith.
This reader-friendly book examines twelve events, sayings, and teachings of Jesus, using ten well-accepted historical rules. Pull up a chair, engage in the conversation, and discover how fascinating the discussion of the historical Jesus can be.
IS JESUS WHO HE SAID HE WAS? Some say he was just a man; others claim he was the Son of God. Historian Darrell Bock tests the authenticity of Jesus’ claims against the rules of history to find out if he truly is the Christ of Faith.
This reader-friendly book examines twelve events, sayings, and teachings of Jesus, using ten well-accepted historical rules. Pull up a chair, engage in the conversation, and discover how fascinating the discussion of the historical Jesus can be.
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2012
48 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Darrell L. Bock
112 books71 followersDarrell L. Bock is a New Testament scholar and research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, United States. Bock received his PhD from Scotland's University of Aberdeen.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 11, 2025
My first time reading Bock and I found his points easy to follow with robust scriptures to cross-check. I did expect more analysis of actual crucifixion and post-Resurrection Jesus appearances cited in the Gospels. I was expecting him to cite his criteria for corroboration, embarrassment etc. to the statements attributed to the Jesus while on the cross, the post-death earthquake, curtain temple split etc. It seems like those were omitted due to contradicting his central thesis of the historical and faith versions of Jesus being aligned.
September 17, 2025
The author appears to know what they are talking about. However, this book reads like an academic paper. I was hoping that it would give me - an ordinary person in the street - an insight into the true Jesus. Unfortunately, for me, I think only professors in theology could work their way through this book. It is extremely technical and dry. I simply gave up on it before I was a quarter of the way through. It almost felt as if it were written in another language.
July 3, 2020
Yet another great work from Bock as he corrects the errors of modern critical scholarship in biblical studies, and demonstrates the trustworthiness of the biblical texts.
December 9, 2018
In one sense, this book is an example of colossal hubris. At first, when I read the beginning of this book, I was ready to tear into this book like I tear into an herb-crusted ribeye steak or some boneless chicken cooked to excellence, a fate that most authors greatly dislike for their books. After all, contrary to the author and others like him, God and the Bible are not in the dock to be tried by even sympathetic judges like the author, but we are in the dock seeking the mercy of God. When people cease to be students of a text and try to be critics and judges of the biblical text, they move into a role that cannot help but hinder their spiritual lives and lead them to dishonor the Bible. Even so, this book was not as bad as I initially thought, as it front-loads its objectionable material and makes sure that it aims its writing at an audience in which I am not a part, and that is those who need the historical Jesus as a bridge to the Jesus of faith, and not those that can take what the Bible says for what it is and view it as the authority of one's life and faith.
The author begins with a set of rules for the historical and scholarly inquiry into the Gospels by people who are not coming from the perspective of faith (1). After that the author looks at various stories and themes and judges their likelihood according to these rules. The author examines the activities of John the Baptist (2), looks at the choosing of the twelve (3), as well as Jesus' problematic (in Jewish eyes) association with tax collectors and "sinners" (4). The author examines Jesus and the Sabbath (5), his reputation for exorcism (6), and Peter's declaration of faith at Caesarea Philippi (7). He looks at the atriumphal entry into Jerusalem (8) as evidence that Jesus was a different type of king, discusses the cleansing of the temple (9), and looks at the issue of liturgy and authority at the last supper (10) before looking at his examination by Jewish authorities (11). Finally, the author discusses the examination by Pilate and Jesus' suffering death for sedition (12), the discovery of the empty tomb (13), and a conclusion that looks at who Jesus is according to the rules established by the author (14).
This book is clearly aimed at an audience that fancies themselves to be rational and intellectual people and not fundamentalists or other people of faith. In fact, the author goes out of his way to speak in the language of possibility and likelihood and not in the dogmatic language of someone who views the Bible as sufficient authority that does not need to be bolstered by human reasoning. In fact, reading this book, or this sort of book, as a believer is certainly a disadvantage, because the writer inevitably comes of poorly because of the presumption of judging God and the Bible, even if the purposes (as is the case here) are almost evangelical in nature. Indeed, it appears that with this book the author is trying to evangelize for an audience that views itself too cool and too knowledgeable to be taken in by simple myths and fairy tales, and who feel the need to subject the truths of scripture to a more searching and critical analysis. If the author still comes off as presumptuous, at least a charitable reader with some understanding of the flaws of contemporary intellectual culture can understand why he goes about his task of demonstrating the plausibility of the Gospel accounts in the way that he does. One can understand without fully accepting it, though, as a valid way to view scripture.
