Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration
by Pope Benedict XVI
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Book Reviews of Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration
Book Review: Jesus himself
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book i had seen dozens of times before buying it. Whenever at a bookstore I would always see Benedict XVI's section and very happily pass on over them, expecting them to be extremely dry.
However one day i was hopping around amazon and found this book's paged and was shocked...4.5 stars?!?! Surely this was the result of a wave of catholics loving their pope without reservation. After all, wasn't this the guy Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, that scary conservative.
I read some reviews and realized that maybe this book, and the man himself, were more than I had originally assumed. My next trip to borders I went directly to Benedict, picked up Jesus of Nazareth, and bought it.
The opening chapter/preface enthralled me. Yes, it is extremely dry and I am sure unbearably boring to many people. However I am one of those strange people attracted to scholarship with all its weird terms...so I loved it. If you pick it up and are turned off by the opening section, do NOT stop reading the book. It is a needed chapter in order to inform the reader of Benedict's foundation for what he is to explore in the rest of the book.
From then on every chapter stunned me. Lots of underlining. Lots. I believe what made this book truly great was Benedict's ability to expose all the connections, all the threads that illuminate passages to bring their full meaning to life. Though there are many examples I shall list only one. Prior to this book I had always viewed the Sermon on the Mount/Plain to be a simple teaching on law and ethics, much like the rabbinical judaism that was forming in Jesus' day. However Benedict brought to light the christological nature of the sermon and COMPLETELY changed its meaning to both what happened 2000 years ago, and how i realte to it. It is not a teaching of law; it is a teaching of Jesus himself.
And this is thus what is at the very center of this book: Jesus himself. As is stated on the back cover, this book is simply a search for the face of the Lord. It begins with a passage, explains how everything relates to it, and then returns to the heart of it all, Jesus.
Simply a wonderful book. It may seem dry sometimes, but bear through! You will be thankful in the end, for the work is truly a wonderful well for both knowledge and faith. This book is pure and simply Jesus himself. It is not how his teachings or necessarily actions effect us today; it is how Jesus' very existence and being completely change everything. Everything indeed.
Book Review: thorough and predictable
Summary: 3 Stars
For over a century, the historical-critical study of Scripture has been pre-occupied with the chasm separating what we can reliably know about the Jesus of history and the Christ of post-Easter faith. Efforts have been made to identify layers of traditions, with contradictory results but widespread agnosticism about the historical Jesus. Ratzinger believes that the historical-critical method is an "indispensable dimension of exegetical work," but he also insists that the method has its limits and is not, therefore, sufficient by itself. Despite the wide variation of texts in the Bible, he assumes "a prior act of faith" that believes in "a single overall direction" or "overall unity" of the Bible. "I trust the Gospels," he says.
After his short methodological introduction, Pope Benedict offers a comprehensive survey of the life and teachings of Jesus. Jesus was not just a rebel rabbi or an enlightened teacher of "prudential morality." In one of the most interesting portions of the book (pp. 103-127), he uses as a friendly foil the book by the acclaimed Jewish scholar Jacob Neusner called A Rabbi Talks with Jesus. Neusner gets it right, he thinks, even though he cannot commit himself in faith to Jesus, because he understands that Jesus substituted his very own self for all that Jewish history and theology holds dear. Jesus himself, in this view, is the new Torah, the new Temple, the new Sabbath, the new Israel. Benedict shows this to be the case as he works through chapters on the baptism and temptation of Jesus, his proclamation of the kingdom, the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord's Prayer, the Disciples, the parables, the Johannine material, Peter's Confession, and the Transfiguration.
There are few surprises in this book by the leader of global Catholicism. He aims to write in a personal and pastoral style but sometimes digresses into more scientific theological jargon, much of it about older German thinkers like Bultmann, Harnack and Julicher. This gives the book a distinctly Eurocentric feel. The book is "in no way an exercise of [his] magisterium, but is solely an expression of my personal search 'for the face of the Lord' (Psalm 27:8). Everyone is free, then, to contradict me."
Book Review: The Jesus we're all meant to know...
Summary: 4 Stars
As most of the reviewers have described, Jesus of Nazareth is Pope Benedict XVI's search to find and reveal the true face of Jesus Christ.
