What do you think?
Rate this book
The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus
A diverse group of scholars charts new paths in the quest for the historical Jesus.
After a decade of stagnation in the study of the historical Jesus, James Crossley and Chris Keith have assembled an international team of scholars to envision the quest anew. The contributors offer new perspectives and fresh methods for reengaging the question of the historical Jesus. Important, timely, and fascinating, The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus is a must read for anyone seeking to understand Jesus of Nazareth. ContributorsMichael P. Barber, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, United States of America
Giovanni B. Bazzana, Harvard Divinity School, United States of America
Helen K. Bond, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
James Crossley, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society, Norway, and Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements, United Kingdom
Tucker S. Ferda, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, United States of America
Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, United States of America, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Deane Galbraith, University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand
Mark Goodacre, Duke University, United States of America
Meghan R. Henning, University of Dayton, United States of America
Nathan C. Johnson, University of Indianapolis, United States of America
Wayne Te Kaawa, University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand
Chris Keith, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society, Norway
John S. Kloppenborg, University of Toronto, Canada
Amy-Jill Levine, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, United States of America, and Vanderbilt University, United States of America
Brandon Massey, University of Münster, Germany
Justin J. Meggitt, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Halvor Moxnes, University of Oslo, Norway
Robert J. Myles, Wollaston Theological College, University of Divinity, Australia
Wongi Park, Belmont University, United States of America
Janelle Peters, Loyola Marymount University, United States of America
Taylor G. Petrey, Kalamazoo College, United States of America
Adele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa, Canada, and The University of the Free State, South Africa
Rafael Rodríguez, Johnson University, United States of America
Sarah E. Rollens, Rhodes College, United States of America
Anders Runesson, University of Oslo, Norway
Nathan Shedd, William Jessup University, United States of America, and Johnson University, United States of America
Mitzi J. Smith, Columbia Theological Seminary, United States of America, and University of South Africa, South Africa
Joan Taylor, King’s College London, United Kingdom
Matthew Thiessen, McMaster University, Canada
Robyn Faith Walsh, University of Miami, United States of America
Matthew G. Whitlock, Seattle University, United States of America
Stephen Young, Appalachian State University, United States of America
Christopher B. Zeichmann, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
After a decade of stagnation in the study of the historical Jesus, James Crossley and Chris Keith have assembled an international team of scholars to envision the quest anew. The contributors offer new perspectives and fresh methods for reengaging the question of the historical Jesus. Important, timely, and fascinating, The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus is a must read for anyone seeking to understand Jesus of Nazareth. ContributorsMichael P. Barber, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, United States of America
Giovanni B. Bazzana, Harvard Divinity School, United States of America
Helen K. Bond, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
James Crossley, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society, Norway, and Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements, United Kingdom
Tucker S. Ferda, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, United States of America
Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, United States of America, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Deane Galbraith, University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand
Mark Goodacre, Duke University, United States of America
Meghan R. Henning, University of Dayton, United States of America
Nathan C. Johnson, University of Indianapolis, United States of America
Wayne Te Kaawa, University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand
Chris Keith, MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society, Norway
John S. Kloppenborg, University of Toronto, Canada
Amy-Jill Levine, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, United States of America, and Vanderbilt University, United States of America
Brandon Massey, University of Münster, Germany
Justin J. Meggitt, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Halvor Moxnes, University of Oslo, Norway
Robert J. Myles, Wollaston Theological College, University of Divinity, Australia
Wongi Park, Belmont University, United States of America
Janelle Peters, Loyola Marymount University, United States of America
Taylor G. Petrey, Kalamazoo College, United States of America
Adele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa, Canada, and The University of the Free State, South Africa
Rafael Rodríguez, Johnson University, United States of America
Sarah E. Rollens, Rhodes College, United States of America
Anders Runesson, University of Oslo, Norway
Nathan Shedd, William Jessup University, United States of America, and Johnson University, United States of America
Mitzi J. Smith, Columbia Theological Seminary, United States of America, and University of South Africa, South Africa
Joan Taylor, King’s College London, United Kingdom
Matthew Thiessen, McMaster University, Canada
Robyn Faith Walsh, University of Miami, United States of America
Matthew G. Whitlock, Seattle University, United States of America
Stephen Young, Appalachian State University, United States of America
Christopher B. Zeichmann, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
701 pages, Hardcover
Published November 5, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 26, 2025
Most of the essays were very helpful. I especially enjoyed Amy-Jill Levine’s contribution on sexuality (ch. 25), Sarah Rollins on scribal Galilee (ch. 15), and Nathan Johnson on popular movements at and around the time of Jesus and their survival (ch. 34).
April 28, 2025
Summary: A prospectus for a new round of “historical Jesus” research: both foundations and research topics.
What was Jesus really like? Can we somehow get behind the gospel accounts and other sources to get at “the real Jesus of history”? Are we left with only a Christ of faith? Albert Schweitzer began this process. More recently, a group of scholars known as “The Jesus Seminar” took up this quest, with others like N.T. Wright as respondents. One of the critiques of all these efforts was that the attempt could be likened to peering down a very deep well only to glimpse a pale reflection of oneself.
The editors of this work, James Crossley and Chris Keith discerned that the time might be right for a new approach. An older generation of scholars was passing on and a newer generation with different concerns was rising. This volume represents a kind of prospectus of what the next quest might look like. In it, the editors and a team of scholars offer both some foundational ideas for a “next quest” and the beginnings of diverse research topics that might be aligned with the foundations.
