Three from Galilee
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Absolutely Amazing
  • Ideal for the right reader
  • Beautiful Fictional Story
  • It just really helped me to see Jesus as a Man in this book.
Three from Galilee
Marjorie Holmes
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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  1. Two From Galilee: The Story Of Mary And Joseph Two From Galilee: The Story Of Mary And Joseph
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  4. Two Women Of Galilee Two Women Of Galilee
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ASIN: 0553281224
Release Date: 1986-11-01

Book Description

Marjorie Holmes, the award-winning author of such classic bestsellers as I've Got to Talk to Somebody, God, was renowned for making the Bible come to life in books that brought hope and inspiration to millions. The first novel in this trilogy-her acclaimed, hugely successful Two from Galilee-told the great love story of Mary and Joseph as never before.

Now, in Three from Galilee, Holmes's fictionalized retelling of the life of Jesus covers a period overlooked by the Gospels-the "lost years" between age 12, when Jesus debated the elders in the temple, to the age of 30, when he actually began his ministry. With great reverence, she dares to wonder what Jesus did during those years, if he was like other young men of his time, and whether he experienced God's greatest gift to humanity-love. Using her remarkable talents, Holmes brings Jesus, his parents, brothers, sisters, and friends to life in a story that is dramatic, deeply moving, and unforgettable.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Amazing.......2006-09-12

This book is by far one of the best books you can possibly get your hands on. Marjorie Holmes is such an extraordinary author. She writes with such vivid detail that it's like you're really there. She also has a decent vocabulary, and her descriptions are absolutely luscious.

Best of all, she has taken the time to make sure her book is fairly accurate.

You can really lose yourself in this book. Hours could go by as you're reading, and you wouldn't even realize it. I absolutely love this story. I can hardly bring myself to put it down, it's just so lovely and inspiring. I love the relationship between Joseph and Mary, but reading about Jesus is by far the best part of all. Holmes teaches us that Jesus had feelings just like the rest of us. He laughed, he cried, he cared for others, and it's possible that even he could have fallen in love.

Full of sweetness, mystery, and poetry, this is one book that no living soul should go without reading.

4 out of 5 stars Ideal for the right reader.......2006-03-20

I find this book well written and useful. Of course most of it is speculation based on what is known from ancient documents about Jesus' life from age 2 to 30 (of which there is little). But I think it is very helpful to speculate and have done so myself. It helps us to realize that Jesus was not some lofty deity who can't know what we go through, but himself experienced all the problems we have in this life, went through the same process of maturation and can sympathize and help us as we face the perplexities of life.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful Fictional Story.......2004-07-24

This is a beautiful fictional story about the childhood and early adulthood of Jesus. This could have happened. Since there is not much about His childhood in the Bible, it makes you wonder even more about His actual life and family and if it really could have been this way. This book is great for any age person who wants to get a small glimpse of that time period and what it may have been like to live then. Some biblical references make it more real for a Christian. Also read the first book about Mary and Joseph - Two from Galilee.

5 out of 5 stars It just really helped me to see Jesus as a Man in this book........1998-10-15

It was a real and personal way for me to see Jesus. Because he was fully man. Sometimes when we think of Jesus we forget that he was fully Man.
Jesus & the Forgotten City: New Light on Sepphoris and the Urban World of Jesus
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Jesus & the Forgotten City: New Light on Sepphoris and the Urban World of Jesus
    Richard A. Batey
    Manufacturer: Baker Pub Group
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0801010160
    Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series)
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      Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series)
      Mark A. Chancey
      Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
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      1. The Myth of a Gentile Galilee (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series) The Myth of a Gentile Galilee (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series)
      2. Jesus and Archaeology Jesus and Archaeology

      ASIN: 0521846471

      Book Description

      Examining architecture, inscriptions, coins, and art from Alexander the Great's conquest until the early fourth century CE, Mark Chancey argues that the extent of Greco-Roman culture in the time of Jesus has often been greatly exaggerated. Antipas's reign in the early first century was indeed a time of transition, but the more dramatic shifts in Galilee's cultural climate happened in the second century, after the arrival of a large Roman garrison. Any attempt to understand the Galilean setting of Jesus must recognize the significance of the region's historical development as well as how Galilee fits into the larger context of the Roman East.
      Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: A Re-Examination of the Evidence
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • The usual
      • Not_ Integrating the Book and the Spade
      • An Outstanding Study
      • A MUST BUY
      • Wow!!
      Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: A Re-Examination of the Evidence
      Jonathan L. Reed
      Manufacturer: Trinity Press International
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      1. Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee: The Social Context of Jesus and the Rabbis Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee: The Social Context of Jesus and the Rabbis
      2. Jesus and Archaeology Jesus and Archaeology
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      5. The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity: From Alexander to Bar Kochba The Jewish People in Classical Antiquity: From Alexander to Bar Kochba

      ASIN: 1563383241

      Book Description

      This book reconstructs first-century Galilee from archaeological surveys, excavations, and artifacts, and provides descriptions of the material remains relevant to historical Jesus research and New Testament studies. Drawing on his years of field experience in Galilee, Reed illustrates how the archaeological record has been misused by New Testament scholars, and how synthesis of the material culture is foundational for understanding Christian origins in Galilee and the Jewish culture out of which they arose.

      Part One shows how settlement patterns and artifacts from Galilee point to close ties between Judean and Galilean Jews at the time of Jesus, and how Herod Antipas' urbanization projects at Sepphoris and Tiberias commercialized and aggravated peasant life in agrarian Galilean society. Part Two focuses on the archaeology of two Galilean sites and their import for historical Jesus research: Sepphoris, Antipas' capital and the largest city in Galilee just north of Nazareth, and Capernaum, Jesus' base of operations on the periphery of Antipas' power. Part Three concludes with studies illustrating the necessity of considering the specifically Galilean local conditions when interpreting New Testament texts.

      Customer Reviews:

      1 out of 5 stars The usual.......2006-08-01

      Sad thing is about such so called archeological books is they are extremely bias.
      This is not a scientific approach where one takes the verifiable evidence where it leads this is a CHRISTIAN Archeologist seeking evidence that can be manipulated to agree with Biblical accounts, and denying any & all evidence that clearly shows no such "godman" ever lived.

      Any REAL Archeological view would have to come down to the absolute fact that no verifiable/falsifiable evidence of anykind exist that proves any such person as a "Jesus of Nazareth" ever existed.
      This author will never admit that there is no evidence at all that any such city as "Nazareth" existed until at least 100++ years after the alleged lifetime of the mythical Jesus character.

      This Christian archeologist will never admit that not a single word was written by ANYBODY anywhere DURING this alleged godmans lifetime.
      This CHRISTIAN archeologist will never admit the true origins of Christianity come entirely from much older Pagan religions of Sumeria, Babylon & Kemet.
      This Christian archeologist will never admit that the NT is just what is known as a "Astrological Drama" written in the old pagan passion play style.
      This Christian archeologist will never admit that the godman, the character Jesus is just an "ALLEGORY FOR THE SUN".
      The twelve disciples are allegory for the 12 signs of the Zodiac and the so called 1 year ministry of the SUN/Jesus is merely the Sun's yearly cycle.

      This same Christian archeologist list in his "top ten archaeological discoveries in Palestine and Israel" what's is called the "James' ossuary" which is a well known and documented forgery, yet he will not even admit that.

      This is the usual Christian re-write of history which is what they have done for 2000 years now.

      If you want REAL Archeological data & unbiased reporting of real evidence then you dont listen to a Christian concerning anything possibly related to the middle east because in order to protect their cognition, their "biblical worldview", their religion, their deity they will do and say ANYTHING and deny ALL evidence that is contrary which BTW is A LOT.

      Do yourself a favor and google "Did a Historical Jesus exist? By Jim Walker. or maybe "Did Jesus ever live" by Louis W Cable and also "The Jesus Puzzle" by Earl Doherty.

      This book is nothing but pure Christian Mythology & apologetics

      5 out of 5 stars Not_ Integrating the Book and the Spade.......2004-05-31

      Jonathan Reed has written a critique of that form of biblical scholarship which is primarily text-centered and where exegesis is the main goal. What is needed instead is not just an awareness of more more artifacts, but an examination of the material culture that impinge upon Christian origins. Reed sees the real value of archaeology as being able to reconstruct the social world of Jesus and his followers.

      In Part One, Reed considers the identity of the Galileans. They are not descendants of Israelites of the Northern Kingdom; there is an absence of settlements for over a century after the conquest of Tiglath-pileser. They are not Itureans; signs of their settlements may be found in adjacent areas but not in Galilee. The Galileans are primarily Jews; they settled Galilee during the Hasmonean period and used the same domestic space (artifacts and the like) as found in Judea.

      Some implications for the Jesus tradition are obvious. The teachings of Jesus cannot be seen as some sort of Galilean Judaism over and against some sort of Judean Judaism. Likewise passages in Q which are supposedly based upon northern tradi-tions cannot be an attempt at reviving centuries old Israelite traditions.

      Part Two focuses on two cities: Sepphoris and Capernaum. Though not mentioned in the Bible, Sepphoris is often used by biblical scholars to explain an influence of Hellenistic culture (such as Jesus' use of the word "hypocrite"). However most of the
      Hellenization of Sepphoris came after the time of Jesus. Much attention has been given to the house of Peter at Capernaum. Reed focuses on the large fishing and agricultural village which was on the lower end of the economic scale.

      Part Three reverses the methodological sequence of the first two parts. Rather than moving from archaeology to text, Reed moves from text to archaeology. Here Reed is attempting to show how texts fit the Galilean background and how situations in Galilee were worked into the text.

      Reed is on target in his critique as evidenced by the misidentification of the Galileans. Also his book is well written and amply footnoted for those who want to know more.

      5 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Study.......2001-01-22

      As a serious amateur student of Biblical archeology, especially the Second Temple era, I enthusiastically recommend this book. The author not only brings keen familiarity with the fundaments of Israel archeology, but an unusually rich and wide appreciation of the relevant intersecting Biblical and secular literature. He puts it together with elegant clarity, caution, and moderation, and what rewarded this reader was a picture of Jesus' Galilee more detailed, vivid, plausible, well-grounded and convincing than I have gotten from any other single manuscript on this subject.

      5 out of 5 stars A MUST BUY.......2000-12-16

      Reed has provided a very readable guide to understanding the historical Jesus in his actual context. He is an archaeologist who knows how to write stuff that can be understood by any interested reader. Anyone who wants to learn more about the setting of Jesus should have this book.

      5 out of 5 stars Wow!!.......2000-11-30

      What an interesting and amazing book!! If you've ever been interested in the context of Jesus' life and teaching then this book is for you. By vividly placing Jesus in the sociological and economic Galilean context Reed (a noted authority on Jesus) brings the gospels to life like never before. Reed bridges the gap between those who are so text centered they are blind to historical realities with the world of the often myopic academic archeologist to fuse a new understanding (if not an entirely new discipline!) of the everyday dynamics of Jesus life and teachings. A must read for anyone seriously interested in a contemporary view of Jesus.
      A God of Incredible Surprises: Jesus of Galilee (Celebrating Faith)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Joyful surprises...
      • Good theology starts from life experiences
      A God of Incredible Surprises: Jesus of Galilee (Celebrating Faith)
      Virgil P. Elizondo
      Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

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      ASIN: 0742533883

      Book Description

      In this remarkable rereading of the life of Jesus, theologian Virgilio Elizondo, cited by TIME Magazine as one our the spiritual innovators of out time, focuses on the humanity of Jesus and the healing his life offers to ourselves and our world today. Visit our website for sample chapters!

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Joyful surprises..........2004-02-06

      Virgilio Elizondo is one of the foremost theologians in America, particularly when it comes to looking at issues from the Hispanic/Latino perspective. Currently on the faculty at Notre Dame, he has spent time in practical ministry as well as teaching and administrative positions throughout his interesting career.

      This book is not so much a theology or history text (Elizondo has written in these areas) but rather a spirituality book, drawing on his own experiences as well as those of his community and his scholarly background. It is truly interesting to see how the influence of his Latino background impacts his spirituality in a North American context. The interplay of ideas and cultures (sometimes clashing, sometimes complementary) makes for new insights.

      Elizondo draws his section headings from almost entirely from gospel lines. For example, in highlighting Matthew 11:28 (`Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest') he mentions his Latino university students who find in the church not just a place to worship, but rather as a `hang-out', a place to meet new friends, and a welcoming space for those without much money, as many of his students were, and weren't questioned as to why they were there - in many ways, this reflects the crowds who followed Jesus around. In highlighting another passage, John 1:46 (`Can anything good come from Nazareth?'), Elizondo likens this to the problem of coming from the wrong side of the tracks, the wrong side of town, or the wrong class. Yet in this way (also drawing on John 7:41, that the messiah would not come from Galilee) Jesus can bring about change without being co-opted by the system, or by expectations.

      Through insights such as this, virtually every page is a new way of thinking and reflecting. Elizondo is sensitive to issues of culture, race, class, and religion, and shows how these are more embedded in our thoughts than we might think. Elizondo's liberation theology framework is evident in that he looks at Jesus as the champion for the underclass and the oppressed, as a person at the margins for those on the margins of society. Elizondo challenges ideas that mainline denominations often hold of Jesus as a figure of comfort and complacency.

      This book would make a wonderful Lenten study for individuals or groups. It also would make a good book for looking at Christology in a non-traditional way.

      5 out of 5 stars Good theology starts from life experiences.......2004-01-02

      Virgilio Elizondo is well known for his commitment as a pastoral theologian promoting mestizo theology. This book presents a christology that takes its bearings to a large extent from his encounters with fellow Mexican American men and women and from his parish ministry in San Antonio, Texas. It also shows a broad scientific erudition and it clearly relies on intense conversations with colleagues and friends. Basically, this christology constitutes an exploration of New Testament passages from the perspective of the following question : « How does Jesus of Galilee become the Christ to persons who feel doomed to exclusion and marginalization because of their mixed-race or mixed-ethnic origins ? » (5) This is, of course, also an approach that will provide the reader with a glance at the faith intimacy of V. Elizondo himself. The answer to the question is that of a friend, with whom one shares the reading of scripture texts to discover that surprising other friend, Jesus of Galilee.

      From a christological point of view this book is important as it exemplifies how marginalized men and women read the narratives of Jesus so that these become for them truly healing and empowering encounters with Christ. From the perspective of theological method V. Elizondo introduces a promising approach that connects well with the growing importance of contextual theologies. The creative and stimulating interaction between life and text that we find here, offers surprising insights both in the experience of marginalization and in the meaning of the scriptural texts. The reader discovers supposedly well-known New Testament passages with a fresh eye and in the process comes closer to the mystery itself of God's presence in Jesus of Galilee, who was himself a marginalized person with the capacity to feast and celebrate life, who valued friendship and community, whose loving commitment to others turns the suffering on the cross into strength and joy for those friends who suffer marginalization, feelings of insecurity and exclusion.