The author begins with a set of rules for the historical and scholarly inquiry into the Gospels by people who are not coming from the perspective of faith (1). After that the author looks at various stories and themes and judges their likelihood according to these rules. The author examines the activities of John the Baptist (2), looks at the choosing of the twelve (3), as well as Jesus' problematic (in Jewish eyes) association with tax collectors and "sinners" (4). The author examines Jesus and the Sabbath (5), his reputation for exorcism (6), and Peter's declaration of faith at Caesarea Philippi (7). He looks at the atriumphal entry into Jerusalem (8) as evidence that Jesus was a different type of king, discusses the cleansing of the temple (9), and looks at the issue of liturgy and authority at the last supper (10) before looking at his examination by Jewish authorities (11). Finally, the author discusses the examination by Pilate and Jesus' suffering death for sedition (12), the discovery of the empty tomb (13), and a conclusion that looks at who Jesus is according to the rules established by the author (14).
This book is clearly aimed at an audience that fancies themselves to be rational and intellectual people and not fundamentalists or other people of faith. In fact, the author goes out of his way to speak in the language of possibility and likelihood and not in the dogmatic language of someone who views the Bible as sufficient authority that does not need to be bolstered by human reasoning. In fact, reading this book, or this sort of book, as a believer is certainly a disadvantage, because the writer inevitably comes of poorly because of the presumption of judging God and the Bible, even if the purposes (as is the case here) are almost evangelical in nature. Indeed, it appears that with this book the author is trying to evangelize for an audience that views itself too cool and too knowledgeable to be taken in by simple myths and fairy tales, and who feel the need to subject the truths of scripture to a more searching and critical analysis. If the author still comes off as presumptuous, at least a charitable reader with some understanding of the flaws of contemporary intellectual culture can understand why he goes about his task of demonstrating the plausibility of the Gospel accounts in the way that he does. One can understand without fully accepting it, though, as a valid way to view scripture.
November 3, 2012
Many Christians accept what the Bible says on faith, thinking "If the Bible says it's true, then it just is!". Other Christians want to know why the Bible is true, want to know about the historical evidence for the Bible, and enjoy spending time thinking through philosophical arguments. The book "Who Is Jesus?", will especially appeal to the latter group, although people of all walks will enjoy reading this well-crafted book.
I found the book to be well laid out and easy to read and comprehend. The author clearly explains the rules that are used to test whether a Biblical text meets the criteria for authenticity or not, and then proceeds to unpack 12 main events from Jesus' life as tested against the rules. I think the rule that often spoke to me the most was the one about an event causing embarrassment to Jesus and his followers, such as the account of Peter confronting Jesus when Jesus is talking of his approaching suffering, and Jesus tells him "Get behind me Satan" (Mark 8:33). Why on earth would the first Christians have made up such a story, which serves to embarrass a key leader of the Church, unless it is true? The author has done an excellent job at looking at all the different elements that were considered in examining an event, and his writing is very approachable. A reader doesn't have to be a pastor to be able to understand the arguments that are being presented. Whether or not a reader will agree with everything they read, at the very least they will leave the book with a greater understanding of history and able to better enter into discussions about who Jesus is and was. For myself, I found the book to be an absolute faith-builder!
I highly recommend this book and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Howard Books (Simon and Schuster) for the purposes of this unbiased review.
I found the book to be well laid out and easy to read and comprehend. The author clearly explains the rules that are used to test whether a Biblical text meets the criteria for authenticity or not, and then proceeds to unpack 12 main events from Jesus' life as tested against the rules. I think the rule that often spoke to me the most was the one about an event causing embarrassment to Jesus and his followers, such as the account of Peter confronting Jesus when Jesus is talking of his approaching suffering, and Jesus tells him "Get behind me Satan" (Mark 8:33). Why on earth would the first Christians have made up such a story, which serves to embarrass a key leader of the Church, unless it is true? The author has done an excellent job at looking at all the different elements that were considered in examining an event, and his writing is very approachable. A reader doesn't have to be a pastor to be able to understand the arguments that are being presented. Whether or not a reader will agree with everything they read, at the very least they will leave the book with a greater understanding of history and able to better enter into discussions about who Jesus is and was. For myself, I found the book to be an absolute faith-builder!
I highly recommend this book and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Howard Books (Simon and Schuster) for the purposes of this unbiased review.
March 15, 2014
Review of method and subsequent application to the historical Jesus via criteria of authenticity; specific to 12 events in the life of Jesus (6 in Galilee and 6 in Jerusalem).
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews