F. C. (Frederick Cornwallis) Conybeare
The Historical Christ;
Or, An investigation of the views of Mr. J. M. Robertson, Dr. A. Drews, and Prof. W. B. Smith
"The Historical Christ" by F. C. Conybeare is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book engages with the historical existence of Jesus Christ and systematically critiques the arguments presented by contemporary scholars such as J. M. Robertson, A. Drews, and W. B. Smith who claim that Jesus was a mythological figure rather than a historical person. Conybeare defends the traditional belief in the historicity of Jesus, arguing for a moderate approach that utilizes historical methods applied consistently across ancient texts. The opening of the volume sets the stage for Conybeare’s exploration by discussing the importance of historical method in evaluating early Christian writings and the significance of having credible evidence for historical figures. He critiques the extreme positions that either blindly accept Christian texts as literal truth or dismiss them entirely as fabrications. The text outlines his intention to thoroughly examine the claims against Jesus's existence while emphasizing the necessity for reasoned analysis as he prepares to dissect the arguments of modern critics. Conybeare proposes a structured approach to understanding the historical context and the sources available for verifying the life and teachings attributed to Jesus.