The Life of Jesus Critically Examined


Read by Leni

(4.6 stars; 11 reviews)

Strauss was an early pioneer in the ongoing 'Quest of the Historical Jesus' movement, and his Life of Jesus is one of the few landmarks in the field. The first edition of Strauss' book was published in Germany in 1835, when he was only 27 years old. He focused his attention on battling two theological fronts which were current at the time - the biblical Literalists who believed the miracles in the Gospels were to be taken as literal history, and the Rationalists, who believed that the Gospel miracles were true but could be explained by natural and rational causes. Strauss rejected both camps and, in a historical analysis of the Gospels that was scrupulous and exhaustive, concluded that our knowledge of the Historical Jesus is hopelessly buried under layers of legend and myth.

The price that Strauss paid for publication was high – his book scandalized Europe, and cost him his job as Chair of Theology at the University of Zurich, and ultimately his career. Dozens of books, mostly from Germany, were written in rebuttal. The school of Rationalism died in the 19th century, due in no small part to Strauss' criticism. The school of Literalism that Strauss criticized evolved into Fundamentalism in the early 20th century, which was in large part a reaction to the groundbreaking path started by Strauss and his revolutionary book.

Medical missionary Albert Schweitzer described Strauss' Life of Jesus as, "one of the most perfect things in the whole range of learned literature. In over fourteen hundred pages he has not a superfluous phrase; his analysis descends to the minutest details, but he does not lose his way among them; his style is simple and picturesque, sometimes ironical, but always dignified and distinguished". (Introduction by JoeD) (57 hr 51 min)

