Vie De Jesus
By Ernest Renan
Published Michel Levy Freres Libraires Editeurs: Paris 1863 1st Edition
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Ernest Renan's Vie de Jésus is one of the most influential and controversial works of nineteenth-century religious scholarship, presenting a historical—not doctrinal—portrait of Jesus of Nazareth. Drawing upon philology, archaeology, and close reading of the Gospels, Renan reinterprets Jesus as a remarkable human teacher shaped by the culture of first-century Galilee rather than as a supernatural figure performing miracles. His narrative is graceful and literary, yet grounded in critical method, blending biography, historical reconstruction and philosophical reflection in a way that challenged traditional Christian interpretations across Europe.
First published in 1863, this true first edition by Michel Lévy Frères became an immediate publishing sensation, provoking fierce debate within both religious and academic circles and establishing Renan as a central figure in historical-critical theology. Today it stands as a landmark text in the study of early Christianity and in the intellectual history of the French Second Empire. This important first-edition printing will appeal to collectors of religious history, scholars of nineteenth-century thought, and readers interested in the origins of modern biblical criticism."
General wear to leather cover and spine with some peeling to the leather as shown. Inscription on title page. Pages clean, crisp and bright with only minor spotting. Middle of book has relaxed binding with a slightly protruding cluster however nothing is loose. Book presents well and is in good condition overall. Please study photos to understand condition. Happy to provide more photos on request.
Size 22.5cm x 14cm x 3cm - 462 Pages
