Assignment 2: the Historical Jesus

Read the following gospel passages: Matthew 1:18-2:23; John, chapter 1; Matthew 5:21-48; Mark, chapters 13-16, and Van Voorst, Readings in Christianity, pages 282-283. After you read each segment, ponder the following questions:

1. How does each gospel segment portray Jesus and his message? Jot down the major characteristics you find in each passage.

2. Why did Schweitzer believe that the quest for "the historical Jesus" was doomed to failure? Was he right?

3. Based on these passages, do you find one or many Jesuses depicted?

Write a two page (typed and double-spaced) short essay responding to Schweitzer's points and using evidence from the gospel passages to demonstrate your point of view.