Questions and enigmas concerning Jesus answered in The Search


Chapter:

I. The quest begins
+ How was the truth concerning Jesus discovered and determined?

II. The Gospels
+ Were the authors of the Gospels the ones whose names they bear? If not, who were the authors of the Gospel narratives?

III. Essential golden nuggets
+ Where does one begin when researching the life of Jesus?
+ Is there enough information available to draw an accurate and logical conclusion regarding his life and ministry?

IV. Augustan Rome
+ What part did Augustus’ rule play in the birth and early life of Jesus?
+ What was the Roman world like at the time of the birth of Jesus?

V. The Rome of Tiberius
+ What part did Tiberius’ rule play in the life and death of Jesus?
+ Did Tiberius know Jesus?
+ Was Tiberius a believer in Jesus?

VI. Herod’s rule
+ Who was Herod the Great?
+ What part did Herod’s rule play in the birth and early childhood of Jesus?
+ Was Herod as ruthless as the Gospels portray?

VII. A chronology of the life of Jesus
+ Did Jesus minister only three years, dying at the age of 33?
+ What year was Jesus born? What year did he die?

VIII. Society and religion
+ Was Jesus’ teachings influenced by religions and philosophies other than Jewish? Was Jesus’ ministry influenced by Roman history and politics?
+ Was Jesus motivated by politics?

IX. A son in old age
+ Was Mary an actual bloodline cousin of Elizabeth?
+ Why was Elizabeth’s son named, John?
+ Was Jesus the son by conception of the Holy Ghost or was this a story concocted by Mary and Joseph to hide his illegitimacy?
+ In reality, was Mary a virgin?
+ Were Joseph and Mary married or just engaged to be married?

X. The nativity
+ Was Joseph really mandated to travel to Bethlehem to pay taxes?
+ Did Jesus have a twin brother?
+ Why was Mary’s son named, Jesus?
+ Was Jesus a Roman citizen?

XI. Mother of God
+ Is Mary the “Mother of God” or just the mother of Jesus, her son?
+ Why is the doctrine of “Mary, the Mother of God” responsible for the birth of Islam?

XII. Invasion from the East
+ Who were the wisemen?
+ What did they want? Did they come to the manager to honor Jesus?
+ Did Herod really slaughter the innocent boy babies in Bethlehem?

XIII. Son of the Law
+ What did Jesus do from the time the wisemen left and age 12?
+ Was Jesus aware that he was the Son of God and that he was mandated to accomplish the will of Father God?

XIV. Baptism and beyond
+ Was Jesus actually baptized by John the Baptist?
+ Why did Jesus have to be baptized?
+ Was it mandatory for Jesus to have to face temptation?
+ Immediately after the wilderness experience did Jesus begin his ministry?

XV. First year of ministry
+ When did Jesus’ ministry begin?
+ Who were Jesus’ first called disciples?
+ Was Jesus married?
+ Why did Jesus move to Capernaum?

XVI. Second year of ministry
+ Who was Nicodemus? What is meant by “born again?”
+ Why was John the Baptist arrested?
+ Who were the second group of disciples called by Jesus?
+ What was so special about the “Sermon on the mount?”

XVII. Third year of ministry
+ Under what circumstances was the paralytic healed in Capernaum?
+ Who was Levi?
+ What was Jesus doing in the Roman military town of Nain?

XVIII. Fourth year of ministry
+ Did Jesus actually break bread and fish and feed 5,000 laborers?
+ Did Jesus and Peter actually walk on the water?
+ What was Caesarea Philippi like?
+ What is meant by faith as a grain of mustard?

XIX. The fifth year of ministry
+ Who was legion? Why was he important?
+ Who was the woman who was stooped for 18 years? Why was she important?
+ What was meant by “rivers of living waters?”

XX. Final year of ministry
+ Did Jesus really raise Lazarus from the dead?
+ Who were “the money changers?”
+ Why was Bar-Timaeus so important in the ministry of Jesus?
+ Is there a difference between the Passover feast, the last supper, and the Lord’s supper?

XXI. Arrest and crucifixion
+ How was Jesus crucified?
+ Was his death preventable?
+ Could Jesus have been pardoned?

XXII. The beginning
+ Was Tiberius aware of Jesus’ death and resurrection?
+ Why so much controversy regarding the resurrection of Jesus?
+ What happened after the resurrection?

XXIII. Epilogue