title: A Scandalous Jesus: How Three Historic Quests Changed Theology for the Better
author:  Joseph A. Bessler 
description: Finally a theologian who takes the historical Jesus seriously! Joseph Bessler asks what the work of the Jesus Seminar contributes to the theological task, and, even more, he shows the implied but often unspoken political implications of various theologies of the Christ of faith. An exciting book that offers to set theology on a new and renewing course. --Bernard Brandon Scott, Phillips Theological Seminary<br /><br />Bessler makes an innovative argument about the question of the historical Jesus and he makes it well. He challenges my own skepticism about the historical Jesus, awaking me from my skeptical slumbers. --Clark Williamson Indiana Chair of Christian Thought, emeritus Christian Theological Seminary
zlib_text: Published	by	Icon	Books	Ltd,	Omnibus	Business	Centre,	39–41	North	Road,	London	N7
  9DP
  Email:	info@iconbooks.com
  www.introducingbooks.com
  	
  ISBN:	978-178578-013-4
  Text	copyright	©	2012	Icon	Books	Ltd
  Illustrations	copyright	©	2012	Icon	Books	Ltd
  The	author	and	illustrator	has	asserted	their	moral	rights
  Originating	editor:	Richard	Appignanesi
  No	part	of	this	book	may	be	reproduced	in	any	form,	or	by	any	means,	without	prior
  permission	in	writing	from	the	publisher.
  
  Contents
  Cover
  Title	Page
  Copyright
  The	Nicene	Creed
  What	is	the	Nicene	Creed?
  Jesus	of	Nazareth
  The	Evidence	that	Jesus	Existed
  Jesus	of	History
  Chapter	and	Verse
  Fact,	Fiction	or	Drama	Documentary?
  Judaism	at	the	time	of	Jesus
  Old	Testament	Judaism
  A	Messiah	for	the	Rebels
  A	Messiah	for	the	World’s	End
  Pharisees	and	Sadducees
  The	Essenes
  Was	Jesus	an	Essene?
  The	Wisdom	of	the	Greeks
  New	Gods,	New	Philosophies
  Preaching	Foolishness?
  The	Quest	for	the	Historical	Jesus
  The	Gospel	Accounts
  The	Last	Supper
  What	did	Jesus	preach