Customer Reviews

Jesus and Christian Origins Outside the New Testament

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Frederick Bruce (1910 to 1990) was a biblical scholar in England and highly evangelistic in his religion. He produced dozens of books and authored The Evangelical Quarterly. This book is spared much of his evangelical preaching, and instead focuses on what Bruce did best - scholarship. The book surveys a vast array of literature (Pagan, Josephus, Rabbinical, Moslem, Canonical, Non-Canonical, DSS) to highlight what has been said about Jesus. Much of this literature can be found elsewhere, but Bruce tends to provide lengthier quotes and more explanatory material. His section on the Slavonic Josephus is particularly instructive.

The book is not without its faults. Bruce's discussion of the Roman/Pagan writers assumes that when they spoke about Crestus or Christianity they were talking about Jesus. In fact, Jesus' name never appears in these documents, and Crestus was a generic name used for the "anointed one"

Advanced scholars may find Bruce's survey repetitive, and beginning students may find his material too detailed. But for anyone else, this book would be a valuable addition.