Books of Reference on the Life of Jesus 1. A concise account of the voluminous literature on this subject maybe found at the close of the article JESUS CHRIST by Zockler in _Schaff-Herzog, Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge_. Of the earlier of the modern works it is well to mention David Friedrich Strauss, _Das Leben Jesu_ (2 vols. 1835), in which he sought to reduce all the gospel miracles to myths. August Neander, _Das Leben Jesu Christi_, 1837, wrote in opposition to the attitude taken by Strauss. Both of these works have been translated into English. Ernst Renan, _Vie de Jésus_ (1863, 16th ed. 1879), translated, _The Life of Jesus_ (1863), is a charming, though often superficial and patronizing, presentation of the subject. For vivid word pictures of scenes in the life of Jesus his book is unsurpassed. Renan's inability to appreciate the more serious aspects of the work of Christ appears constantly, while his effort to discover romance in the life of Jesus is offensive. More important than any of these is Theodor Keim, _Geschichte Jesu von Nazara_ (1867-72, 3 vols.), translated, _The History of Jesus of Nazara_ (1876-81, 6 vols.). The author rejects the fourth gospel and holds that Matthew is the most primitive of the synoptic gospels; he does not reject the supernatural as such, but reduces it as much as possible by recognizing a legendary element in the gospels. When the work is read with these peculiarities in mind, it is one of the most stimulating and spiritually illuminating treatments of the subject. 2. Critically more trustworthy, and exegetically very valuable, is Bernhard Weiss, _Das Leben Jesu_ (3d ed. 1889, 2 vols.), translated from the first ed., _The Life of Christ_ (1883, 3 vols.). It is more helpful for correct understanding of details than for a complete view of the Life of Jesus. Rivalling Weiss in many ways, yet neither so exact nor so trustworthy, though more interesting, is Willibald Beyschlag, _Das Leben Jesu_ (3d ed. 1893, 2 vols.). The most important discussion in English is Alfred Edersheim, _The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah_ (1883 and later editions, 2 vols.). This is valuable for its illustration of conditions in Palestine in the time of Jesus by quotations from the rabbinic literature. The material used is enormous, but is not always treated with due criticism, and the book should be read with the fact in mind that most of the rabbinic writings date from several centuries after Christ. Schürer (see below) should be used wherever possible as a counter-balance. Dr. Edersheim follows the gospel story in detail; his book is, therefore, a commentary as well as a biography.