Beginning in 1841 with his "Criticism of the Gospel History of the Synoptics", Bauer argued that Jesus was primarily a literary figure, but left open the question of whether a historical Jesus existed at all.
Bauer was beginning in 1841 with his "Criticism of the Gospel History of the Synoptics". Jesus was primarily a literary figure. This was what Bauer argued. Jesus was open the question of whether a historical Jesus existed at all. This was what Bauer argued.