Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony

This momentous book argues that the four Gospels are closely based on the eyewitness testimony of those who personally knew Jesus. Noted New Testament scholar Richard Bauckham challenges the prevailing assumption that the accounts of Jesus circulated as "anonymous community traditions," asserting instead that they were transmitted in the names of the original eyewitnesses.
To drive home this controversial point, Bauckham draws on internal literary evidence, the use of personal names in first-century Jewish Palestine, and recent developments in the understanding of oral tradition. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses also taps into the rich resources of modern study of memory, especially in cognitive psychology, refuting the conclusions of the form critics and calling New Testament scholarship to make a clean break with this long-dominant tradition. Finally, Bauckham challenges readers to end the classic division between the "historical Jesus" and the "Christ of faith," proposing instead the "Jesus of testimony" as presented by the Gospels.

First Things “Bauckham’s proposal is both path-breaking and a tour de force.”

Trinity Journal “As in all of his works, Bauckham has ransacked obscure secondary literature for little-known but immensely helpful information. He has thought creatively about time-worn problems and uncovered possible interpretations of subtle features of ancient testimony — both in the Gospels and about them — with the shrewdness of a good detective.”

Westminster Theological Journal “Bauckham has delivered a remarkable and insightful volume that is sure to offer a much-needed challenge to the status quo in modern gospel studies.”

N. T. Wright — Bishop of Durham “The question of whether the Gospels are based on eyewitness accounts has long been controversial. Now Richard Bauckham, in a characteristic tour de force, draws on his unparalleled knowledge of the world of the first Christians to argue not only that the Gospels do indeed contain eyewitness testimony but that their first readers would certainly have recognized them as such. This book is a remarkable piece of detective work, resulting in a fresh and vivid approach to dozens, perhaps hundreds, of well-known problems and passages.”

Graham Stanton — University of Cambridge “Richard Bauckham’s latest book shakes the foundations of a century of scholarly study of the Gospels. There are surprises on every page. A wealth of new insights will provoke lively discussion for a long time to come. Readers at all levels will be grateful for detective work that uncovers clues missed by so many.”

James D. G. Dunn — University of Durham “Another blockbuster from the productive pen of Richard Bauckham. Stimulated particularly by Samuel Byrskog’s Story as History — History as Story, Bauckham builds an impressive case for recognition of the controlling influence of eyewitness testimony on the formulation and use of the Jesus tradition, which resulted in the Evangelists’ ‘Jesus of testimony.’ Not to be missed!”

Martin Hengel — University of Tübingen “A fascinating book! I have not read such a stimulating monograph about Jesus research in a long time. With its high scholarly standards and astute arguments, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses shows new insights and ways of investigation. It will therefore become a pioneer work refuting old and new errors. This book ought to be read by all theologians and historians working in the field of early Christianity. Further, Bauckham’s convincing historical method and broad learning will also help pastors and students to overcome widespread modern Jesus-fantasies.”

Associated Press “A blockbuster…Bauckham asserts that the Gospels stemmed from colleagues who walked alongside Jesus and from those with whom they shared their recollections.”

Craig Blomberg in Denver Journal “This is the last academic year that Richard Bauckham teaches full-time in his post as professor of New Testament studies and Bishop Wardlaw Professor at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland before his retirement. We can only hope that Jesus and the Eyewitnesses is far from the last major monograph that he composes. This work might just be the most important one that he has ever written.”

Roanoke Times "Buackham’s final chapter ‘The Jesus of Testimony’ is worth the price of the book for those who want a better understanding of what we mean and don’t mean when we talk about what history, any history, really is. "

Chronicle of Higher Education “Uses new understandings of oral literature and memory to argue that the four canonical Gospels were closely based on the eyewitness testimony of people who knew Jesus.”

Times Literary Supplement "Bauckham's careful and eloquent presentation of his argument, supported not just by careful scholarship but by admirable common sense, deserves earnest consideration by all."

Choice "It will be hard to take seriously future works on the origin of the Gospels that have not interacted with Bauckham. Recommended."

Average Rating:

1 of 1 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by Trevor Faggotter (Australia), June 17, 2007

An excellent book, which will do much to give renewed confidence to those who have become timid in their gospel proclamation. It is a book to bless the modern day church. Many of us may have suspected that the apostles, and all who were involved in the production of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John did far more than pass on some historical sayings, and then vanish, leaving others to do the interpretation. This book confirms what many have thought. Judging by the endorsements on the dust jacket of this book (J.D.G. Dunn, Martin Hengel, and N.T. Wright), the author has made a huge case for the ongoing presence and influence of the first eyewitnesses to Jesus, the Christ - both sides of the resurrection. And in particular, in the formation of the books we know as the four Gospels. This is new scholarship, and good. It is time to start rethinking in terms of eyewitness testimony, more so than oral tradition! In the face of many decades of critical scholarship, popular 'unscholarly' novels, and confusion in the pews, this will help many. It has been described as "a remarkable piece of detective work". It will help many to read the Gospels with renewed confidence, and interest, and - reasoned faith! It is a 'must buy' for theological students, scholars, preachers, theologians and pastors. One would hope, and expect that its contents, will come to the awareness of the Christian community, globally, with much enthusiasm. Thanks Richard for the sweat!

Write a review of Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony

• Academic
• Academic >> Biblical Studies
• Academic >> Biblical Studies >> New Testament Studies
• Academic >> Biblical Studies >> New Testament Studies >> Gospels
• Books
• Books >> Biblical Studies
• Books >> Biblical Studies >> New Testament Studies
• Books >> Biblical Studies >> New Testament Studies >> Gospels
• Start A New Christianbook.com Search

I'm the author/artist and I want to review Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony.