Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-234) and indexes.

1. Study of Jesus outside the New Testament -- Brief history of research -- Did Jesus really exist -- Plan of the present work -- 2. Jesus in classical writings -- Thallos : the eclipse at Jesus' death -- Pliny the Younger : the Christ of Christian worship -- Suetonius : the instigator Chrestus -- Tacitus : the executed Christ -- Mara bar Serapion : the wise Jewish king -- Lucian of Samosata : the crucified Sophist -- Celsus : Christ the magician -- Conclusions -- 3. Jesus in Jewish writings -- Is Jesus mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls -- Josephus : Jesus, a wise man called the Christ -- Rabbinic tradition : Jesus the magician and deceiver -- Toledot Yeshu : how ancient a Polemic against Jesus -- Conclusions -- 4. Jesus in the sources of the canonical gospels -- L: Jesus, the powerful teacher and healer -- Special material of Matthew : an M source on Jesus -- Signs source of the fourth gospel : Jesus the Messiah -- Q : Jesus, the agent of the Kingdom of God -- Conclusions -- Jesus in Christian writings after the New Testament -- Agrapha : scattered sayings of Jesus -- Nag Hammadi literature : Jesus the revealer of secret knowledge -- New Testament Apocrypha : traditions and legends about Jesus.

Presents evidence and information, aside from the Christian scriptures, on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Features excerpts in Roman correspondence and the early Christian writings known as the "New Testament Apocrypha."