Scripture, Culture, and Missions
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 55, No. 1 – Fall 2012
Managing Editor: Terry L. Wilder
Edited by Darrell L. Bock and Robert L. Webb. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009. 931 pages. Softcover, $70.
Darrell L. Bock, Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, and Robert L. Webb, lecturer in New Testament at McMaster University and executive editor of the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus, have edited a fine addition to the ever-growing amount of material in the last few decades on historical Jesus research. This volume is the culmination of over ten years of research and collaboration of the Jesus Group in the Institute for Biblical Research, which Bock and Webb co-convened (vii, 4, 84). The seminar members decided to study twelve key events (or sets of events) in the life of Jesus that (1) had a high probability of being historical, and (2) were likely important in developing an accurate framework for understanding Jesus (4, 83). Thus, the book consists of a chapter devoted to each event in order to (1) find its historical core, (2) examine its socio-cultural context in order to better understand the event, and (3) evaluate its significance for a better understanding of the historical Jesus (6, 83).
The strength of this volume comes from the impressive contributors, most of whom are well-published, highly-regarded experts in historical Jesus studies. It is the finest volume to date on historical Jesus research by imminent scholars from the evangelical Christian or “biblically orthodox Christian” tradition (7, 84). In addition to a co-authored introduction by both editors, Webb also writes a helpful primer on the historical enterprise of historical Jesus research and essays on Jesus’ baptism and the Roman examination and crucifixion of Jesus. Bock writes the final summary chapter and an essay on the Jewish examination of Jesus. The following authors contribute one essay on a key event in the life of Jesus: Craig A. Evans (exorcisms), Scot McKnight (the Twelve), Craig L. Blomberg (Jesus’ table fellowship with sinners), Donald A. Hagner (Synoptic Sabbath controversies), Michael J. Wilkins (Peter’s confession of faith), Brent Kinman (Jesus’ royal entry into Jerusalem), Klyne R. Snodgrass (cleansing the temple), I. Howard Marshall (the Last Supper), and Grant Osborne (Jesus’ empty tomb and resurrection appearances)—an impressive list of contributors and an important selection of subjects.
All of the contributors write excellent essays that clearly demonstrate the historicity of their assigned event as well as how the event affirms the veracity of the four-fold canonical Gospel portrait of Jesus. Some of the most helpful insights in this book come from Hagner’s essay, which contends that (1) all positions in this historical quest have some faith basis, and thus are somewhat subjective, (2) the burden of proof ought to be on those who deny the historicity of the Gospel tradition, (3) those who affirm the historicity still ought to evaluate it critically (269), (4) history is full of unexpected events and surprises, and (5) the typical quest for the historical Jesus is a misnomer because at best it comes up with an artificial construct due to limitations in the historical method (288).
Here are two suggested improvements: (1) add an index of terms, and (2) lengthen the conclusion chapter to give more consequences for this important study (850-52). Further, here is a caveat for readers who believe in biblical inerrancy, such as this reviewer. Co-author Webb makes unwarranted assumptions and claims of redactional changes by the evangelists that are problematic, such as the claims that Jesus’ baptism and the theophany were likely two separate events (112, 143), that Luke 1 is historically problematic (129), that Jesus was a disciple and protégé of John the Baptist (135), and that Jesus’ eschatology changed through the years (140).
At the 2010 annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature, Bock and Webb presented a summary of the present book. Bock noted that the contributors abided by the high standards of historical attestation used in historical Jesus research. They then evaluated twelve key events that clearly made it above the very high standards, showing that even with the restrictive ground rules in historical Jesus research, one can still find out who the historical Jesus is. One can then use these events to gain a core understanding of Jesus with which even the most critical scholar ought to be able to agree (826). Consequently, “what emerged from the Jesus of history [in the picture resulting from the research approach used by the scholars in this book] was the Christ of faith” (851). Skeptical scholars who responded to Bock and Webb at the SBL meeting kindly said they would not accept the work of conservative historical Jesus scholars as credible or worthwhile until those scholars listed what parts of the Gospels they deem are unhistorical in order to prove their objectivity. Commendably, Bock did not accommodate this flawed challenge. Yet, he continued to explain and defend the findings in the book. Even if they do not convert the skeptic, they can clarify the position of the traditional view.
This collection of essays does an excellent job in challenging moderate-to-skeptical historical Jesus scholars by using their own ground rules of historical study to analyze twelve key events. Thus, this helpful volume for everyone interested in this field of study, from the student to the scholar, is not just a description of historical Jesus research; rather, it is a prime example of how to do historical Jesus research properly from a mostly traditional/conservative perspective.
