Was Jesus a magical cult leader? Was he a revolutionary that failed? Or did the apostle Paul invent him out of a mystical experience? And even if he was a historical figure, how much can we really know about someone who lived two thousand years ago in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire? R. T. France explores these issues by examining in detail the whole range of historical data-from archaeological evidence to other non-Christian sources to Christian writings both inside and outside of the New Testament. With candor and rigor he analyzes modern New Testament scholarship that challenges the biblical record, and sets out a clear and solid case for what the New Testament says about Jesus. This book is valuable resource for those who question or seek to defend the reliability of the Gospels. "It is difficult to praise this work too highly . . . It achieves its purpose of presenting the evidence for Jesus with complete success." Christian Arena R. T. FRANCE has taught at London Bible College and was principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, from 1989-1995. His many books include The Living God, Jesus the Radical and Jesus and the Old Testament. He is also the author of Matthew in the Tyndale New Testament Commentary series.