Lets not forget the Pauline writing's most of them came before the gospels and the gospels were said to be written at least 100 years after Jesus death. Once you realize when and how the NT was composed you realize there's a big problem.
I think Bart's opinion is yes there was a guy named Jesus but he was just a guy possible a Jewish leader teacher theologian but that's all. He mentions the writings of James and Jude that were supposedly his half brothers and in those writings Jesus is never mentioned as Gods son or that Jesus is god. He also references some gnostic writings that seam to indicate the same idea.
Personally I think Jesus life story, travels etc. were modeled after Apollonius of Tirana.