The editors devote the first part of the book to foundations. Fundamental to their approach is the recognition that it is not possible to get behind source texts. As best as I can describe it (and I apologize if I am in error) is that this is an indirect or oblique approach. Instead of trying to get behind the text, they commend studying the reception history of the texts and how different groups construed Jesus. Likewise, they advocate a social history of quest scholarship. Brandon Massey examines how the social milieu in which it took place shaped portrayals of Jesus. Likewise, Adele Reinhartz advocates that this approach crucially needs to be applied to the Jewishness of Jesus and how that was constructed by the research. Helen K. Bond argues for the gospels being studied in light of what we know of the character of Greek biography.
Chris Keith argues more broadly for going beyond what is behind. Then Mark Goodacre spells out that our sources are like a puzzle with a substantial number of pieces missing and how research on a variety of social backgrounds may uncover some of those pieces. These include the material and visual culture, argues Joan Taylor. Studies of religion, visions and mythmaking may shed light on the gospel accounts.
The second part of the book, “The Beginnings of a Next Quest” includes chapters from a number of scholars representing a wide array of subfields. For example, these include examinations of ancient social networks, synagogue life. armies and soldiers, textiles, sustenance, and economy. In addition, other essays concern embodiment, sexuality, disability, ritual impurity, race, and ethnicity. The latter includes an examination of how whiteness has influenced Jesus scholarship. Finally, essays explore violence, death and apocalypticism. A thought provoking essay by Justin Meggit explore comparative microhistory and the resurrection accounts.
To sum up, this collection lays the groundwork for a new generation of Jesus questing. It does this, not by trying to get behind the gospel texts but by filling missing contextual pieces. Meanwhile it seeks to strip away previous constructions of Jesus and other social biases that prevent us from seeing what is really in the record. We’ll see whether this approach of deconstruction and fresh construction will escape the subjectivity of previous quests. I also wonder whether the wide variety of subfields will offer a coherent, or rather a fragmented and even conflicting picture. But I welcome the jettisoning of the unconstructive “criteria of authenticity” with the colored beads of the Jesus Seminar. Likewise, I appreciate the admission of the flaw of thinking what we see “behind the text” is more important than the text.
Ever since Schweitzer, it seems each scholarly generation has needed to pursue this quest in new forms. Crossley and Keith have framed a compelling prospectus for the next phase. I hope it helps the church “to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.”
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
What was Jesus really like? Can we somehow get behind the gospel accounts and other sources to get at “the real Jesus of history”? Are we left with only a Christ of faith? Albert Schweitzer began this process. More recently, a group of scholars known as “The Jesus Seminar” took up this quest, with others like N.T. Wright as respondents. One of the critiques of all these efforts was that the attempt could be likened to peering down a very deep well only to glimpse a pale reflection of oneself.
The editors of this work, James Crossley and Chris Keith discerned that the time might be right for a new approach. An older generation of scholars was passing on and a newer generation with different concerns was rising. This volume represents a kind of prospectus of what the next quest might look like. In it, the editors and a team of scholars offer both some foundational ideas for a “next quest” and the beginnings of diverse research topics that might be aligned with the foundations.
The editors devote the first part of the book to foundations. Fundamental to their approach is the recognition that it is not possible to get behind source texts. As best as I can describe it (and I apologize if I am in error) is that this is an indirect or oblique approach. Instead of trying to get behind the text, they commend studying the reception history of the texts and how different groups construed Jesus. Likewise, they advocate a social history of quest scholarship. Brandon Massey examines how the social milieu in which it took place shaped portrayals of Jesus. Likewise, Adele Reinhartz advocates that this approach crucially needs to be applied to the Jewishness of Jesus and how that was constructed by the research. Helen K. Bond argues for the gospels being studied in light of what we know of the character of Greek biography.
Chris Keith argues more broadly for going beyond what is behind. Then Mark Goodacre spells out that our sources are like a puzzle with a substantial number of pieces missing and how research on a variety of social backgrounds may uncover some of those pieces. These include the material and visual culture, argues Joan Taylor. Studies of religion, visions and mythmaking may shed light on the gospel accounts.
The second part of the book, “The Beginnings of a Next Quest” includes chapters from a number of scholars representing a wide array of subfields. For example, these include examinations of ancient social networks, synagogue life. armies and soldiers, textiles, sustenance, and economy. In addition, other essays concern embodiment, sexuality, disability, ritual impurity, race, and ethnicity. The latter includes an examination of how whiteness has influenced Jesus scholarship. Finally, essays explore violence, death and apocalypticism. A thought provoking essay by Justin Meggit explore comparative microhistory and the resurrection accounts.
To sum up, this collection lays the groundwork for a new generation of Jesus questing. It does this, not by trying to get behind the gospel texts but by filling missing contextual pieces. Meanwhile it seeks to strip away previous constructions of Jesus and other social biases that prevent us from seeing what is really in the record. We’ll see whether this approach of deconstruction and fresh construction will escape the subjectivity of previous quests. I also wonder whether the wide variety of subfields will offer a coherent, or rather a fragmented and even conflicting picture. But I welcome the jettisoning of the unconstructive “criteria of authenticity” with the colored beads of the Jesus Seminar. Likewise, I appreciate the admission of the flaw of thinking what we see “behind the text” is more important than the text.
Ever since Schweitzer, it seems each scholarly generation has needed to pursue this quest in new forms. Crossley and Keith have framed a compelling prospectus for the next phase. I hope it helps the church “to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.”
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews