The aim of this book is to help thoughtful readers of the gospels todiscern more clearly the features of him whom those writings inimitablyportray. It is avowedly a study rather than a story, and as a companion tothe reading of the gospels it seeks to answer some of the questions whichare raised by a sympathetic consideration of those narratives. Theseanswers are offered in an unargumentative way, even where the questionsare still in debate among scholars. This method has been adopted becausetechnical discussion would be of interest to but few of those whom thebook hopes to serve. On some of the questions a non-committal attitude istaken in the belief that for the understanding of the life of Jesus it isof little importance which way the decision finally goes. Less attentionhas been given to questions of geography and archæology than to thosewhich have a more vital biographical significance.
A word concerning the point of view adopted. The church has inherited arich treasure of doctrine concerning its Lord, the result of patient studyand, frequently, of heated controversy. It is customary to approach thegospels with this interpretation of Christ as a premise, and such a studyhas some unquestionable advantages. With the apostles and evangelists,however, the recognition of the divine nature of Jesus was a conclusionfrom their acquaintance with him. The Man of Nazareth was for themprimarily a man, and they so regarded him until he showed them that he wasmore. Their knowledge of him progressed in the natural way from the humanto the divine. The gospels, particularly the first three, are marvels ofsimplicity and objectivity. Their authors clearly regarded Jesus as theMan from heaven; yet in their thinking they were dominated by theinfluence of a personal Lord rather than by the force of an accepteddoctrine. It is with no lack of reverence for the importance and truth ofthe divinity of Christ that this book essays to bring the Man Jesus beforethe mind in the reading of the gospels. The incarnation means that Godchose to reveal the divine through a human life, rather than through aseries of propositions which formulate truth (Heb. i. 1-4). The mostperennially refreshing influence for Christian life and thought ispersonal discipleship to that Revealer who is able to-day as of old toexhibit in his humanity those qualities which compel the recognition ofGod manifest in the flesh.
An Appendix is added to furnish references to the wide literature of thesubject for the aid of those who wish to study it more extensively andtechnically; also to discuss some questions of detail which could not beconsidered in the text. This appendix will indicate the extent of myindebtedness to others. I would acknowledge special obl