      When the healing power and joy of Jesus of Galilee are so strongly transmitted to mestizo men and women, to the extent that they experience that he is the Christ of God, then light is also shed on who Jesus himself was and how God worked and continues to work in him for us. Indeed, friends know friends. Not surprisingly, V. Elizondo suggest a mestizo christology : Jesus of Galilee is so understandable to mestizo men and women because he himself experienced mestizo reality as his own. If we were to look for Jesus today, it would not be a bad idea to follow the star - the New Testament passages as interpreted by V. Elizondo - to San Antonio, Texas. This is a truly stimulating and consoling book, in which theology and biblical interpretation become a gift of life.
      Jesus, A Jewish Galilean: A New Reading Of The Jesus Story
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • A trust in the goodness of creation
      Jesus, A Jewish Galilean: A New Reading Of The Jesus Story
      Sean Freyne
      Manufacturer: T. & T. Clark Publishers
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      5. Galilee and Gospel: Collected Essays Galilee and Gospel: Collected Essays

      ASIN: 0567084671

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars A trust in the goodness of creation.......2005-02-10

      This work I found extremely interesting. In particular I enjoyed chapter two - Jesus and the Ecology of Galilee: Ecological Factors and Human Culture.

      I found the use made of Halovr Monxes' discussion of place as a contested space very insightful.

      The work reveals Dr. Freyne's great understanding of Jesus in the context of Galilee. It opened up for me such questions as why Jesus was attracted to the villages of Caesarea Philippi and to Mt Hermon: to the wellspring of the Great River.

      The following line from page 149 touched me in a special way:

      "His (Jesus) was a faith that was grounded in a trust in the goodness of creation as he had experienced it and reflected on its mysterious but hidden processes."

      May the ebbs and flows of the scholarly quest for the historical Jesus be empowered by this fine work.
      WITH JESUS THROUGH GALILEE ACCORDING TO THE FIFTH GOSPEL
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Go to the Holy Land in the comfort of your home
      WITH JESUS THROUGH GALILEE ACCORDING TO THE FIFTH GOSPEL
      Bargil Pixner
      Manufacturer: Corazin
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: 9654340011

      Product Description

      Includes folding map in back of book.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Go to the Holy Land in the comfort of your home.......2007-10-14

      Bargil Pixner has given us a great gift in this work. His attention to detail on Galilee adds a depth that is not found in other works. Most books on the Holy Land read like a dime store tour guide. Bargil Pixner has created a scholarly work that makes the Galilee of Jesus' time come alive for us today.
      Jesus As a Figure in History: How Modern Historians View the Man from Galilee
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • I was tricked
      • who do historians say that I am?
      • Understanding Jesus
      • Clear, scholarly, meaningful, and even devotional!
      • a clear explanation of a difficult and complex subject
      Jesus As a Figure in History: How Modern Historians View the Man from Galilee
      Mark Allan Powell
      Manufacturer: Westminster John Knox Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0664257038

      Customer Reviews:

      1 out of 5 stars I was tricked.......2006-11-23

      This is not historical and factual - the book was theologic lies and bull. Circular Logic. YUCK. Unless you are Christian and want to read happy lies to help you sleep at night do not buy this book

      5 out of 5 stars who do historians say that I am? .......2006-10-20

      Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Today, few scholars doubt that Jesus actually existed, that he was a real historical figure. But exactly who or what was he? A raving madman? A prophet? A self-proclaimed Messiah? Or...?

      This book, written by Mark Allan Powell (who is incidentally a Lutheran) doesnt give an answer to the question "who was Jesus". Rather, it describes the views of various scholars on the matter. Inevitably, there are many different views on Jesus within the scholarly community.

      Powell begins by giving a short historical background. He describes how scholars during the 18th and 19th centuries attempted to cast Jesus in a "naturalist" mold. His miracles were really natural occurances, misunderstood by the superstitious disciples. The "kingdom of God" preached by Jesus was an earthly, political entity, not something supernatural and divine. And so on. The eschatological, apocalyptic and messianic elements of the Gospels were rejected as later ideas, and Jesus was transformed into a figure acceptable to 19th century agnostics or atheists. During the first half of the 20th century, Albert Schweitzer decisively challenged these ideas, "re-discovering" the eschatological ideas of Jesus, placing him once again in a firm 1st century Palestinian context. However, Schweitzer also believed that Jesus had failed in his mission, and that 20th century Christians must adopt an ultra-liberal, Social Gospel stance.

      The main bulk of the book is devoted to contemporary scholars and their views of the historical Jesus. Powell does a good job in describing the various positions, the criticism levelled against them, and the often tricky methodological issues involved. For instance, how do we know what parts of the Gospels give the most trustworthy historical information about Jesus? How should apocryphal texts like "the Gospel of Thomas" be evaluated? What about the Talmud? Etc.

      A particularly tricky criterion is the one called Dissimilarity. If a statement purported to be by Jesus is very different from 1st century Jewish conceptions, while also being potentially embarrasing to the early Church, it is usually deemed authentic. However, the Dissimilarity criterion gets problematic if taken to far. If the historical Jesus was neither "Jewish" nor "Christian", its difficult to explain why he recruited Jewish disciples who eventually founded the Christian Church! Dissimilarity risk turning Jesus into an unexplicable anomaly. In reality, there must have been at least some continuity between John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul. Why else would Jesus become a follower of John? And why else would Paul claim to act in Jesus name? Powell also points out another very common problem: those who attempt to reconstruct the "real" ideas of Jesus often end up with a Jesus whose ideas are similiar to their own! Leftist radicals end up with a leftist radical Jesus, Catholics with a Catholic Jesus, vegeterians with a vegetarian Jesus... Indeed, one of the things that made Schweitzer so remarkable was precisely that he came up with a Jesus he couldnt agree with.

      The scholarly opinions described by Powell include those of the Jesus Seminar, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus J. Borg, E.P. Sanders, John P. Meier and N.T. Wright. The Jesus Seminar and Crossan represent the "liberal" part of the spectrum, with Crossan speculating that Jesus was a kind of Cynic, antinomian philosopher, more Hellenistic than Jewish, indeed, something of a 1st century hippie. By contrast, N.T. Wright has adopted an almost Biblical position, claiming that Jesus might very well have believed himself to be the God of Israel in the flesh. Of course, its difficult to escape the suspiscion that Crossan is a hippie of sorts himself, while Wright might be some kind of evangelical!

      As already noted, the author of "Jesus as a figure in history" never answers that Question of Questions Jesus put to his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?". But at least, he has made it possible for the rest of us to contemplate the scholarly responses.

      Five stars!!

      5 out of 5 stars Understanding Jesus.......2006-01-29

      Powell's book might not be for everyone. If you are a hardend Christian then you may want to gloss over this book because you may become so irate that you will go medieval witch hunting for all atheists.

      With that being said, Powell presents this book as a way for the reader to see the best and brightest in the field of historical studies on Jesus. From the Jesus Seminar, E.P Sanders, N.T. Wright, and more, the reader will find theirselve emersed in a book that doesn't stop delivering. Was Jesus Hellenistic or was his movement a social or political one? The numerous historians in this book will offer their expert opinions on these questions.

      Another note about the book, you will notice that each chapter begins with quotes, these quotes will lead you into each chapter and should help you understand what the chapter is about. Powell provides a background for each historian so that the reader will know what and why the historian is saying what he is saying, coupled with an excellent bibliography and note source for further reference. In addition, the reader will find a critique after each historian has been presented. These critiques are from the other leading scholars on the historical Jesus.

      FYI, this is not a book of theology, so do not make it one. The reader needs to keep in mind that this is a book on the historical Jesus not the Church Jesus, although, many of the concepts of the Church Jesus are mentioned, such as the pre-Easter vs. the post-Easter Jesus. Also, many things will be mentioned that run contrary to the official doctrine of the Church, such as Jesus having political motives and the apocolypse that Jesus was teaching about was really just the return of the Jewish people from what "HE" saw as a still existing exile.

      With all that being said, this book possesses great scholary work, but in a condensed version of the originals.

