Book Reviews: Jesus, Jesus' Life, Historicity, Impact
Who was Jesus of Nazareth, the person revered by Christians as the messiah? Did he really exist? If so, what did he do, what were his goals? Does he continue to have any relevance today? These questions and more are addressed in dozens of new books every year. Learn here more about some of the best recently published books about Jesus.
The Parables of Jesus, by Luise Schottroff
One of the most prominent features of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament is the parables attributed to Jesus. It's been argued that these parables constitute their own genre which basically originates with the New Testament itself. They are a defining feature of New Testament literature and of the teachings attributed to Jesus. Given their status, one would expect them to be well understood - but are they? Perhaps not as well as they should be.
One of the most prominent features of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament is the parables attributed to Jesus. It's been argued that these parables constitute their own genre which basically originates with the New Testament itself. They are a defining feature of New Testament literature and of the teachings attributed to Jesus. Given their status, one would expect them to be well understood - but are they? Perhaps not as well as they should be.
American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon
Jesus appears to be alive and well in America. Many people seek to discover the 'historical' Jesus who gave rise to the Christian religion, but at least as interesting is the 'cultural' Jesus which has given rise to all sorts of modern religious movements, political developments, and cultural progress...
Jesus appears to be alive and well in America. Many people seek to discover the 'historical' Jesus who gave rise to the Christian religion, but at least as interesting is the 'cultural' Jesus which has given rise to all sorts of modern religious movements, political developments, and cultural progress...
The Resurrection Of Christ: A Historical Inquiry
Was there a man named Jesus who lived, was executed, and then after three days rose from the dead? Christians believe so - this is the central doctrine of their faith, on that justify belief in God, in an afterlife, and in their own salvation. Others are not so sure about this, however, and some argue that it is a false belief - even from the perspective of Christian tradition itself.
Was there a man named Jesus who lived, was executed, and then after three days rose from the dead? Christians believe so - this is the central doctrine of their faith, on that justify belief in God, in an afterlife, and in their own salvation. Others are not so sure about this, however, and some argue that it is a false belief - even from the perspective of Christian tradition itself.
Jesus After 2000 Years
Assuming that Jesus really existed in some fashion, what did he really do and say? Can we know anything about what his original ideas were, without later additions and mythologizing? And if so, how? These are the sorts of questions which have occupied theologians and scholars for hundreds of years. And, for a long time, there was widespread agreement on the answers to those questions.
Assuming that Jesus really existed in some fashion, what did he really do and say? Can we know anything about what his original ideas were, without later additions and mythologizing? And if so, how? These are the sorts of questions which have occupied theologians and scholars for hundreds of years. And, for a long time, there was widespread agreement on the answers to those questions.
Jesus and the Lost Goddess
Was Christianity originally founded upon the teachings and activities of a real person named Jesus, or was it rather based upon a fictionalized character created to convey mysterious truths? Does the answer to this question have any consequences for the nature of Christianity, either for today or for the future?
Was Christianity originally founded upon the teachings and activities of a real person named Jesus, or was it rather based upon a fictionalized character created to convey mysterious truths? Does the answer to this question have any consequences for the nature of Christianity, either for today or for the future?
The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man: How Reliable Are the Gospels?
Did Jesus exist as a real, physical person? That’s always been assumed by Christians, but recent scholarship has begun to cast some doubt upon that. The more one looks at the biblical record, the less reliable the evidence of a historical Jesus becomes. If one probes deeply enough, belief in a historical Jesus may become unjustified.
Did Jesus exist as a real, physical person? That’s always been assumed by Christians, but recent scholarship has begun to cast some doubt upon that. The more one looks at the biblical record, the less reliable the evidence of a historical Jesus becomes. If one probes deeply enough, belief in a historical Jesus may become unjustified.
The Messiah Before Jesus: The Suffering Servant of the Dead Scrolls
Was Jesus an innovative figure in Judaism or was he the inheritor of an established belief system about the nature of the role of a Messiah? Traditional Christian opinions have ranged widely on this issue, with some saying that Jesus claimed a unique Messiah role, and others arguing that this was only claimed later by the Christian community, because it was totally unknown in Judaism.
