The Metaphysics of Historical Jesus Research

This book interrogates the theological and philosophical foundations of the Quest for the historical Jesus, taking a multidisciplinary approach to historical Jesus research and making a significant, original contribution to the field. Suitable for students and scholars of New Testament studies and historical Jesus research.

In this book Rowlands interrogates the theological and philosophical foundations of the 'Quest' for the historical Jesus, from Reimarus to the present day, culminating in a call for greater metaphysical transparency and diversity in the discipline.

This multidisciplinary approach to historical Jesus research, drawing on historiography, sociology, philosophy, and theology, makes a significant and original contribution to the field. Part I outlines the implicit role of metaphysical presuppositions in historical methodology by examining the concept of an historiographical worldview. Part II provides an overview of the 'Quest' for the historical Jesus, demonstrating that the disparate historiographical worldviews operative in the 'Quest' evidence a particular shared characteristic, in that they might accurately be described as 'secular.' Rowlands' study concludes with a call for a greater plurality and openness regarding the philosophical and theological presuppositions at work in historical Jesus research. *The Metaphysics of Historical Jesus Research* is of interest to students and scholars working on New Testament studies and historical Jesus research.

Autorentext

Jonathan Rowlands is Graduate Tutor and Lecturer in Theology at St. Mellitus College, UK. This is his first monograph and he has had articles published in Novum Testamentum, Journal of Theological Interpretation, and Journal of Pentecostal Theology.

Inhalt

Part I: Worldview and Historiographical Decision-Making; 1. Theology and History, Then and Now; 2. Defining Metaphysics; 3. The Concept of a Worldview; 4. Worldviews and Historiography; 5. Characterising Secular Scholarship; Part II: Worldviews and Historical Jesus Research; 6. Metaphysics and the First Quest; 7. Metaphysics and the Second Quest; 8. Metaphysics and the Third Quest; 9. Metaphysics and N. T. Wright; 10. Expanding the Boundaries of Historical Jesus Research.