Behold the Man
Essays on the Historical Jesus
Foreword by Craig L. Blomberg
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
After a substantial new essay examining the nature of a properly skeptical historical inquiry into Jesus of Nazareth in the context of contemporary worldviews, from pre-modernism to meta-modernism, Behold the Man presents revised essays on an eclectic range of issues: from how the Epistle of James treats Jesus as Divine within decades of the crucifixion, and an evaluation of recent arguments about the dating of the Fourth Gospel, to debunking claims about Jesus and "ancient aliens," and furthering debate about the resurrection. With a foreword by eminent New Testament scholar Craig L. Blomberg, and extensive recommended resources, Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus represents a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary engagement with historical Jesus studies.
English philosopher Peter S. Williams is an assistant professor in communication and worldviews at NLA University College in Norway. His books include An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory (Wipf & Stock, 2023); A Universe from Someone: Essays on Natural Theology (Wipf & Stock, 2022); Apologetics in 3D: Essays in Apologetics and Spirituality (Wipf & Stock, 2021) and Outgrowing God? A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate (Wipf & Stock, 2020).
“For those who care about evidence, Peter S. Williams here offers us some impressive arguments for the historical reliability of the New Testament account of Jesus. The treatments of the Epistle of James and the Fourth Gospel offer fresh and original points, and Williams summarizes a large swathe of evidence in a clear and responsible manner. Highly recommended.”
—C. Stephen Evans, emeritus university professor of philosophy and humanities, Baylor University
“Peter S. Williams is a quintessential researcher on the historical Jesus, and Behold the Man is the sort of high-quality, rigorous, and fascinating treatise we have come to expect from him. However, what makes this book absolutely unique is Williams’s expertise in philosophy and the deft way he interweaves the two disciplines. The result is a tour de force on the interplay between worldview assumptions and the task of explaining and interpreting historical facts in an objective way.”
—J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
“In this impressive and richly documented volume, Peter S. Williams reexamines the historical Jesus. He draws on archaeological and textual evidence, but also shows time and again how we need rigorous philosophical theorizing to assess the arguments in this debate. His lucid work provides an important contribution to a conversation that merits attention from all those interested in the philosophy of religion and the tenability of the Christian faith.”
—Rik Peels, professor of analytical and interdisciplinary philosophy of religion, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
“Just when I thought that it was virtually impossible to say anything truly unique about the historical Jesus, Peter S. Williams’s book, Behold the Man made its way to me. This is an insightful book that not only demands reading but also rewards re-reading. If you have become jaded about the Quest of the Historical Jesus—as many of us have—I encourage you not only to buy Williams’s collection of essays, but also to read them! I highly recommend this unique book.”
—Robert B. Stewart, professor of philosophy and theology, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary