D. W. Dunn

They Will Not Follow a Stranger D. W. Dunn

They Will Not Follow a Stranger examines a less well-known and more enigmatic figure in the history of Christianity, John the Baptist. A continuation of and commentary on recent research on the historical Jesus, this study addresses issues of how much can be known about such figures and the wide variety of possible interpretations about them. Though much indebted to previous research, the study displays a good deal more original thinking than we might expect in this day and age; the author hopes it will be a useful contribution both to the main issues in that research and to reading the Gospel and New Testament generally. The title is from the Gospel of John (10:5) and seems fitting less in terms of a typical sentiment applications ("the shepherd in change of the sheep") that in terms of social and political leaders being seen as trustworthy caretakers of the general welfare of the people. People may follow such leaders because they recognize the voice not of a stranger on even a "master" but of a friend.