1864 Ernest Renan – The Life of Jesus & Studies of Religious History (1864)

Published in 1864, this volume contains The Life of Jesus and Studies of Religious History and Criticism by Ernest Renan, one of the most influential—and controversial—figures in nineteenth-century biblical scholarship. Renan approached Jesus not as a theological abstraction, but as a historical figure shaped by culture, politics, and human psychology—a move that permanently altered modern religious studies.

Originally banned and denounced by ecclesiastical authorities, The Life of Jesus nevertheless became one of the most widely read religious works of the nineteenth century and laid the groundwork for historical-critical approaches still used today.

This edition was published in New York by Carleton, Publisher, with an authorized English translation. It represents an early American printing of Renan’s work, issued shortly after the original French publication.

A foundational text for collectors of theology, biblical criticism, church history, and nineteenth-century intellectual thought.

Hardcover. Binding intact with visible age-related wear. Pages show age toning and scattered spotting consistent with mid-19th-century paper. No major structural defects observed. See photos for exact condition.