Revisiting the Quest/McKnight

McKnight’s argument boils down to the fact that it is impossible to create a singular Jesus figure. The Church offers a single vision of who Jesus is, and creates and enforces rules about what is correct (orthodox). Since any historical reconstruction will produce a figure that at least minimally deviates from this orthodox view, any historical reconstruction represents a challenge to the Church’s view. Therefore, even if the practice of history allows for a historical reconstruction, the product of that investigation will be of no use to the Church.