A noted New Testament scholar issues a call to renew a classic quest-that of Jesus' understanding of his role, his person, his task, and his fate.

"This is a courageous and necessary book. At a time when New Testament criticism is occupying itself largely with peripheral issues, it dares to advance to the historical and theological center of Christianity: the question concerning Jesus himself. The book is excitingly written and understandable to a broad readership."

Martin Hengel, Tübingen

"The whole question of Jesus' messianic self-consciousness is taken up anew. Leivestad's book impels one to reflection, investi- gation, and perhaps revision of positions held earlier."

Nils Dahl

"Leivestad's critical tools are well honed and his judgment sound. He shows that scholarship can offer coherent, meaningful, and well-grounded answers to questions of continuing public interest."

James D. G. Dunn, University of Durham

"Provocative, challenging, clear, and ultimately edifying, Leivestad offers an alternative critical interpretation to the one dominant today."

Edgar Krentz, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

"Thorough, thought-provoking, independent, a 'must' for all interested in the question of the historical Jesus."

Peder Borgen, University of Trondheim