Chapter XV.--THE METHOD OF M. LOISY

M. Loisy and the "liberal" school. His attitude to the myth-theory. His certitudes. Disclaims biography, and produces one. His treatment of the legend. The problem of the multitude of healings. Collapse of the assumption in the case of Nazareth. Inconsistency of M. Loisy's method, and weakness of his solutions. His acceptance of the Joseph legend. "The carpenter." Difficulty set up by Origen. The myth solution. "The son of Mary." Dilemma set up by later passages. Problem of the Messianic declaration of Peter. Impossibility of the personality set up by Petrine and anti-Petrine records 141