“Fredriksen has achieved a magisterial sketch of the evolution of the images of Jesus with astonishing neatness and simplicity. . . . A learned, brilliant and enjoyable study of the genesis of the New Testament images of Jesus.”—Géza Vermès, Times Literary Supplement “A landmark book on Christianity.”—International Review of Biblical Studies “Fredriksen confronts her documents—principally the writings of the New Testament—as an archaeologist would an especially rich complex site. With great care she distinguishes the literary images from historical fact. As she does so, she explains the images of Jesus in terms of the strategies and purposes of the writers Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.”—Thomas D’Evelyn, Christian Science Monitor “I can tell you what I liked about it: its sense of scholarship and a becoming intellectual modesty; its strong sensitivity to the Jewish matrix out of which Jesus emerged; and the care with which she made this work accessible to the general reader. She not only writes well but supplies us with bibliographies, suggested readings, indices of both the scriptures and of ancient sources in addition to a thorough general index of names and subjects. It is always a pleasure to open a book which keeps the reader’s needs so firmly in mind.”—Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal “A more than usually competent and stimulating survey course textbook. . . . The summary expositions of the New Testament texts provide a fair and adequate summary of principal emphases in these writings, with a good proportion of shrewd observation. . . . Insightful and lively style. . . . This book provides a helpful framework and should provoke a good deal of questioning and discussion. And what more can we ask?”—James D. G. Dunn, Journal of Theological Studies “This extraordinarily well-written and exciting book is a reconception of the causes and motivations operative in the early Christian movement, a new rationale of the sequence of probable events. It will be fascinating for all kinds of readers.”—Wayne Meeks