This Companion takes as its starting point the realization that Jesus of Nazareth cannot be studied purely as a subject of ancient history, 'a man like any other man'. History, literature, theology and the dynamic of a living, worldwide religious reality, all appropriately impinge on the study of Jesus. The two parts of the book roughly correspond to the interdependent tasks of historical description and critical and theological reflection. It incorporates the most up-to-date historical work on Jesus the Jew with the 'bigger issues' of critical method, the story of Christian faith and study, and Jesus in a global church and in the encounter with Judaism and Islam. Written by seventeen leading international scholars, the book encourages students of the historical Jesus to discover the vital contribution of theology, and students of doctrine to engage the Christ of faith as Jesus the first-century Jew.

‘… this book does not offer any startlingly new interpretations of Jesus, and is a far more reliable guide than many that do.’

Source: The Times Literary Supplement

‘… for readers with a sufficient depth of interest … it will be an introduction to a very wide range of sources and ideas. Its essays go far beyond the scope of even the fullest ‘reference books’, in the usual sense of the term …’.

Source: Contemporary Review

‘… the contributors … aim responsibly to inform non-specialists. Students will also benefit from perusing them. Theological libraries at all levels will want this work … This Companion will give pleasure to many …’.

Source: Theological Book Review

‘The audacious claim of a ‘Companion to Jesus’ is tantalizingly realized by this volume.'

Henry Wansbrough Source: Religion and Theology

‘Speaking personally, this collection will draw me back time and again to wrestle with the issues raised. It can be read with profit by students and interested lay people alike and I commend it warmly.’

Howard C. Bigg Source: Biblical Studies

‘Here is a … consistent attempt to take the historicality of Jesus seriously and to integrate it with orthodox Christian tradition.’

Source: The Heythrop Journal