What is the term for someone who is involved in the search for the historical Jesus?

Hello everyone...I just began a type of scavenger homework assignment tonight for Seminary and one of the questions being asked is "What is the term for someone who is involved in the search for the historical Jesus?" I just started looking but wondered if "Questor" is the answer or maybe even "Reconstructionist"?

What would your answer be and is the term widely-used/well-known please?

Blessings and thanks,

Joshua In Rhode Island

p.s. Only serious answers please. I know you will all be kind in your replies. No saying "turkeys", "challenged", or other eyeball rolling funny ones, ok? I was hoping to find an answer in my Logos resources but have not so far. Off to my school's online library I go.

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MJ. Smith

I've never seen a specific name - scholar, historian, theologian are the terms I see most commonly assuming you are speaking of all three "quests".

abondservant

I know what my undergrad prof called them.

Its not suitable language for the forums.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813659#Comment_813659

yes MJ...apparently there is a specific name for one who is questing. I continue to research. Blessings and thanks.

Joshua in Rhode island (online seminarian)

p.s. Thanks for the restraint BondServant [:#][:)]

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813663#Comment_813663

I know the answer but shouldn't you find it on your own?

*****r

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813664#Comment_813664

I have permission to ask others and cite...provided the answer is correct. I was somewhat miffed I found nothing in my Logos collection.

The search or research continues [8-)]

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813664#Comment_813664

Since you basically have it, it seems that "quester" is the correct term. Both Witherington and Keener use that term in the context of "second questers" or "third questers." Witherington only uses the term five times (three are in footnotes), and Keener uses it five times as well (one is a footnote).

A search of my library for "quester" finds 502 results in 281 articles in 127 resources.

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813666#Comment_813666

Sorry, I meant to add that I was citing Witherington's The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth, and Keener's The Historical Jesus of the Gospels.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813665#Comment_813665

Seeker

I think Joseph got it right.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813668#Comment_813668

Thank you both...quester was my first choice too. I also looked into that Witherington source as he and his work was another question in the Scavenger Hunt. Also, your reply helped me now recognize I goofed in my simple Logos search too. oops - I completely overlooked Keener. Thanks again.

Blessings on you both.

p.s. Reconstructionist was way off and I am embarrassed I even imagined or considered that answer having now read what Christian movement that was attributed to. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Reconstructionism (and yes I know using wikipedia is not usually a good idea but it does show how wrong my answer would have been....phew!)

[:$]

also look what I just found in Logos...I nearly fell out of my chair....I own this Logos resource...cool beans.

"It was less radical than most work by first questers."

Darrell L. Bock, Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 146.

https://www.logos.com/product/5346/studying-the-historical-jesus-a-guide-to-sources-and-methods

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813662#Comment_813662

I know what my undergrad prof called them.

He clearly needed a dose of fallacy hound and manners. [:(] Only those who cannot mount a well reasoned defense need to resort to unsuitable language.

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813666#Comment_813666

A search of my library for "quester" finds 502 results in 281 articles in 127 resources.

Similar search for questers (with match all word forms unchecked) found:

Keep Smiling [:)]

JAL

Joshua, thanks for bringing your quest to this forum.

KS4J:), thanks for sharing what you found.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813680#Comment_813680

I know what my undergrad prof called them.

He clearly needed a dose of fallacy hound and manners. Only those who cannot mount a well reasoned defense need to resort to unsuitable language.

It was nothing profane, but it does cast them in a certain light and on the chance someone here was a quester I wouldn't want to repeat it.

At worst he questioned motivation, and salvation. The last being the (probably) most offensive.

Searching everything for "Historical Jesus" brought back a lot of hits, including 308 from books.logos.com which might be interesting as I imagine those are rarer books.

Joseph Turner

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/813671#Comment_813671

Thank you both...quester was my first choice too.

also look what I just found in Logos...I nearly fell out of my chair....I own this Logos resource...cool beans.

No problem, and I forgot about that work by Bock. That should be helpful!