The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus
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In this book, Dale Allison addresses ongoing historical-theological questions concerning Jesus Christ. What should one think of the modern quest for the historical Jesus when there is such enduring discord among the experts, and when personal agendas play such a large role in the reconstructions? How much history is in the Gospels, and how much history does Christian theology require that there be? How does the quest impinge on conventional Christian beliefs, and what might it contribute to contemporary theological reflection? --From publisher's description.
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This is truly a book about doubt seeking understanding. It is a great read for those suffering from the questions that the historical Jesus debate has raised regarding the place of the gospels in understanding what Jesus was really saying (and doing) and how that should impact us theologically today. Not all the questions get answered, but it's pretty clear that Allison does not think he has all the answers either.
Pros:
I liked his honesty and how forthright he was about his beliefs and doubts.
I appreciated the writing style. It was accommodating but not dumbed down.
He has an openness to a lot of things that many scholars/historians tend to dismiss off hand - and he argues for them fairly.
The last chapter is really the best.
Cons:
I would have liked more discussion on how to move from the historical to the theological at a practical level as well as at a church level.
