The life of Jesus

Front matter

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Preface

TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION.

It appeared to the author of the work, the first half of which is herewith submitted to the public, that it was time to substitute a new mode of considering the life of Jesus, in the place of the antiquated systems of supranaturalism and naturalism. This application of the term antiquated will in the present day be more readily admitted in relation to the latter system than to the former. For while the interest excited by the explanations of the miracles and the conjectural facts of the rationalists has long ago cooled, the commentaries now most read are those which aim to adapt the supernatural interpre. tation of the sacred history to modern taste. Nevertheless, in point of fact, the orthodox view of this history became superannuated earlier than the rationalistic, since it was only because the former had ceased to satisfy an advanced state of culture, that the latter was developed, while the recent attempts to recover, by the aid of a mystical philosophy, the supernatural point of view held by our forefathers, betray themselves, by the exaggerating spirit in which they are conceived, to be final, desperate efforts to render the past present, the inconceivable conceivable.

The new point of view, which must take the place of the above, is the mythical. This theory is not brought to bear on the evangelical history for the first time in the present work: it has long been applied to particular parts of that history, and is here only extended to its entire tenor. It is not by any means meant that the whole history of Jesus is to be represented as mythical, but only that every part of it is to be subjected to a critical examination, to ascertain whether it have not some admixture of the mythical. The exegesis of the ancient church set out from the double presupposition : first, that the gospels contained a history, and secondly, that this history was a supernatural one. Rationalism rejected the latter of these presuppositions, but only to cling the more tenaciously to the former, maintaining that these books present | unadulterated, though only natural, history. Science cannot rest satisfied with this halfmeasure : the other presupposition also must ber elinquished, and the inquiry must first be made whether in fact, and to what extent, the ground on which we stand in the gospels is historical. This is the natural course of ‘things, and thus far the appearance of a work like the present 15 not only justifiable, but even necessary.

xxix

XXX PREFACE TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION.

It is certainly’ not therefore evident that the author is precisely the individual whose vocation it is to appear in this position. He has a very vivid consciousness that many others would have been able to execute such a work with incomparably superior erudition. Yet on the other hand he believes himself to be at least possessed of one qualification which especially fitted him to undertake this task. The majority of the most learned and acute theologians of the present day fail in the main requirement for such a work, a requirement without which no amount of learning will suffice to achieve anything in the domain of criticism—namely, the internal liberation of the feelings and intellect from certain religious and dogmatical-presuppositions; and this the author early attained by means of philosophical studies. If theologians regard this absence of presupposition from his work, as unchristian: he regards the believing presuppositions of theirs as unscientific. Widely as in this respect the tone of the present work may be contrasted with the edifying devoutness and enthusiastic mysticism of recent books on similar subjects ; still it will nowhere depart from the seriousness of science, or sink into frivolity ; and it seems a just demand in return, that the judgments which are passed upon it should also confine themselves to the domain of science, and keep aloof from bigotry and fanaticism. ;

The author is aware that the ‘essence of the Christian faith is perfectly independent of his criticism. The supernatural birth of Christ, his miracles, his resurrection and ascension, remain eternal truths, whatever doubts may be cast on their reality as historical facts. The certainty of this can alone give calmness and dignity to our criticism, and distinguish it from the naturalistic criticism of the last century, the design of which was, with the historical fact, to subvert also the religious truth, and which thus necessarily became frivolous. A dissertation at the close of the work will show that the dogmatic significance of the life of Jesus remains inviolate: in the meantime let the calmness and insensibility with which, in the course of it, criticism undertakes apparently dangerous operations, be explained solely by the security of the author’s conviction that no injury is threatened to the Christian faith. Investigations of this kind may, however, inflict a wound on the faith of individuals. Should this be the case with theologians, they have in their science the means of healing such wounds, from which, if they would not remain behind the development of their age, they cannot possibly be exempt. For the laity the subject is certainly not adequately prepared; and for this reason the present work is so framed, that at least the unlearned among them will quickly and often perceive that the book is not destined for them. If from curiosity or excessive zeal against heresy they persist in their perusal, they will then have, as Schleiermacher says on a similar occasion, to bear the punishment in their conscience, since their feelings directly urge on them the conviction that they understand not that of which they are ambitious to speak.

A new opinion, which aims to fill the place of an older one, ought fully to adjust its position with respect to the latter. Hence the way to the mythical view is here taken in each particular point through the supranaturalistic and rationalistic opinions and their respective refutations ; but, as becomes a valid ἃ

PREFACE TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION, Xxxi refutation, with an acknowledgment of what is true in the opinions combated, and an adoption of this truth into the new theory. This method also brings with it the extrinsic advantage, that the work may now serve as a repertory of the principal opinions and treatises concerning all parts of the evangelical history. The author has not, however, aimed to give a complete bibliographical view of this department of theological literature, but, where it was possible, has adhered to the chief works in each separate class of opinions. For the rationalistic system the works of Paulus remain classical, and are therefore pre-eminently referred to ; for the orthodox opinions, the commentary of Olshausen is especially important, as the most recent and approved attempt to render the supranatural interpretation philosophical and modern ; while as a preliminary to a critical investigation of the life of Jesus, the commentaries of Fritzsche are excellently adapted, since they exhibit, together with uncommon philological learning, that freedom from prejudice and scientific indifference to results and consequences, which form the first condition of progress in this region of inquiry.

The second volume, which will open with a detailed examination of the miracles of Jesus, and which will conclude the whole work, is already prepared and will be in the press immediately on the completion of the first.

THE AUTHOR.

Tiibingen, 24th May, 1835.

PREFACE

TO THE FOURTH GERMAN EDITION.

As this new edition of my critical examination of the life of Jesus appears simultaneously with the first volume of my Dogmazih, it will not be expected to contain any essential alterations. Indeed, even in the absence of other labours, I should scarcely have been inclined to undertake such on the present occasion. The critical researches prompted by the appearance of my work have, after the stormy reaction of the first few years, at length entered on that quiet course, which promises the most valuable assistance towards the confirmation and more precise determination of the negative results at which I have arrived. But these fruits still require some years for their maturing ; and it must therefore be deferred to a future opportunity to enrich this work by the use of them. I could not persuade myself to do so, at least in the present instance, by prosecuting a polemic against opposite opinions. Already in the last edition there was more of a polemical character than accorded with the unity and calmness proper to such a work; hence I was in this respect admonished rather to abridge than to amplify. “But that edition also contained too much of compliance. The intermingling voices of opponents, critics, and fellow labourers, to which I held it a duty attentively to listen, had confused the idea of the work in my mind; in the diligent comparison of divergent opinions I had lost sight of the subject itself. Hence on coming with a more collected mind to this last revision, I found alterations at which I could not but wonder, and by which I had evidently done myself injustice. In all these passages the earlier readings are now restored, and thus my labour in this new edition has chiefly consisted in whetting, as it were, my good sword, to free it from the notches made in it rather by my own grinding, than by the blows of my enemies.

THE AUTHOR.

Stuttgard, 17th October, 1840.

xxxii

Introduction

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MYTHICAL POINT OF VIEW IN RELATION TO THE GOSPEL HISTORIES.

