This unconventional cultural history explores the lifecycle of the radical historical Jesus, a construct created by the freethinkers, feminists, socialists and anarchists who used the findings of biblical criticism to mount a serious challenge to the authority of elite liberal divines during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.
Recent scholarship on the historical Jesus has rightly focused upon how Jesus understood his own mission. But no scholarly effort to understand the mission of Jesus can rest content without exploring the historical possibility that Jesus envisioned his own death. In this careful and far-reaching study, Scot McKnight contends that Jesus did in fact anticipate his own death, that Jesus understood his death as an atoning sacrifice, and that his death as an atoning sacrifice stood at the heart of Jesus' own mission to protect his own followers from the judgment of God.
"The Historical Jesus: The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ" is an illuminating exploration of one of history's most profound mysteries and its impact on Christianity and world history. Delving into the final days of Jesus Christ, this book presents a detailed chronological account of His death, trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, brought to life through rigorous historical and archaeological investigation, theological insights, and a deep dive into biblical texts. From the foreboding prophecies of Jesus' coming death to the pivotal moments of His trial before Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas and onto the harrowing details of the crucifixion at Golgotha, each chapter meticulously examines the events that culminated in what is arguably the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The narrative continues through the respectful burial by Joseph of Arimathea and culminates in the miraculous resurrection, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of these events' significance. Further enriching this narrative are chapters dedicated to assessing the historical reliability of the resurrection accounts, including discussions on extra-biblical sources and the role of early Christian creeds. The book doesn't shy away from presenting the latest archaeological discoveries and ongoing debates, providing tangible connections to the ancient world. "Theological Implications" delves into the profound spiritual and doctrinal consequences of Jesus' death and resurrection, exploring themes of atonement, salvation, and the transformative power of faith. The conclusion synthesizes the historical, archaeological, and theological strands into a compelling argument for the historical and spiritual significance of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Rich in detail and scope, this book is designed for scholars, students of the Bible, and anyone interested in the historical figure of Jesus Christ and the foundations of Christianity. It invites readers on a journey through the past to rediscover the profound impact of Jesus' life, offering new insights into familiar stories and challenging believers and skeptics alike to consider the depth of Christianity's historical roots.
What difference does it make to identify Mark's gospel as an ancient biography? Reading the gospels as ancient biographies makes a profound difference to the way that we interpret them. Biography immortalizes the memory of the subject, creating a literary monument to the person’s life and teaching. Yet it is also a bid to legitimize a specific view of that figure and to position an author and his audience as appropriate “gatekeepers” of that memory. Biography was well suited to the articulation of shared values and commitments, the formation of group identity, and the binding together of a past story, present concerns, and future hopes. Helen Bond argues that Mark’s author used the genre of biography to extend the gospel from an earlier narrow focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus so that it included the way of life of its founding figure. Situating Jesus at the heart of a biography was a bold step in outlining a radical form of Christian discipleship patterned on the life – and death – of Jesus.
Including a range of materials dating from the nineteenth century to the present, this comprehensive collection brings together the essential research into the historical reality of Jesus the man, his teachings, and the acts and events ascribed to him that comprise the foundational story of one of the world's central religions. br br The set features a substantial new introduction by the editor in the first volume and a full index in the last, and provides work covering all of the key aspects of the field, including the recent discussions concerning anti-Semitism in early Christianity, and the political and ideological filtering of the Jesus story through the Roman empire and beyond.
A compelling, graphical rendition, Radical Jesus tells the story of Jesus and his social message, not just in his own time, but also through the Radical Reformation, recent centuries, and our own time. Featuring illustration by industry standouts Sabrina Jones, Gary Dumm, and Nick Thorkelson, Radical Jesus offers a fresh and inspiring look at basic Christian concepts and social justice themes from the life of Jesus onward. Readers will be drawn into stories from scripture, the Radical Reformation, and peacemaking efforts today in Iraq and Colombia, among others. Free downloadable study guide available here.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
"The last few years have witnessed an unprecedented stream of blockbuster-style claims about the man from Nazareth. Believers and sceptics alike have hardly had time to process one controversial theory before the next one hits the market." Recent claims about the life of Jesus have raised many questions about the historicity of the man from Nazareth. In this accessible book, John Dickson addresses such issues as: When and where was Jesus born? Did he marry? What should we make of the 'miracles' he is reported to have performed? How should we treat the claim that he rose from the dead? And can we be sure that he even existed? In eleven chapters - covering the historical reliability of the New Testament, Jesus' birth and family, his historical context, his teachings, miracles, death, resurrection and subsequent appearances - Dickson clears away the mists of speculation, revealing the founder of Christianity in sharp focus. This is a must-read for anyone wanting a lucid response to the controversial conspiracy theories of the post-modern age.
