Was there a historical Jesus?

[General Trelane (Retired)]

Whereas the Jesus seminar, and most of mainstream scholarship, is able to derive an historical Jesus from the Synoptic tradition, but cannot explain the silence towards Jesus's ministry or sayings in Paul's epistles.

Statements like this seem to suggest that the Jesus Seminar is some sort of fringe group of scholars, which would not make them a good source. But it is my understanding that the Jesus Seminar is made up of some of the most preeminant of the mainstream Jesus scholars, which would make the Seminar part of mainstream scholarship.

[Liberty]

Slightly off topic, but when I was getting my BA, I studied Latin and Greek as well as history. I spent three years studying under a scholar who is on the Jesus Seminar. Loved it. She is amazing.

[Channel72]

But it is my understanding that the Jesus Seminar is made up of some of the most preeminant of the mainstream Jesus scholars, which would make the Seminar part of mainstream scholarship.

Right, the Jesus Seminar is certainly mainstream, and their conclusions regarding the historical Jesus are overall representative of mainstream scholarship. I didn't intend to juxtapose the two.

[hongi]

Whereas the Jesus seminar, and most of mainstream scholarship, is able to derive an historical Jesus from the Synoptic tradition, but cannot explain the silence towards Jesus's ministry or sayings in Paul's epistles.

Statements like this seem to suggest that the Jesus Seminar is some sort of fringe group of scholars, which would not make them a good source. But it is my understanding that the Jesus Seminar is made up of some of the most preeminant of the mainstream Jesus scholars, which would make the Seminar part of mainstream scholarship.

It's my understanding that the Jesus Seminar is not favourably looked upon in the world of Biblical scholarship. In fact I got the distinct impression that they were the minority...I have to say that I haven't seen papers citing their work at all.

[Thanas]

Neither have I, they do not seem to have had much of an impact on European scholarship. Of course I am no biblical scholar, so take it with a pinch of salt.

[Rye]

It's my understanding that the Jesus Seminar is not favourably looked upon in the world of Biblical scholarship. In fact I got the distinct impression that they were the minority...I have to say that I haven't seen papers citing their work at all.

I wouldn't go that far, their information is generally good. It's a case of decent arguments being made by all sides. They do have legit, well known NT scholars on their member list that will no doubt have papers cited by others. They're mainly a "pop criticism" group that are more about proletariat education than specialist material, so as a group you wouldn't really expect them to get many citations.