      5 out of 5 stars Clear, scholarly, meaningful, and even devotional!.......2002-07-15

      I couldn't get enough of this book. Powell is a wonderful writer, and he introduces us to the perspectives of Historical Jesus scholars of the last two centuries with absolute clarity and just the right details. I just had a lot of fun reading on the different scholarly views on who that ancient man of sorrows was. Powell seemingly has no axe to grind, seems completely competent to plough the terrain, and makes the whole trip worth it with the last two pages of the book....After this huge deluge of information about what Jesus did or did not say; after all of the guessing concerning Jesus message; after probing why Jesus has remained so controversial after 2000 years, Powell offers a tantalizing scenario concerning the very first Christian words ever penned on the last two pages (his only personal reflections in the book). I had to wipe the tears from my eyes after that.

      This book is a 5 all the way. You won't be disappointed regardless of your view of who Jesus was (or is).

      5 out of 5 stars a clear explanation of a difficult and complex subject.......2002-03-14

      Dr. Powell is head of the Historical Jesus section of the SBL. He not only is a New Testament scholar in his own right, he is also a respected colleague and friend of the Jesus Scholars he discusses. He not only has read their works, but he understands their positions from the inside.

      In my experience, the study of the Historical Jesus is sometimes characterized by rhetoric, special pleading, and an unfruitful "us" vs. "them" attitude. While Powell is forthright about his own views when this is appropriate, he comes across as
      surprisingly objective as he discusses the pros and cons of each position. This is aided by the fact that the Jesus scholars often disagree with each other - so he can just say "Wright would take issue with that", or "Crossan responds to this view
      in this way."

      Powell's writing style is refreshingly informal at times, and he obviously strives for clarity over the "scholar-speak" so often encountered. At the same time, he is obviously familiar with the technical concepts and not only throws the jargon around
      but often explains it.

      The book shows unusual restraint - Powell gives the reader room to formulate his/her own conclusions, while providing insight into both the issues and the scholars themselves.

      I understand that this book is used in college courses as an introduction to the subject, and I can see why.

      _Jesus As a Figure in History_ is a rare contribution: a clear explanation of a difficult and complex subject. I give it a 5.
      Joel: A Boy of Galilee
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Joel: a Boy of Galilee
      • Stellar!
      Joel: A Boy of Galilee
      Annie F. Johnston
      Manufacturer: Foundation for Amer Christian
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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      1. The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy The Children's Homer: The Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy

      ASIN: 0912498110
      Release Date: 1992-11-01

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Joel: a Boy of Galilee.......2004-04-05

      An interesting story of an ordinary young boy who lives when Jesus lived. It gives a good picture of the country where Joel lived. As Joel grows up, the story touches every point of the gospel story . It is a witness of the life of Christ. Written in 1895, my 1920 edition, includes a preface stating the book gives younger readers a picture of the times of Christ just as "Ben Hur" does for older readers. It is an uplifting story, well written, and worth reading by all ages. A wonderful book to have.

      5 out of 5 stars Stellar!.......2001-06-07

      Joel: A Boy of Galilee is an outstanding book of historical fiction that renders the Judaeo-Roman world of Christ in magnificent detail. It addresses the confusion and frequent misconceptions surrounding the ministry of Christ, as well as His reception within the Jewish culture of the Roman world.

      Johnston uses excellent description to bring the times of Jesus alive to children. She returns again and again to the central question of the Messiah's kingdom, asking questions that are just as pertinent today as they were when the disciples were fighting about which of them was the greatest.

      All of this is seen through the eyes of Joel, a young boy who truly has the eyes of a child. The book is a fictional masterpiece set within a fascinating time period that is all too often misunderstood in the current era of warm-fuzzy Christianity.
      Galilee: History, Politics, People
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Galilee: History, Politics, People
        Richard A. Horsley
        Manufacturer: Trinity Press International
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

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        2. Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee: The Social Context of Jesus and the Rabbis Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee: The Social Context of Jesus and the Rabbis
        3. Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements in the Time of Jesus
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        ASIN: 1563381338

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