In "The Story of Civilization" volume III, by Will Durant, he states this conclusion on page 557. Before his conclusion he goes into the two centuries of "Higher Criticism" of the Bible. The ideas Sam has brought to this thread started around the end of the 1700's and has continued since. I thought it significant when reading about this that "christian" america was founded around the same time that this "Higher Criticism" of the Bible was being discussed in Europe. Christianity was preserved and flourished in America while Europe now is thought of as "post-christian". But that thought has jumped the Atlantic and America is moving into a "post-christian" era as well. Significant to me also is the historical timing of this as we christians all believe the end is very near at the same time as the last christian stronghold slips away.
Durant's conclusion:
"The contradictions are of minutiae, not substance; in essentials the synoptic gospels agree remarkably well, and form a consistent portrait of Christ. In the enthusiasm of it's discoveries the Higher Criticism has applied to the New Testament tests of authenticity so severe that by them a hundred ancient worthies - eg. Hammurabi, David, Socrates- would fade into legend. Despite the prejudices and theological preconceptions of the evangelists, they record many incidents that mere inventor's would have concealed - the competition of the apostles for higher places in the Kingdom, their flight after Jesus's arrest. Peter's denial, the failure of Christ to work miracles in Galilee, the references of some auditors to his possible insanity, his early uncertainty as to his mission, his confessions of ignorance as to the future, his moments of bitterness, his despairing cry on the cross; no one reading these scenes can doubt the reality of the figure behind them. That a few simple men should in one generation have invented (Durant discussed, including possible Gnostic origins, and is satisfied with the authenticity of the Gospels) so powerful and appealing a personality, so lofty an ethic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels. After two centuries of Higher Criticism the outlines of the life, character, and teaching of Christ, remain reasonably clear, and constitute the most fascinating feature in the history of Western man."
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