In this book, Pope Benedict XVI reveals the first part of Jesus' life. Moreover, the Pope also explains God's purpose in sending Jesus and His way of preparing for Jesus' path. For example, the author draws a parallel between the parable of the Good Samaritan and the entire history of the Earth. In this parable, a man is beaten and left for death outside of the City Walls. High Priests and others walk by the man and scurry onward to the City out of fear and disgust of the man. It is at this time that a Samaritan, a word used to describe a stranger or foreigner, stops to help the injured man and to take him to an inn to recover. This is a metaphor for the "injured" state of man after Adam and Eve's Original Sin. Before Jesus, religion and society scurried on judging but not helping its brethren. This is why God sent Jesus. Jesus is the Samaritan, who has come to care for us and help us recover in his "inn." Jesus' inn is the Church, God's word.
Jesus of Nazareth is full of insights that help followers of Christ get to know Jesus and his real message for us. Pope Benedict XVI offers us explanations of the Our Father prayer and of some of the Bible's parables. Additionally, the author takes us on a journey to major events in the life of Christ, such as his baptism and the Sermon on the Mount.
I do not give this book 5 stars, because at times it gets to be too academic. For example, the Pope addresses and frequently quotes works that I am not familiar with. In fact, I believe that only theologians would have enough background information to understand most of the author's references to other works on Jesus in this book. Aside from this, Jesus of Nazareth is a great book that will allow you to treasure Jesus for what he has done for Mankind.
Book Review: Scholarly Look at Jesus from Baptism to Transfiguration
Summary: 4 Stars
With the second volume coming out next week, I reread "Jesus of Nazareth" by Benedict XVI. Taking aim at scholars who prefer only to focus on the historic Jesus, the Holy Father offers a Jesus who is both human and divine and one very tied in with the prophecies of the Old Testament. When I first read the book, I thought that the Holy Father wrote a book that would appeal more to scholars than general readers. Rereading the book did little to change that. While Benedict does not offer copious notes and citations, he does bring up the works of many other theologians. When I first read the work, I was surprised that Benedict seems to more concerned with correcting works from the early part of the 20th century instead of more recent scholars. On second reading, I changed my view. Benedict may focus on the earlier scholars since they paved the way for later works that he disagrees with. There are more recent works brought up in the work that somehow escaped my attention when I first read the work. Benedict presents a solid argument throughout the entire work. The book, unlike say "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" by John Paul II, is not the most accessible of works--but it is not meant to be. But there are wonderful moments and Benedict is able to offer concise analysis of a number of the more interesting parts of Jesus' ministry such as the baptism by John, the temptation in the desert, the calling of the disciples, the transfiguration. There are occasional slow parts. The Holy Father goes a bit too in depth as he offers analysis on the sermon on the mount and the Lord's Prayer. But these are minor quibbles. While not for readers who lack a theological or Biblical study background, the first volume of "Jesus of Nazareth" is a major book by one of the leading Christian intellectuals of recent decades--who also happens to be Holy Father. I'm counting the days till the second volume is released.Book Review: A Remarkably Brilliant Look at Jesus for All to Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I did not know what to expect when delving into Pope Benedict's writing on Jesus. Although growing up as a Roman Catholic, I have been Protestant for 20 years. Almost immediately, I was impressed by the Pope's writing style and in depth analysis of Jesus of Nazareth. This is truly a book for everyone, regardless of religious affiliation or background.
The Pope writes about Jesus with the knowledge and consideration of a theologian and Bible scholar who has read with interest the plethora of scholarship available and has formed his own reasoned and faithful views. These views he conveys thoughtfully in simple language and style that offers insights and depth for the scholarly readers and plain teachings for lay readers and those learning about Jesus for the first time.
His introduction sets the scene of the landscape in which he writes about a topic that has been the most fully scrutinized in history. He has considered the critics, the facts, the obvious, the subjective and objective views on Jesus. He shares with readers a faith-inspired Jesus who he believes is also the Jesus of history. The Pope's image of Jesus is one compatible with objective historical analysis and Christian faith.
He walks readers through the major events and themes of the early parts of Jesus' life and ministry. He shares considerable insights based on his own faith and analysis, as well as drawing from scholars of all ages including the early Fathers. To many western readers, the Pope will introduce a different perspective from the East, Europe and the early church.
I especially appreciated his writing on the Sermon on the Mount, The Lord's Prayer, the images of John's gospel and the identify of Jesus. His teaching is conguent with what I have learned as a Protestant and at an Anglican seminary. I encourage you to read this book.