Ecce Homo! or, a Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth: Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels

Ecce Homo! or, a Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth, published anonymously in 1770 by Paul Henri Thiry, baron d'Holbach, is a rational analysis of the gospels that critiques the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. D'Holbach presents Jesus as a normal human being, arguing that the miraculous elements of the gospels are exaggerated or fabricated. This work is notable for being one of the first critical examinations of Jesus's life, challenging established religious beliefs and sparking controversy, particularly after its English translation in 1799, which led to the translator's imprisonment. The text remains significant for its early rationalist interpretations of Christianity.