§ 1. Inevitable rise of different modes of explaining sacred histories . ᾿ ἢ « 6 2. Different explanations of sacred legends among the Greeks. : ‘ ἢ . 40 3. Allegorical interpretations among the Hebrews, Philo. 3 ‘ 3 « i 4. Allegorical interpretations among the Christians. Origen . ὺ 41 5. Transition to more modern times. Deists and Naturalists of the ir au 18th

centuries, The Wolfenbiittel Fragmentist . ἢ » 44

6. Natural mode of explanation adopted by the Rationalists. Pte, Pauls, - 46

7. Moral interpretation of Kant . é ὲ 50 8. Rise of the mythical mode of sie aa the carted history; ἢ in τοίξεειισε first to

the Old Testament . . ᾿ 3) 52

g. The mythical mode of interpretation in τείειζηθὸ to the New Testament : . 7 to. The notion of the mythus in its application to sacred histories not clearly appre-

11. The application of the notion of the myths too citenmsecbed ‘i 3 " ες 63

12. Opposition to the mythical view of the Gospel history ᾿ 65 13. The possibility of the existence of mythi in the New Testament considered in

reference to external evidences. : . 69

14. The possibility of mythi in the New Testament τοί! δ δυβα ἢ on invernal, aounds : 95

15. Definition of the evangelical mythus, and its distinctive characteristics : . 86

16. Criteria by which to distinguish the unhistorical in the Gospel narrative. . 87

FIRST PART.

HISTORY OF THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS.

Chapter I. Annunciation And Birth Of John The Baptist

§ 17. Account given by Luke. Immediate supernatural character of the representation 95 18. Natural explanation ς of the narrative Ε ᾧ .

19. Mythical view of the narrative in its different Haws : i τ Γ 2 : 104 xxxii Cc

XXxiv CONTENTS,

Chapter II

DAVIDICAL DESCENT OF JESUS, ACCORDING TO THE GENEALOGICAL TABLES OF MATTHEW

AND LUKE.

PAGE § 20. The two genealogies of Jesus considered separately and irrespectively of one another. . . . . . . Ξ : ‘ . 108 1. Comparison of the two genealogies. Attempt to reconcile their contradictions . 112 22. The genealogies unhistorical : ‘ . . ‘ . . 117

CHAPTER ΠῚ.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONCEPTION OF JESUS,—ITS SUPERNATURAL CHARACTER.— VISIT OF MARY TO ELIZABETH.

§ 23. Sketch of the different canonical and apocryphal accounts . ὃ 11 24. Disagreements of the canonical gospels in relation to the form of the: anmiituiciation 121 25. Import of the angel’s message. Fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah Ξ . 126 26. Jesus begotten of the Holy Ghost. Criticism of the orthodox opinion . 130 27. Retrospect of the genealogies . Ε . . : . : . 132 28. Natural explanation of the history of the conception : 3 et > ὦ Ἢ . 137 29. History of the conception of Jesus viewed asa mythus . ὶ : " . 140 30. Relation of Joseph to Mary. Brothers of Jesus . ὗ ‘ ξ ‘ . 143 31. Visit of Mary to Elizabeth . . ὃ ὃ : : ‘ . - . 148

Chapter IV. Birth And Earliest Events Of The Life Of Jesus

§ 32. Thecensus . . . ‘ : . 152 533: Particular dreimistances of the bith ar Festa The ¢ circumcision . 156 34. The Magi and their star. The flight into Egypt, and the murder of the children in Bethlehem. Criticism of the supranaturalistic view . ᾿ . 162

.35. Attempts at a natural explanation of the history of the oe ‘Transition re the mythical explanation . ξ ᾿ ὡ 169

36. The purely mythical explanation of the iaturive concerning the Magi, and of the events with which it is connected . 173

37. Chronological relation between the visit of the Magi, together with the flight into Egypt, and the presentation in the temple recorded by Luke . ‘i . 178 38. The presentation of Jesus in the temple . 5 . 181

39. Retrospect. Difference between Matthew and. Like as to the oriinal pestdence of the parents of Jesus . ‘ ᾿ Ξ ᾿ ᾿ 4 5 ‘3 ᾿ . 184

Chapter V. The First Visit To The Temple, And The Education Of Jesus

§ 40. Jesus, when twelve years old, in the aa ap F ᾿ : ἕ : . 91 41. This narrative also mythical. : ὲ . 196 42. On the external life of Jesus up to the time of Εἰς pubis appearance ᾿ 2 . 198

Ras

CONTENTS. XXXV

SECOND PART.

HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS,

Chapter I Relations Between Jesus And John The Baptist. Pag

§ 44. Chronological relations between John and Jesus Σ : 209 45. Appearance and design of the Baptist. His personal τὐϊα δὴς with πῶς ‘ . 214 46. Was Jesus acknowledged by John as the Messiah? and in what sense? . . 219 47. Opinion of the evangelists and of Jesus concerning the Baptist, with his own

judgment of himself. Result of the inquiry into the relationship between these two individuals . " 2 ᾿ ᾿ ᾿ ῖ 5 ᾽ Ἧ 230 48. The execution of John the Baptist . : : x 3 . ᾿ . a 234 CHAPTER II.

BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

§ 49. Why did Jesus receive baptism from John? . é . 237 50. The scene at the baptism of Jesus considered as guperuseiial, δρᾶ as παϊαραϊ . 239 51. An attempt at a criticism and mythical interpretation of the narratives. 242 52. Relation of the ama at the baptism of Jesus to the supernatural in his

conception . . 7 247 53. Place and time of the ein plation of Jens. Divergencis of the evangelisté on this subject . ᾿ . . 249 54. The history of the ἜΤ enced in . the sense of the εὐδορέιίεις ἢ .- 252 55. The temptation considered as a natural occurrence either internal or external ; and also asa parable . é . Ἢ ‘ ᾿ ; 4 . 255 56. The history of the temptation as a raves . : ἢ ᾧ . ᾿ . 259 CHAPTER III.

LOCALITY AND CHRONOLOGY OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS. § 57. Difference between the synoptical writers and John, as to the customary scene of the ministry of Jesus 7 ᾿ ὡ : Ξ Ἢ . 264 58. The residence of Jesus at αρετπδιπὶ . a (271 59. Divergencies of the Evangelists as to the chisaplegy af the life ef ‘ests Duration of his public ministry . 275 60. The attempts at « chronological αὐξαδοπίξαι of ἴδε particular eventest in tlie public life of Jesus ᾿ ᾿ . : τ . 278 CHAPTER IV.

JESUS AS THE MESSIAH. § 61. Jesus, the Son of Man. . ὃ 281 62. How soon did Jesus conceive werd to be tie lessiahs ad find εὐροξῆϊοοῇ as such from others? " . : 3 ὰ ᾿ ᾽ " . . . 284 . Jesus, the Son of God ‘ 3 : 3 . : : . 288 . The divine mission and authority of Jesus. His pre-existence . . ἢ . 291 . The messianic plan of Jesus. Indications of a political element 2 : . 293 . Data for the pure spirituality of the messianic plan of Jesus. Balance. » 295 . The relation of Jesus to the Mosaic law ᾿ 297 Scope of the messianic plan of Jesus. Relation to the Gentiles. + τ᾿. 300 Relation of the messianic plan of Jesus to the Samaritans. His interview with : ’ 303 ae the woman of Samaria.

XXxvi CONTENTS.

§ 80. 81. 82. 83.

§ 84.

- Peter’s draught of fishes . . Calling of Matthew. Corinexion of yesus adh the pabieane . The twelve apostles. ' : : : : . . The twelve considered individually The thee or faite most confidential

CHAPTER V.

THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS.

. Calling of the first companions of Jesus. Difference between the first two Evangelists and the fourth .

.

disciples of Jesus . . : The rest of the twelve, and the sevens disiples

CHAPTER VI.

THE DISCOURSES OF JESUS IN THE THREE FIRST GOSPELS.

. The Sermon onthe Mount . 5 ‘ Γ ᾿ ᾿ ‘ i . Instructions to the twelve. Lamentations over the Galilean cities.

the calling of the simple. : ᾿ .

. The parables . . Miscellaneous destmactions and canteavenaes of jens

CHAPTER VII.

