Preface 9
Introduction 15
1 Misplaced Faith and Misguided Suspicion: Old and New School Skeptics 19
2 Cramped Starting Points and Overly Strict Critical Methods: The Question of Authenticity 34
3 Questionable Texts-Part I: The Gospel of Thomas 52
4 Questionable Texts-Part II: The Gospel of Peter, the Egerton Gospel, the Gospel of Mary and the Secret Gospel of Mark 78
5 Alien Contexts: The Case Against Jesus as Cynic 100
6 Skeletal Sayings: Maxims Without a Context 123
7 Diminished Deeds: A Fresh Look at Healings and Miracles 139
8 Dubious Uses of Josephus: Understanding Late Antiquity 158
9 Anachronisms and Exaggerated Claims: Christianities Lost and Otherwise 180
10 Hokum History and Bogus Findings: Jesus Between the Lines 204
11 Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Unfabricating His Aims and Claims 222
Appendix 1 Agrapha: Free-floating Sayings of Jesus 236
Appendix 2 What Should We Think About the Gospel of Judas? 240
Glossary 246
Abbreviations 248
Notes 250
Recommended Reading 272
Author Index 275
Subject Index 278
Scripture Index 283
Index of Extracanonical Ancient Sources 288