David Strauss

David Friedrich Strauss (; German: Strauß [ˈdaːvɪt ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ʃtʁaʊs]; 27 January 1808 – 8 February 1874) was a German liberal Protestant theologian and writer who influenced Christian Europe with his portrayal of the "historical Jesus", whose divine nature he explored via myth.

Strauss argued that many Gospel narratives are myths, where "myth" means not mere falsity but the imaginative expression of religious truth; however, he rejected orthodox supernatural claims about Jesus and did not simply affirm Jesus' divine nature in the traditional doctrinal sense.

His work was connected to the Tübingen School, which revolutionized study of the New Testament, early Christianity, and ancient religions. Strauss was a pioneer in the historical investigation of Jesus.