Jesus in Contemporary Historical Research.

Philadelphia, PA Fortress Press, 1976. Hardcover First Edition [1976], unstated. Very Good+ in Near Fine DJ: The Book shows indications of careful use: slight spine lean; minimal shelving wear along the bottom edge of the boards; the binding remains secure; the text is clean. The DJ shows only the mildest rubbing; the price is intact; mylar-protected. Overall, remains structurally sound and tightly bound, showing minimal wear: clean, sturdy, and quite presentable. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. (9.1 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches). viii, 167 pages. Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds. First Edition [1976], unstated. Hardback with DJ. This is a short work by the ecumenical giant Aulen. He writes in a clear, straightforward manner. One which is accessible to the average layman with at least a high school education. Keep in mind this is the English translation of the Swedish 2nd edition of 1974, published in 1976. (The 1st Swedish ed. was in 1970.) Aulen was originally a professor of dogmatics in 1913 at Lund University before becoming the Bishop of Strangnas in the Lutheran Church of Sweden from 1933-1952. He was born in 1879 and died in 1977. So this was his last major work. His influential 1-vol. work on systematic theology, The Christian Faith, was published in 5 Swedish (first in 1923) and 2 English editions (first in 1948, second in 1960). He is best known for his famous 1930 work on the atonement, Christus Victor. The primary purpose of the work is to look at the 20th century research, mostly post-1960, addressing what we can know about Jesus, his life and his work. So Aulen summarizes, with his many years of wisdom, the work of others and then ties it together. Major authors and works studied include: Herbert Braun, Jesus (1969); W.D. Davies, The Sermon on the Mount (1966); C.H. Dodd, The Founder of Christianity (1970); Birger Gerhardsson; Joachim Jeremias, New Testament Theology (1971) & The Parables of Jesus (1972); and Ulrich Wilckens, amongst many others. His conclusion is essentially that even though there are many scholars who use different methodologies and reach different conclusions, regardless we still have a pretty good basic picture of who Jesus was and what he was doing. Such that even the most modern man of the 20th century, if he just would study the evidence, can reach the same conclusion and accept his reality. Of course, this is just a start, for all this sort of research can "prove" is that Jesus existed and had a clear message involving who he was and what he came to do. But that leaves modern man far better off than just doubting.