Chapter IV

BIRTH AND EARLIEST EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

§ 32. The census 152
33. Particular circumstances of the birth of Jesus. The
circumcision 156
34. The Magi and their star. The flight into Egypt, and the
murder of the children in Bethlehem. Criticism of the
supranaturalistic view 162
35. Attempts at a natural explanation of the history of the
Magi. Transition to the mythical explanation 169
36. The purely mythical explanation of the narrative
concerning the Magi, and of the events with which it
is connected 173
37. Chronological relation between the visit of the Magi,
together with the flight into Egypt, and the presentation
in the temple recorded by Luke 178
38. The presentation of Jesus in the temple 181
39. Retrospect. Difference between Matthew and Luke as to the
original residence of the parents of Jesus 184

CHAPTER V.

THE FIRST VISIT TO THE TEMPLE, AND THE EDUCATION OF JESUS.

§ 40. Jesus, when twelve years old, in the temple 191
41. This narrative also mythical 196
42. On the external life of Jesus up to the time of his
public appearance 198
43. The intellectual development of Jesus 201

SECOND PART.

HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS.

CHAPTER I.

RELATIONS BETWEEN JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST.

§ 44. Chronological relations between John and Jesus 209
45. Appearance and design of the Baptist. His personal
relations with Jesus 214
46. Was Jesus acknowledged by John as the Messiah? and in
what sense? 219
47. Opinion of the evangelists and of Jesus concerning
the Baptist, with his own judgment of himself. Result
of the inquiry into the relationship between these
two individuals 230
48. The execution of John the Baptist 234

CHAPTER II.

BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

§ 49. Why did Jesus receive baptism from John? 237
50. The scene at the baptism of Jesus considered as
supernatural, and as natural 239
51. An attempt at a criticism and mythical interpretation
of the narratives 242
52. Relation of the supernatural at the baptism of Jesus
to the supernatural in his conception 247
53. Place and time of the temptation of Jesus. Divergencies
of the evangelists on this subject 249
54. The history of the temptation conceived in the sense
of the evangelists 252
55. The temptation considered as a natural occurrence either
internal or external; and also as a parable 255
56. The history of the temptation as a mythus 259

CHAPTER III.

LOCALITY AND CHRONOLOGY OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS.

§ 57. Difference between the synoptical writers and John, as
to the customary scene of the ministry of Jesus 264
58. The residence of Jesus at Capernaum 271
59. Divergencies of the Evangelists as to the chronology
of the life of Jesus. Duration of his public ministry 275
60. The attempts at a chronological arrangement of the
particular events in the public life of Jesus 278