In Reply to: Hobby historians posted by Oldtimer on July 15, 2005 at 04:05:36:
I think there is little doubt among serious historians that Jesus bin Miriam was an historical figure who lived and breathed and died in 1st century Israel.
"Who do you say I am?" is a religious amd philosophical question that is beyond the scope of historical research methods.
The Gospels are not pure historical records, nor are they a news journalist's accounts of contemporary events. The Gospels are a literary genre unto themselves.
I have answered the question, "Who do you say that I am?" through subjective experience. I believe that this is the only way the question can be answered, since it it posed to the Gospel reader in an unavoidably personal manner.