The Jesus Legend
G. A.
Wells
In The Jesus
Legend, G. A. Wells shows how the story of Jesus
developed through telling and re-telling, from an early
version in the letters of Paul (who does not mention Jesus
in connection with any specific time or place) to the more
elaborate and detailed picture later presented in the
gospels.
Wells discusses
the earliest pagan and Jewish references to Jesus, the
dating of the various New Testament documents and the
contradictions among them, the authorship of documents as
indicated by stylometric analysis, the influence of
anti-Semitism in early Christianity, and the various
stratagems resorted to by apologists to deflect historical
criticism.
"In this
forcefully argued book, Wells presents evidence for the
thesis that the New Testament writings form a part of a
developing legendary tradition concerning the earthly life
of Jesus. Wells engages incisively the works of the most
ardent critics of the mythicist view of Jesus . . . his
critical treatment is nothing less than exemplary."
—Library Journal
"Exemplifies
first rate scholarship. I know of no other author who has
shed more light on the question of how Christianity came
into being."
—J. E. Barnhart
University of North Texas
"An
important addition to George Wells' growing corpus of
writings on the New Testament and Christian origins which
will not disappoint those already acquainted with and
enthused by his earlier works. On the other hand, it does
not presuppose familiarity with those works, and may
therefore safely be recommended to anyone coming afresh to a
consideration of the origins of the Jesus legend."
—New Humanist
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