Was Jesus an innovative figure in Judaism or was he the inheritor of an established belief system about the nature of the role of a Messiah? Traditional Christian opinions have ranged widely on this issue, with some saying that Jesus claimed a unique Messiah role, and others arguing that this was only claimed later by the Christian community, because it was totally unknown in Judaism.
The Human Christ: The Search for the Historical Jesus
Who was Jesus? Innumerable people - scholars and lay people alike - have wanted to answer that question and have therefore embarked upon a "quest for the historical Jesus." What has been the result of their efforts? According to Charlotte Allen, not very much. Allen argues that these "quests" reveal much more about the psychology and ideology of the questors and little or nothing about Jesus.
Who was Jesus? Innumerable people - scholars and lay people alike - have wanted to answer that question and have therefore embarked upon a "quest for the historical Jesus." What has been the result of their efforts? According to Charlotte Allen, not very much. Allen argues that these "quests" reveal much more about the psychology and ideology of the questors and little or nothing about Jesus.
Deconstructing Jesus
If you look at the books written by liberal Christian theologians about Jesus, you'll find a bewildering array of Jesuses with all sorts of agendas, ideas, and personalities. Who was this Jesus supposed to be? A political revolutionary? A religious dissident? Maybe a quiet mystic whose life got blown out of proportion?
If you look at the books written by liberal Christian theologians about Jesus, you'll find a bewildering array of Jesuses with all sorts of agendas, ideas, and personalities. Who was this Jesus supposed to be? A political revolutionary? A religious dissident? Maybe a quiet mystic whose life got blown out of proportion?
Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet
Who was Jesus? Biographies of him are plentiful and arouse intense passion among authors and readers - more so than with the biographies of other figures. Everyone seems to have their own opinions as to who Jesus "really" was and what his "genuine" intentions must have been.
Who was Jesus? Biographies of him are plentiful and arouse intense passion among authors and readers - more so than with the biographies of other figures. Everyone seems to have their own opinions as to who Jesus "really" was and what his "genuine" intentions must have been.
Jesus Mysteries: Was the 'Original Jesus' a Pagan God?
Did Jesus really exist? Most critics tend to be negative - they take information internal to Christianity and argue how and why it does not support the existence of a historical Jesus. This is complimented by Freke and Gandy's The Jesus Mysteries, because they spend more time on positive arguments, examining all of the amazing parallels between Christianity and pagan mystery religions.
Did Jesus really exist? Most critics tend to be negative - they take information internal to Christianity and argue how and why it does not support the existence of a historical Jesus. This is complimented by Freke and Gandy's The Jesus Mysteries, because they spend more time on positive arguments, examining all of the amazing parallels between Christianity and pagan mystery religions.
The Jewish Messiahs: From the Galilee to Crown Heights
Judaism and the concept of a messiah are closely linked in many people's minds, but that link exists for reasons most people are not aware of. For many, the linkage occurs because of the belief that Jesus Christ was the awaited Messiah, sent by God to his chosen people, the Jews. But this is a belief held, by definition, only by Christians - it is not shared by Jews or Muslims.
Judaism and the concept of a messiah are closely linked in many people's minds, but that link exists for reasons most people are not aware of. For many, the linkage occurs because of the belief that Jesus Christ was the awaited Messiah, sent by God to his chosen people, the Jews. But this is a belief held, by definition, only by Christians - it is not shared by Jews or Muslims.
The First Messiah: Investigating the Savior before Jesus
About 100 years before the lifetime of Jesus, a man came to Jerusalem who would be called 'The Teacher of Righteousness.' Given the name Judah by author Michael O. Wise, this all-but-forgotten preacher and prophet prefigured the stories surrounding Jesus in a number of ways. Equally messianic figures, both were were arrested and condemned by authorities due to their religious claims.
About 100 years before the lifetime of Jesus, a man came to Jerusalem who would be called 'The Teacher of Righteousness.' Given the name Judah by author Michael O. Wise, this all-but-forgotten preacher and prophet prefigured the stories surrounding Jesus in a number of ways. Equally messianic figures, both were were arrested and condemned by authorities due to their religious claims.