The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus, edited by James Crossley and Chris Keith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Co. (ISBN: 9780802882707) 2024.

Summary: A prospectus for a new round of “historical Jesus” research: both foundations and research topics.

What was Jesus really like? Can we somehow get behind the gospel accounts and other sources to get at “the real Jesus of history”? Are we left with only a Christ of faith? Albert Schweitzer began this process. More recently, a group of scholars known as “The Jesus Seminar” took up this quest, with others like N.T. Wright as respondents. One of the critiques of all these efforts was that the attempt could be likened to peering down a very deep well only to glimpse a pale reflection of oneself.

The editors of this work, James Crossley and Chris Keith discerned that the time might be right for a new approach. An older generation of scholars was passing on and a newer generation with different concerns was rising. This volume represents a kind of prospectus of what the next quest might look like. In it, the editors and a team of scholars offer both some foundational ideas for a “next quest” and the beginnings of diverse research topics that might be aligned with the foundations.

The editors devote the first part of the book to foundations. Fundamental to their approach is the recognition that it is not possible to get behind source texts. As best as I can describe it (and I apologize if I am in error) is that this is an indirect or oblique approach. Instead of trying to get behind the text, they commend studying the reception history of the texts and how different groups construed Jesus. Likewise, they advocate a social history of quest scholarship. Brandon Massey examines how the social milieu in which it took place shaped portrayals of Jesus. Likewise, Adele Reinhartz advocates that this approach crucially needs to be applied to the Jewishness of Jesus and how that was constructed by the research. Helen K. Bond argues for the gospels being studied in light of what we know of the character of Greek biography.

Chris Keith argues more broadly for going beyond what is behind. Then Mark Goodacre spells out that our sources are like a puzzle with a substantial number of pieces missing and how research on a variety of social backgrounds may uncover some of those pieces. These include the material and visual culture, argues Joan Taylor. Studies of religion, visions and mythmaking may shed light on the gospel accounts.

The second part of the book, “The Beginnings of a Next Quest” includes chapters from a number of scholars representing a wide array of subfields. For example, these include examinations of ancient social networks, synagogue life. armies and soldiers, textiles, sustenance, and economy. In addition, other essays concern embodiment, sexuality, disability, ritual impurity, race, and ethnicity. The latter includes an examination of how whiteness has influenced Jesus scholarship. Finally, essays explore violence, death and apocalypticism. A thought provoking essay by Justin Meggit explore comparative microhistory and the resurrection accounts.

To sum up, this collection lays the groundwork for a new generation of Jesus questing. It does this, not by trying to get behind the gospel texts but by filling missing contextual pieces. Meanwhile it seeks to strip away previous constructions of Jesus and other social biases that prevent us from seeing what is really in the record. We’ll see whether this approach of deconstruction and fresh construction will escape the subjectivity of previous quests. I also wonder whether the wide variety of subfields will offer a coherent, or rather a fragmented and even conflicting picture. But I welcome the jettisoning of the unconstructive “criteria of authenticity” with the colored beads of the Jesus Seminar. Likewise, I appreciate the admission of the flaw of thinking what we see “behind the text” is more important than the text.

Ever since Schweitzer, it seems each scholarly generation has needed to pursue this quest in new forms. Crossley and Keith have framed a compelling prospectus for the next phase. I hope it helps the church “to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.”

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.