Review of J. L. Houlden,Jesus: A Question of Identity

J.L. Houlden’s brief volume on Jesus is written primarily for the lay-person who wants an introduction to the historical, theological, and cultural influences that have surrounded the understanding(s) of Jesus of Nazareth. Assuming both an internal and external standpoint, which are Houlden’s terms for the viewpoint of the Christian and non-Christian respectively, he notes the tendency of those who believe in and think about Jesus to remake the first century Galilean in their own image. He closes the first introductory chapter questioning whether we can ever ‘identify the ‘truth’ concerning Jesus.’ In Chapter 2, Houlden begins his chronological inquiry into the way Jesus was understood by the Apostle Paul (chapter 2) and the Gospel writers (chapter 3). He begins by contrasting the difference between modern and ancient persons in terms of their primary interests when it comes to understanding a person, in this case, Jesus. While modern people are primarily concerned with events, then beliefs, the ancients were first concerned with beliefs, then events. Indeed, ‘the earliest observable Christianity and the earliest statements about Jesus are in the form of belief rather than history in the modern sense (11).’ Chapter 3 addresses the four Gospels. Early in this chapter, Houlden notes that these gospels are narrative expressions of belief in Jesus on two levels – history and beliefs of his followers. Yet he is quick to clarify that by historical he means a narrative interpretation concerning events in the life of Jesus. In the Ancient Mediterranean, a high degree of freedom in retelling historical events was granted the author. From this rather general overview on the nature of the Gospels, Houlden moves to summarize some of the central terms used by the Evangelists that help indicate their (and their communities) beliefs about Jesus. Of particular interest here is the chronological progression from Mark through John (the common scholarly consensus) and the development of understandings about Jesus revealed in the terms each Evangelist uses. BOOK REVIEWS