INTRODUCTION.

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

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§ 1.	Inevitable rise of different modes of explaining sacred histories							39
2.	Different explanations of sacred legends among the Greeks							40
3.	Allegorical interpretations among the Hebrews. Philo							41
4.	Allegorical interpretations among the Christians. Origen							41
5.	Transition to more modern times. Deists and Naturalists of the 17th and 18th centuries. The WolfenbÜttel Fragmentist							44
6.	Natural mode of explanation adopted by the Rationalists. Eichhorn. Paulus							46
7.	Moral interpretation of Kant							50
8.	Rise of the mythical mode of interpreting the sacred history, in reference first to the Old Testament							52
9.	The mythical mode of interpretation in reference to the New Testament							57
10.	The notion of the mythus in its application to sacred histories not clearly apprehended by theologians							59
11.	The application of the notion of the mythus too circumscribed							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 considered on internal grounds							75
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 of the narrative							100
19.	Mythical view of the narrative in its different stages							104

[34]

CHAPTER II.

DAVIDICAL DESCENT OF JESUS, ACCORDING TO THE GENEALOGICAL TABLES OF MATTHEW AND LUKE.

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

CHAPTER III.

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

§ 23.	Sketch of the different canonical and apocryphal accounts							119
24.	Disagreements of the canonical gospels in relation to the form of the annunciation							121
25.	Import of the angel’s message. Fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah							126
26.	Jesus begotten of the Holy Ghost. Criticism of the orthodox opinion							130
27.	Retrospect of the genealogies							132
28.	Natural explanation of the history of the conception							137
29.	History of the conception of Jesus viewed as a mythus							140
30.	Relation of Joseph to Mary. Brothers of Jesus							143
31.	Visit of Mary to Elizabeth							148

CHAPTER IV.

BIRTH AND EARLIEST EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

§ 32.	The census							152
33.	Particular circumstances of the birth of Jesus. 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 Magi. Transition to the mythical explanation							169
36.	The purely mythical explanation of the narrative 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							178
38.	The presentation of Jesus in the temple							181
39.	Retrospect. Difference between Matthew and Luke as to the original residence of the parents of Jesus							184

CHAPTER V.

THE FIRST VISIT TO THE TEMPLE, AND THE EDUCATION OF JESUS.

§ 40.	Jesus, when twelve years old, in the temple							191
41.	This narrative also mythical							196
42.	On the external life of Jesus up to the time of his public appearance							198
43.	The intellectual development of Jesus							201

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SECOND PART.

HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS.

CHAPTER I.

RELATIONS BETWEEN JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST.

§ 44.	Chronological relations between John and Jesus							209
45.	Appearance and design of the Baptist. His personal relations with Jesus							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							230
48.	The execution of John the Baptist							234

CHAPTER II.

BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

§ 49.	Why did Jesus receive baptism from John?							237
50.	The scene at the baptism of Jesus considered as supernatural, and as natural							239
51.	An attempt at a criticism and mythical interpretation of the narratives							242
52.	Relation of the supernatural at the baptism of Jesus to the supernatural in his conception							247
53.	Place and time of the temptation of Jesus. Divergencies of the evangelists on this subject							249
54.	The history of the temptation conceived in the sense of the evangelists							252
55.	The temptation considered as a natural occurrence either internal or external; and also as a parable							255
56.	The history of the temptation as a mythus							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							264
58.	The residence of Jesus at Capernaum							271
59.	Divergencies of the Evangelists as to the chronology of the life of Jesus. Duration of his public ministry							275
60.	The attempts at a chronological arrangement of the particular events in the public life of Jesus							278

CHAPTER IV.

JESUS AS THE MESSIAH.

§ 61.	Jesus, the Son of Man							281
62.	How soon did Jesus conceive himself to be the Messiah, and find recognition as such from others?							284
63.	Jesus, the Son of God							288
64.	The divine mission and authority of Jesus. His pre-existence							291
65.	The messianic plan of Jesus. Indications of a political element							293
66.	Data for the pure spirituality of the messianic plan of Jesus. Balance							295
67.	The relation of Jesus to the Mosaic law							297
68.	Scope of the messianic plan of Jesus. Relation to the Gentiles							300
69.	Relation of the messianic plan of Jesus to the Samaritans. His interview with the woman of Samaria							303

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CHAPTER V.

THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS.

§ 70.	Calling of the first companions of Jesus. Difference between the first two Evangelists and the fourth							309
71.	Peter’s draught of fishes							315
72.	Calling of Matthew. Connexion of Jesus with the publicans							319
73.	The twelve apostles							323
74.	The twelve considered individually. The three or four most confidential disciples of Jesus							326
75.	The rest of the twelve, and the seventy disciples							330

CHAPTER VI.

THE DISCOURSES OF JESUS IN THE THREE FIRST GOSPELS.

§ 76.	The Sermon on the Mount							334
77.	Instructions to the twelve. Lamentations over the Galilean cities. Joy over the calling of the simple							342
78.	The parables							345
79.	Miscellaneous instructions and controversies of Jesus							355

CHAPTER VII.

