Which Jesus is the Real Jesus?

Abstract

This introductory chapter discusses how the of Hermann Samuel Reimarus relates to the of Martin Kahler. As Dale Allison has demonstrated, from Reimarus to Crossan it has frequently been the faces of the particular authors that are reflected by the images of Jesus they reconstructed in their books. The chapter distinguishes a whole series of such images typologically. One can distinguish seven different types, which could be presented by proceeding chronologically from the present back into the past: the historical Jesus, Jesus Christ, the earthly Christ, Jesus Christ remembered, Jesus from Nazareth, Jesus' self-interpretation, and the real Jesus. By applying the interpretation of the visionary experiences to the typology of images of Jesus discussed in the chapter, their theological significance is obvious: it suggests that God, because he resurrected Jesus and raised him up to heaven, also vindicated Jesus' own self-interpretation. Keywords: Christian Easter faith; Hermann Samuel Reimarus; historical Jesus; Jesus of Nazareth; John Dominic Crossan; Martin Kahler; real Jesus; Son of God; theological Christ