Chapters

000 - Introduction by Professor Otto Pfleiderer, Latin prologue, Preface 1:03:36 Read by Leni
001 - Introduction §1 Inevitable Rise of Different Modes of Explaning Sacred Hi… 4:21 Read by JoeD
002 - Introduction §2 Different Explanations of Sacred Legends Among the Greeks 3:05 Read by JoeD
003 - Introduction §3 Allegorical Interpretations Among the Hebrews - Philo 3:09 Read by JoeD
004 - Introduction §4 Allegorical interpretations among the Christians - Origen 8:15 Read by JoeD
005 - Introduction §5 Transition to More Modern Times, Deists and Naturalists o… 11:18 Read by JoeD
006 - Introduction §6 Natural Mode of Explanation Adopted by the Rationalists. … 18:19 Read by JoeD
007 - Introduction §7 Moral Interpretation of Kant 5:19 Read by JoeD
008 - Introduction §8 Rise of the mythical mode of interpreting the sacred hist… 21:33 Read by JoeD
009 - Introduciton §9 The mythical mode of interpretation in reference to the N… 8:22 Read by JoeD
010 - Introduction §10 The notion of the mythus in its application to sacred hi… 17:30 Read by JoeD
011 - Introduction §11 The application of the notion of the mythus too circumsc… 9:10 Read by JoeD
012 - Introduction §12 Opposition to the mythical view of the gospel history 15:44 Read by JoeD
013 - Introduction §13 The possibility of the existence of mythi in the New Tes… 27:37 Read by JoeD
014 - Introduction §14 The possibility of mythi in the New Testament considered… 47:48 Read by JoeD
015 - Introduction §15 Definition of the evangelical mythus, and its distinctiv… 5:05 Read by JoeD
016 - Introduction §16 Criteria by which to distinguish the unhistorical in the… 19:24 Read by JoeD
017 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 1 - Annunci… 20:41 Read by JoeD
018 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 1 - Annunci… 15:17 Read by JoeD
019 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 1 - Annunci… 14:20 Read by JoeD
020 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 2 - Davidic… 18:57 Read by JoeD
021 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 2 - Davidic… 18:54 Read by JoeD
022 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 2 - Davidic… 6:24 Read by JoeD
023 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 10:25 Read by JoeD
024 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 20:41 Read by JoeD
025 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 18:19 Read by JoeD
026 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 12:51 Read by JoeD
027 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 18:48 Read by JoeD
028 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 12:56 Read by JoeD
029 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 13:36 Read by JoeD
030 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 24:38 Read by JoeD
031 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 3 - Announc… 14:51 Read by JoeD
032 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 18:48 Read by JoeD
033 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 25:21 Read by JoeD
034 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 32:30 Read by JoeD
035 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 17:39 Read by JoeD
036 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 21:08 Read by JoeD
037 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 13:08 Read by JoeD
038 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 13:28 Read by JoeD
039 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 4 - Birth a… 30:08 Read by JoeD
040 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 5 - The Fir… 21:48 Read by JoeD
041 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 5 - The Fir… 10:42 Read by JoeD
042 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 5 - The Fir… 11:00 Read by JoeD
043 - Part 1 - History of the Birth and Childhood of Jesus, Chapter 5 - The Fir… 21:37 Read by JoeD
044 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 1 - Relations Betwee… 22:43 Read by JoeD
045 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 1 - Relations Betwee… 23:42 Read by JoeD
046 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 1 - Relations Betwee… 52:58 Read by JoeD
047 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 1 - Relations Betwee… 18:38 Read by JoeD
048 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 1 - Relations Betwee… 8:16 Read by JoeD
049 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 11:12 Read by JoeD
050 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 13:32 Read by JoeD
051 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 19:56 Read by JoeD
052 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 11:01 Read by JoeD
053 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 16:02 Read by JoeD
054 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 13:27 Read by JoeD
055 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 15:38 Read by JoeD
056 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 2 - Baptism and Temp… 18:00 Read by JoeD
057 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 3 - Locality and Chr… 37:27 Read by JoeD
058 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 3 - Locality and Chr… 18:11 Read by JoeD
059 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 3 - Locality and Chr… 12:23 Read by JoeD
060 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 3 - Locality and Chr… 10:23 Read by JoeD
061 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 13:08 Read by JoeD
062 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 18:51 Read by JoeD
063 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 15:35 Read by JoeD
064 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 10:58 Read by JoeD
065 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 9:12 Read by JoeD
066 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 9:43 Read by JoeD
067 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 19:21 Read by JoeD
068 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 13:19 Read by JoeD
069 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Mes… 26:39 Read by JoeD
070 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 5 - The Disciples of… 28:16 Read by JoeD
071 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 5 - The Disciples of… 21:24 Read by JoeD
072 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 5 - The Disciples of… 18:39 Read by JoeD
073 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 5 - The Disciples of… 13:43 Read by JoeD
074 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 5 - The Disciples of… 23:23 Read by JoeD
075 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 5 - The Disciples of… 11:54 Read by JoeD
076 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 6 - The Discourses o… 39:54 Read by JoeD
077 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 6 - The Discourses o… 15:56 Read by JoeD
078 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 6 - The Discourses o… 46:04 Read by JoeD
079 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 6 - The Discourses o… 43:45 Read by JoeD
080 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 7 - Discourses of Je… 29:13 Read by JoeD
081 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 7 - Discourses of Je… 26:06 Read by JoeD
082 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 7 - Discourses of Je… 17:51 Read by JoeD
083 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 7 - Discourses of Je… 24:18 Read by JoeD
084 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 23:40 Read by JoeD
085 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 10:00 Read by JoeD
086 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 8:51 Read by JoeD
087 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 13:18 Read by JoeD
088 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 16:09 Read by JoeD
089 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 30:18 Read by JoeD
090 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 8 - Events in the Pu… 16:07 Read by JoeD
091 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 12:40 Read by JoeD
092 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 35:17 Read by JoeD
093 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 1:08:43 Read by JoeD
094 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 20:31 Read by JoeD
095 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 55:13 Read by JoeD
096 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 24:22 Read by JoeD
097 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 24:21 Read by JoeD
098 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 45:05 Read by JoeD
099 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 25:48 Read by JoeD
100 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 1:01:24 Read by JoeD
101 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 33:04 Read by JoeD
102 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 58:11 Read by JoeD
103 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 54:26 Read by JoeD
104 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 38:05 Read by JoeD
105 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 9 - Miracles of Jesu… 36:29 Read by JoeD
106 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 10 - The Transfigura… 10:37 Read by JoeD
107 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 10 - The Transfigura… 17:01 Read by JoeD
108 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 10 - The Transfigura… 24:59 Read by JoeD
109 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 10 - The Transfigura… 14:50 Read by JoeD
110 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 10 - The Transfigura… 16:00 Read by JoeD
111 - Part 2 - History of the Public Life of Jesus Chapter 10 - The Transfigura… 27:01 Read by JoeD
112 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 21:31 Read by JoeD
113 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 29:41 Read by JoeD
114 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 10:39 Read by JoeD
115 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 33:39 Read by JoeD
116 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 39:57 Read by JoeD
117 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 39:14 Read by JoeD
118 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 17:42 Read by JoeD
119 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 22:58 Read by JoeD
120 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 18:25 Read by JoeD
121 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 14:17 Read by JoeD
122 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 33:57 Read by JoeD
123 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 24:56 Read by JoeD
124 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 27:41 Read by JoeD
125 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 14:03 Read by JoeD
126 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 23:19 Read by JoeD
127 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 43:13 Read by JoeD
128 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 18:16 Read by JoeD
129 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 23:27 Read by JoeD
130 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 21:10 Read by JoeD
131 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 30:56 Read by JoeD
132 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 37:11 Read by JoeD
133 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 1:03:28 Read by JoeD
134 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 26:18 Read by JoeD
135 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 20:15 Read by JoeD
136 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 18:37 Read by JoeD
137 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 19:25 Read by JoeD
138 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 42:53 Read by JoeD
139 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 48:33 Read by JoeD
140 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 35:54 Read by JoeD
141 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 41:24 Read by JoeD
142 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 23:02 Read by JoeD
143 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 11:48 Read by JoeD
144 - Part 3 - History of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Chapter… 18:46 Read by JoeD
145 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §144 … 7:24 Read by JoeD
146 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §145 … 31:38 Read by JoeD
147 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §146 … 12:20 Read by JoeD
148 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §147 … 8:18 Read by JoeD
149 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §148 … 23:50 Read by JoeD
150 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §149 … 18:49 Read by JoeD
151 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §150 … 10:05 Read by JoeD
152 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §151 … 13:53 Read by JoeD
153 - Concluding Dissertation - The Dogmatic Import of the Life of Jesus §152 … 16:44 Read by JoeD

Reviews

Important in the History of Biblical Study


(5 stars)

This book is an amazing accomplishment for a brilliant 27 year old theologian. Joe has done a wonderful job of reading it clearly, doesn't rush through it, and keeps it from becoming dry.

Fascinating Translation by George Eliot


(5 stars)

Fascinating Translation by George Eliot Impeccable reading by JoeD of a demanding text.