DISCOURSES OF JESUS IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL.

§ 80.	Conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus							365
81.	The discourses of Jesus, John v.–xii.							371
82.	Isolated maxims of Jesus, common to the fourth gospel and the synoptical ones							377
83.	The modern discussions on the authenticity of the discourses in the Gospel of John. Result							381

CHAPTER VIII.

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

§ 84.	General comparison of the manner of narration that distinguishes the several Evangelists							387
85.	Isolated groups of anecdotes. Imputation of a league with Beelzebub, and demand of a sign							391
86.	Visit of the mother and brethren of Jesus. The woman who pronounces the mother of Jesus blessed							394
87.	Contentions for pre-eminence among the disciples. The love of Jesus for children							396
88.	The purification of the temple							399
89.	Narratives of the anointing of Jesus by a woman							402
90.	The narratives of the woman taken in adultery, and of Mary and Martha							409

CHAPTER IX.

MIRACLES OF JESUS.

§ 91.	Jesus considered as a worker of miracles							413
92.	The demoniacs, considered generally							415
93.	Cases of the expulsion of demons by Jesus, considered singly							423
94.	Cures of lepers							437
95.	Cures of the blind							441
96.	Cures of paralytics. Did Jesus regard diseases as punishments? [37]							452
§ 97.	Involuntary cures							457
98.	Cures at a distance							462
99.	Cures on the sabbath							471
100.	Resuscitations of the dead							476
101.	Anecdotes having relation to the sea							496
102.	The miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes							507
103.	Jesus turns water into wine							519
104.	Jesus curses a barren fig-tree							527

CHAPTER X.

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

§ 105.	The transfiguration of Jesus considered as a miraculous external event							535
106.	The natural explanation of the narrative in various forms							537
107.	The history of the transfiguration considered as a mythus							540
108.	Diverging accounts concerning the last journey of Jesus to Jerusalem							546
109.	Divergencies of the gospels, in relation to the point from which Jesus made his entrance into Jerusalem							549
110.	More particular circumstances of the entrance. Its object and historical reality							553

THIRD PART.

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

CHAPTER I.

RELATION OF JESUS TO THE IDEA OF A SUFFERING AND DYING MESSIAH; HIS DISCOURSES ON HIS DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND SECOND ADVENT.

§ 111.	Did Jesus in precise terms predict his passion and death?							563
112.	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							567
113.	Precise declarations of Jesus concerning his future resurrection							574
114.	Figurative discourses, in which Jesus is supposed to have announced his resurrection							576
115.	The discourses of Jesus on his second advent. Criticism of the different interpretations							582
116.	Origin of the discourses on the second advent							591

CHAPTER II.

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

§ 117.	Development of the relation of Jesus to his enemies							599
118.	Jesus and his betrayer							602
119.	Different opinions concerning the character of Judas, and the motives of his treachery							607
120.	Preparation for the passover							611
121.	Divergent statements respecting the time of the last supper							614
122.	Divergencies in relation to the occurrences at the last meal of Jesus							621
123.	Announcement of the betrayal and the denial							626
124.	The institution of the Lord’s supper							631

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CHAPTER III.

RETIREMENT TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, ARREST, TRIAL, CONDEMNATION, AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

§ 125.	Agony of Jesus in the garden							635
126.	Relation of the fourth gospel to the events in Gethsemane. The farewell discourses in John, and the scene following the announcement of the Greeks							640
127.	Arrest of Jesus							649
128.	Examination of Jesus before the high priest							653
129.	The denial by Peter							658
130.	The death of the betrayer							662
131.	Jesus before Pilate and Herod							669
132.	The crucifixion							677

CHAPTER IV.

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

§ 133.	Prodigies attendant on the death of Jesus							691
134.	The wound by a spear in the side of Jesus							697
135.	Burial of Jesus							701
136.	The watch at the grave of Jesus							705
137.	First tidings of the resurrection							709
138.	Appearances of the risen Jesus in Galilee and in Judea, including those mentioned by Paul and by apocryphal writings							718
139.	Quality of the body and life of Jesus after the resurrection							728
140.	Debates concerning the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus							735

CHAPTER V.

THE ASCENSION.

§ 141.	The last commands and promises of Jesus							745
142.	The so-called ascension considered as a supernatural and as a natural event							749
143.	Insufficiency of the narratives of the ascension. Mythical conception of those narratives							752

CONCLUDING DISSERTATION.

THE DOGMATIC IMPORT OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

§ 144.	Necessary transition from criticism to dogma							757
145.	The Christology of the orthodox system							758
146.	Objections to the Christology of the church							764
147.	The Christology of rationalism							767
148.	The eclectic Christology of Schleiermacher							768
149.	Christology interpreted symbolically. Kant. De Wette							773
150.	The speculative Christology							777
151.	Last dilemma							778
152.	Relation of the critical and speculative theology to the church							781