was himself not Jewish. On the contrary, Jesus the Jew is as firm a starting point for any inquiry into the historical actuality of Jesus as can be desired. So, this is my second presupposition. My third presupposition is that this Jesus was a figure of some influence, even if only among those who followed him. He made an impact, and, evidently, a lasting impact. Like the second presupposition, this third presupposition is also, surprisingly, controversial. As most scholars attempting to write lives