Licona, Michael R. (2010) The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. (Buy from IVPress.com here)
For the next several weeks leading to Easter, and likely for a few weeks afterward, I will be interacting with Michael R. Licona’ newer work titled The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach. It is a large book at around seven hundred pages if you include the notes. I have heard that it may be the most relevant work on the subject since N.T. Wright published The Resurrection of the Son of God.
There are many books on the resurrection, so why read this one? Well, I asked Adrianna Wright of IVP for a copy because of the subtitle. One area where I have been greatly frustrated by historical Jesus studies is the historiographical methodology that claims scientific precision yet has led to dozens of historical Jesus reconstructions that look more or less like the author creating him.
In the introduction Licona says he will be covering the following items of interest: (1) philosophy of history and historical method; (2) objections for prominent scholars to the investigation of miracle-claims by historians; (3) primary literature related to the resurrection of Jesus; (4) a sifting of the aforementioned literature for the most promising sources; (5) review of said sources using the methodology discussed in point one. (pp. 20-22).
I anticipate an exciting read that will stretch my thinking on this subject. For those who have already read the book or some of the book what do you think of it thus far? Feel free to share links to reviews on your blog.
the archives near Emmaus 
im hurt and shocked that you didnt read my multi-part review. gosh as many of you are blogging there one would expect you to keep up… ;-p
http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/the-resurrection-of-jesus-a-new-historiographical-approach/
I am a little less than 200 hundred pages into the book. It’s heavy, but interesting.
@Jim: Now that I am actually reading it for myself I will make sure to stop by your post to interact!
@Jason: It is heavy, and the footnotes may be even heavier.
Who reads footnotes? 😎
On a serious note, they are filled with rich content, aren’t they?
I have a four part review: http://diglotting.com/2011/01/01/review-the-resurrection-of-jesus-licona-part-i/
Brian, I’ll be blogging on it relatively soon as well. I’ve read quite a bit of it. All I have to say is that in comparison to other historical critical methods I’ve encountered when coming to the question of the resurrection, Licona’s is for sure the most clear, precise, and up to date. He furthermore interacts with parts of Keener’s upcoming work on miracles. Also, Licona makes dire efforts in eliminating bias as much as possible.
Daniel.
@Jason: Obviously weirdos like you and I! Yes, very rich.
@Kevin: Awesome, thanks! I hope to interact with other reviews as I move along through my own.
@Daniel: When you begin your review make sure to notify me via comment, Twitter, or FB so I can make sure to read it and interact with it.
i have this book too but not for review. i havent got imto it yet but maybe i should join in.
fun to make a comment via my new kindle reader though it takes a bit of work….
@Brian: This would be a good time! It seems like a few have already gone before us and a few more of us are jumping into the book now. It would be fun to reference each other here and there as we do our reviews for the sake of some communal interaction, like a book group!
I’m almost finished with a four part review on the book.
@Craig: Thanks. I will take a look at it.