Includes bibliographical references (pages xxii-xxv) and indexes

The quest of the historical Jesus -- Pt. 1: The sources and their evaluation -- Christian sources about Jesus -- The Non-Christian sources about Jesus -- The evaluation of the sources: historical scepticism and the study of Jesus -- Pt. 2: The framework of the history of Jesus -- The historical and religious framework of the life of Jesus -- The chronological framework of the life of Jesus -- The geographical and social framework of the life of Jesus -- Pt. 3: The activity and preaching of Jesus -- Jesus as a charismatic: Jesus and his social relationships -- Jesus as prophet: Jesus' eschatology -- Jesus as healer: the miracles of Jesus -- Jesus as poet: the parables of Jesus -- Jesus as teacher: the ethics of Jesus -- Pt. 4: Passion and Easter -- Jesus as the founder of a cult: the last supper and the primitive Christian Eucharist -- Jesus as martyr: the passion of Jesus -- The risen Jesus: Easter and its interpretations -- The historical Jesus and the beginnings of christology -- Retrospect: a short life of Jesus

Comprehensively detailing the sources for our knowledge of Jesus, Theissen and Merz fully explore the historical and social context of Jesus and his activity. They then unfold what we can know about Jesus' characteristics as a charismatic teacher, a Jewish prophet, a healer, a teller of parables and an ethical teacher. Finally, they examine closely the historical question surrounding Jesus' last supper, his violent death, the accounts of Easter, and the beginnings of Christology

Translated from the German