A Review of Gerd Lüdemann's Methodology in "The Resurrection of Christ: A Historical Inquiry"

This article critically evaluates the historical method Gerd Lüdemann applies in his book on the resurrection, situating his approach within the framework of the three quests for the historical Jesus. It argues that although Lüdemann's textual analysis of the Easter narratives is skillful, his methodology is essentially outdated, relying on Second Quest tools such as source, form, redaction, and tradition criticism rather than the archaeological, sociocultural, and interdisciplinary approaches of the Third Quest exemplified by scholars like John P. Meier. The author also contends that Lüdemann's rationalist presuppositions echo the Enlightenment mindset of the First Quest, and that his claim to begin analysis from pure historical fact is undermined by his actual starting point in the kerygmatic tradition. The article concludes that a more rigorous, updated historical inquiry could support rather than undermine the historicity of the resurrection.