How can the historical figure of Jesus be reconciled with the ongoing spiritual reality of the Christian faith? Michael Ramsey, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, examines the tension between the objective historical past and the subjective experience of faith. He argues that the Christian narrative relies on a specific historical anchor that must be continuously integrated into contemporary spiritual practice to maintain its integrity.

Scholars and theologians frequently cite this work as a concise, accessible entry point into Ramsey's broader theological framework regarding the intersection of history and spirituality. Readers often note the clarity of his prose despite the complex philosophical questions addressed in the text.