The author intends to inform not only professional theologians on questions, uncertainties and findings of historical research, but also the laymen who wish, so far as possible to arrive at an historical understanding of the tradition about Jesus and are not content with edifying or romantic portrayals. It could not have been written, he states, 'without the real hope that on its part it might help the reader who is estranged from the heritage of the Church to a new and fresh meeting with the person and message of Jesus.