The life of Jesus on Earth was like no other before or after. Accounts of His life, are of necessity, either stories or studies based on the gospels and available historical evidence. This landmark study by the renowned biblical scholar Rush Rhees was published in 1904, by Charles Scribner's Sons. The intent which was magnificently fulfilled, was to meet a widespread demand for a non-technical, yet learned and reliable guide to the New Testament. PREFACE; PART I: PREPARATORY; I: The Historical Situation ; II: Sources of our Knowledge of Jesus; III: The Harmony of the Gospels; IV: The Chronology; V: The Early Years of Jesus; VI: John the Baptist; VII: The Messianic Call; VIII: The First Disciples; PART II: THE MINISTRY; I: General Survey of the Ministry; II: The Early Judean Ministry; III: The Ministry in Galilee-Its Aim and Method; IV: The Ministry in Galilee-The New Lesson: V: The Journey Through Perea to Jerusalem; VI: The Final Controversies in Jerusalem; VII: The Last Supper; VIII: The Shadow of Death; IX: The Resurrection; PART III: THE MINISTER; I: The Friend of Men; II: The Teacher with Authority; III: Jesus' Knowledge of Truth; IV: Jesus' Conception of Himself "The aim of this book is to help thoughtful readers of the gospels to discern more clearly the features of him whom those writings inimitably portray. It is avowedly a study rather than a story, and as a companion to the reading of the gospels it seeks to answer some of the questions which are raised by a sympathetic consideration of those narratives. These answers are offered in an unargumentative way, even where the questions are still in debate among scholars. This method has been adopted because technical discussion would be of interest to but few of those whom the book hopes to serve. On some of the questions a non-committal attitude is taken in the belief that for the understanding of the life of Jesus it is of little importance which way the decision finally goes. Less attention has been given to questions of geography and archæology than to those which have a more vital biographical significance. "It is with no lack of reverence for the importance and truth of the divinity of Christ that this book essays to bring the Man Jesus before the mind in the reading of the gospels. The incarnation means that God chose to reveal the divine through a human life, rather than through a series of propositions which formulate truth (Heb. i. 1-4). The most perennially refreshing influence for Christian life and thought is personal discipleship to that Revealer who is able to-day as of old to exhibit in his humanity those qualities which compel the recognition of God manifest in the flesh. "An Appendix is added to furnish references to the wide literature of the subject for the aid of those who wish to study it more extensively and technically; also to discuss some questions of detail which could not be considered in the text." -The Author