DISCOURSES OF JESUS IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL.

Conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus . . 7 3 The discourses of Jesus, John v.—xii.

Isolated maxims of Jesus, common to the ΠῚ δόξρδι ἀπῇ the αὐπορί δα, ones. The modern discussions’ on the authenticity of the discourses in the Gospel of

John. Result. a . . : . .

CHAPTER VIII.

EVENTS IN THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS, EXCLUSIVE OF THE MIRACLES,

General comparison of the manner of narration that distinguishes the several

. Isolated groups of aneedotes: Imputation of a league with Beelzebub, and demand of a sign ‘ ‘ i

. Visit of the mother and brethren of Jesus: The woman who pronounces the mother of Jesus blessed

Contentions for pre-eminence among the Altsciples: The love of Jesus for children. ἢ ἄντ ῳ zi ἴ : 3 The purification of the temple.

. Narratives of the anointing of Jesus by a woman ‘ . The narratives of the woman taken in adultery, and of Mary and Martha :

CHAPTER ΙΧ,

MIRACLES OF JESUS.

-

. Jesus considered as a worker of miracles .

. The demoniacs, considered generally

. Cases of the expulsion of demons by Jesus, eousderd ΓΕ

. Cures of the blind . r . .

. Cures of paralytics. Did Jesus regard diseanes as punishments?

PAGE

309 315 319 323

326 330

342 345 355

365 371 377

387 391 394

396 399 402 409

413 415 423 437 441 452

RELATION OF JESUS TO THE IDEA OF A SUFFERING AND DYING MESSIAH; HIS

§ 111.

113. 114.

115. 116.

CONTENTS. XXKV

. Involuntary cures

. Cures at a distance . :

. Cures on the sabbath

. Resuscitations of the dead

. Anecdotes having relation to the sea.

. The miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fates . Jesus turns water into wine’.

. Jesus curses a barren fig-tree

CHAPTER X.

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS, AND HIS LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.

. The transfiguration of Jesus considered as a miraculous external event

. The natural explanation of the narrative in various forms

. The history of the transfiguration considered as a mythus ᾿

. Diverging accounts concerning the last journey of Jesus to Jerusalem

. Divergencies of the gospels, in relation to the saad from which Jesus made iis entrance into Jerusalem

. More particular circumstances of the entrance. Its asbect and historical reality

THIRD PART.

HISTORY OF THE PASSION, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

CHAPTER I.

COURSES ON HIS DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND SECOND ADVENT.

Did Jesus in precise terms predict his passion and death ? 2 : " The predictions of Jesus concerning his death in general ; their relation to the Jewish idea of the Messiah ; declarations of Jesus concerning’ the object and effects of his death . . . Ὁ Precise declarations of Jesus concerning his fain pouumedion. ν . Figurative discourses, in which Jesus is supposed to have απησαἠῥοα his resurrection δ . . . .

The discourses of Jems on μῖς gecdudl advent. + Criticism of ‘the different interpretations . . . . . . .

Origin of the discover on the second ἀάγξηϊ. ‘ i ‘ : ᾿ ξ

Chapter II

ee me

535 537 540 546

549 553

DIS-

563 567 574 576

582 591

MACHINATIONS OF THE ENEMIES OF JESUS; TREACHERY OF JUDAS; LAST SUPPER WITH

THE DISCIPLES.

Development of the relation of Jesus to his enemies

Jesus and his betrayer . A .

Different opinions concerning the chavapier of Judes, and the motives a his treachery . : ᾿ 3 ᾿ ἃ ᾿ ᾿

Preparation for the. paciovel ὃ ᾿

Divergent statements respecting fre (ine of the Ιαεὲ etapa

Divergencies in relation to the occurrences at the last meal of Jesus. Announcement of the betrayal and the denial . ; : ; . : . The institution of the Lord’s supper

599 602

607 611 614 621 626 631

XXXViii CONTENTS.