Schoarly views have changed to a vast majority of scholars believing that the best way to understand Jesus is through 1st Century Judaism. This can also be seen in the New Testament by the plethora of constant Old Testament (the Jewish Tanach) quotes and references. One scholar that had a major influence on this was EP Sanders. I'd recommend one of his works, perhaps, http://books.google.com/books/about/Jesu...9JaKKaeCIC
"the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" (1 Cor. 1:19)
