The Historic Mission of Jesus: A Constructive Re-Examination of the Eschatological Teaching in the Synoptic Gospels

First published in 1941, The Historic Mission of Jesus is one of the landmark texts on the life of Jesus, his relation to the Father and his earthly task. Counter to the prevailing scepticism of the reliability of the Synoptic sources chronicling Jesus’ life, Cadoux presents a sweeping yet detailed illustration of the evidence, while advancing theories for its interpretation that would go on to be significant facets of New-Testament study.

While not going to the same lengths as Albert Schweitzer, Cadoux nevertheless advances a thoroughly eschatological interpretation of Jesus’ self-perception. He thus emphasises the nation-wide character of his appeal, his concern for the redemption of the Gentiles through Israel’s fulfilment of the universalistic aspirations of the Old Testament, his eager endeavour to avert a military clash between the Jews and the Roman Empire, and his early expectation of being accepted and loyally followed by his fellow-countrymen as a whole. The result is a prime early example of the revival of interest in the historical Jesus on theological grounds.