Imagine trying to argue about the significance of the Declaration of Independence if you thought Thomas Jefferson never existed. It would be such an odd position to take, imagining some person who made up the whole story. By studying the historical Thomas Jefferson, however, you get a greater appreciation for how and why the Declaration of Independence says what it does. In the same way, we should study Jesus from a historical perspective because it sheds light on the theological significance of his life, death, and resurrection.
