20. On the problem of the Virgin birth see GilbertLJ 79-89; WeissLX I. 211-233; Swete, _Apos. Creed_, 42-55; Bruce, _Apologetics_, 407-413; Ropes, Andover Rev. 1893, 695-712; FairbSLX 30-45; Godet, _Comm. on Luke_, Rem. on chaps. I. and II.; BovonNTTh I. 198-217. These maintain historicity. The other side: BeysLJ I. 148-174; Meyer, _Comm. on Matt_., Rem. on 1.18; Keim JN II. 38-101; Réville, New World, 1892, 695-723, and JN I. 361-408; HoltzmannNtTh I. 409-415. On the early years of Jesus see EdersLJM I. 217-254; WeissLX I. 275-293; Hughes, _Manliness of Xt_, 35-60; WendtTJ I. 90-96; Stapfer, _Jesus Christ before his Ministry; _ FairbSLX 46-63; BeysLJ II. 44-65; RévilleJN I. 409-438. 21. For some of the early legends concerning the birth and childhood of Jesus, see the so-called _Protevangelium of James_, the _Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew_, and the _Gospel of Thomas_, Ante-nic. Fathers, VIII. 361-383, 395-398. For Jewish calumnies see Laible, _J. X. im Thalmud_, 9-39. 22. On the two genealogies see AndLOL 62-68; WeissLX I. 211-221; Godet on Luke, iii. 23-38. These refer Luke's genealogy to Marv. Hervey SBD^2 1145-1148, Plummer on Luke, iii. 23, EdersLJM I. 149, GilbertLJ 81f., with the early fathers (see Plummer), refer both to Joseph. For the view that they are unauthentic see Holtzmann, _Hand-comm._ I. 39-41; Bacon in HastBD II. 137-141. 23. On the "brethren" of Jesus see Mayor, HastBD I. 320-326; AndrewsLOL 111-123. These make the brethren sons of Joseph and Mary. Lightfoot, _Galatians_^10, 252-291, regards them as sons of Joseph by a former marriage. VI John the Baptist 24. On the character and work of John the Baptist see KeimJN II. 201-266 and references in the index under John the Baptist. Keim's is much the most satisfactory treatment; it is, moreover, Keim at his best. See also Ewald, _Hist, of Israel_, VI. 160-200; WeissLX I. 307-316; FairbSLX 64-79; W. A. Stevens, Homil. Rev. 1891, II. 163 ff.; Bebb in HastBD II. 677-680; Wellhausen _Isr. u. judische Geschichte_, 342f.; Feather, _Last of the Prophets_. Reynolds, _John the Baptist_, obscures its excellencies by a vast amount of irrelevant discussion. 25. On the existence of a separate company of disciples of John see Mk. ii. 18, Mt. ix. 14, Lk. v. 33; Mk. vi. 29, Mt. xiv. 12; Mt. xi. 2f., Lk. vii. 18f.; Lk. xi. 1; Jn. i. 35f.; iii. 25; Ac. xix. 1-3. Consult Lightfoot, _Colossians_, 400 ff.; Baldensperger, _Der Prolog des vierten Evangeliums_, 93-152. VII The Messianic Call