Jesus the Purifier

“This book is a treasure. Not only does it helpfully discuss the current state of debate over the third quest and criteria; it points the way to the reintroduction of John into the conversation. Recognizing the value of the third quest, it appropriately raises the need for a fourth. You will profit greatly from this read.”—Darrell L. Bock, senior research professor of New Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

“What do the historical Jesus and John’s Gospel have in common? Much more than has been imagined, according to Craig Blomberg. In Jesus the Purifier, Blomberg takes up the challenge of bringing historical inquiry to the one Gospel that is often left out of the mix for understanding the Jesus of history. Blomberg not only argues that much more of John is amenable to sketching a portrait of who Jesus was; he also discerns from John an early interest in purification in Jesus’s ministry. Jesus the Purifier is required reading for all those interested in the ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.”—Jeannine K. Brown, David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations, Bethel Seminary

“Jesus the Purifier effectively introduces readers to the so-called fourth quest for the historical Jesus. Its arguments advance in significant ways the claim that the Gospel of John can be used as a reliable source in historical reconstructions of Jesus. The method and approach offered in the book will become a model for future generations of scholars, and the implications of its conclusions will challenge and strengthen the theology and mission of the church.”—Carlos Raúl Sosa Siliezar, associate professor of New Testament, Wheaton College

“Readers essentially get two good books here: a fair and extremely helpful survey of the history of Jesus research, suitable for a historical Jesus course, that does not leave out voices often marginalized by Bultmannians, and a case for why John’s Gospel belongs in historical Jesus research. A leading scholar on John and history, Blomberg provides historical context for the development of various views, critiquing them intelligently and fairly. When he turns specifically to the Fourth Gospel, he shows that a historical case can be made for considerably more of it than many of us Johannine scholars have dared hope.”—Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

“The quests for the historical Jesus have painted various portraits of Jesus. Some have painted him as a Jewish cynic, others as a sage, still others as an apocalyptic prophet. Blomberg’s impressive book shows that such portraits are based on the collective witness of the Synoptic Gospels with almost no regard for the Gospel of John. The witness of John shows that the historical Jesus was also concerned with the matter of purity, of cleansing people from things like diseases, demonic forces, and even death. Blomberg’s book paints a picture of Jesus worth placing alongside others—Jesus the Purifier.”—Miguel Echevarría, associate professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary