Rating: 
Summary: The books is a Hidden Gem
Review: After reading this book once, I find myself going back to it almost daily just to feed my soul with the richness of the translation of someone (Jesus) speaking the Truth about what is available for every human being...the Kingdom of God...that is inherant in our being if we only seek it out! You cannot go wrong with this book as it will open the door even wider for you to experience the "Sacred Unity" that the author describes.
Rating:
Summary: Towards the One
Review: I am really grateful to Neil Douglas Klotz to have written this book because his translation based on his heart felt mystical point of view allowed me to reconcile myself to Jesus and his teaching. (I was an altar boy who left the catholic church as a teenager). His interpretation shows to the mystic that Jesus teaching is similar in content to all the great teachings of all the great spiritual traditions. The emphasis is on experiencing and manifesting the qualities of being in the spirit of love, harmony and beauty.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but Flawed
Review: Interesting in that it may open the eyes of some people to the actual Aramaic language spoken by Jesus and His contemporaries; flawed for the author again creates imaginative 'translations' which are merely new agey *interpretations* of Jesus' teachings.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: It's not surprising that folk gravitate to such a CLAIM of new revelation as that made by Douglas-Klotz. This is certainly not the first time (and probably not the last) that vast numbers have been taken in by a RE-WRITING of portions of the Bible based upon a pretense of scholarship. What a contemplation . . . that minds are disposed to find this one man's translation of the Bible more trustworthy than that of Tyndale or that produced by the panel assembled for the King James Version (constituted by MANY linguistic experts in ancient languages with credentials far exceeding and out-weighing that of Douglas-Klotz)! Even Young, Darby, and a host of others having independently corroborated the accuracy of these earlier translations doesn't seem to constitute much of an impediment for folk rushing head-long into the opines of Douglas-Klotz' claim to "new revelation" based upon HIS linguistic expertise. The Bible's proverb states "there is safety in the multitude of counselors" - and how easily that truth is jettisoned and substituted with one man's claim to accuracy accompanied by what is merely "a multitude of OPINIONS" of his groupies! Of course OPINIONS are often disguised under a cloak and claim of scholarship, and in this case an intriguing offer of Aramaic freshly spoken and heard is yet a further enticement. But how sad that so many will embrace the spiritual SPIN on such crucial texts of the Bible simply because it is interlaced with the offers that the author makes with regard to being able to hear the texts in their original language. As Douglas-Klotz opines his view - egg-headed pundits and readers who have a dearth for critical thinking seem to be scurrying in much haste to make this all out to be a bonafide "new revelation"! Is it that they are merely finding great contentment in a "translation" (really merely an "interpretation") of the scriptural texts that steal away the proper rendering that would lay bare their soul's need for God's redemption? - - - However, the full context of Jesus' teaching and that of the Bible in its entirety points to and emphasizes mankind's need for salvation and how that salvation is found ONLY in Jesus. The author's New Age slant that would obviate that is unmistakable (even though it comes under the guise of "translation" and cloaked in some ability in the Mid-eastern languages). It's clear to me that most of the other reviewers' commentaries that I've read point to how they are eager to embrace this author's slant. (That is understandable in that it leaves open, meshes with, promotes, and affords the widest path possible for accommodating the varied opinions over what is spiritual truth.) This so falls in line with the Bible's explanation as to REALLY why the gospel is HIDDEN to so many: It is hidden to those whose hearts remain closed to God and what He genuinely declares (see Matthew 13:10-16; 1 Cor.2:6-8; 2 Cor.3:14, & 2 Cor.4:3-4). Yet notwithstanding, the intellectual banter will undoubtedly go on between those who have genuine revelation from God and those whose minds are blinded by the state of their own unredeemed hearts . . .
Rating:
Summary: New Age folk still coming out of the woodwork
Review: It's not surprising that folk gravitate to such a CLAIM of new revelation as that made by Douglas-Klotz. This is certainly not the first time (and probably not the last) that vast numbers have been taken in by a RE-WRITING of portions of the Bible based upon a pretense of scholarship. What a contemplation . . . that minds are disposed to find this one man's translation of the Bible more trustworthy than that of Tyndale or that produced by the panel assembled for the King James Version (constituted by MANY linguistic experts in ancient languages with credentials far exceeding and out-weighing that of Douglas-Klotz)! Even Young, Darby, and a host of others having independently corroborated the accuracy of these earlier translations doesn't seem to constitute much of an impediment for folk rushing head-long into the opines of Douglas-Klotz' claim to "new revelation" based upon HIS linguistic expertise. The Bible's proverb states "there is safety in the multitude of counselors" - and how easily that truth is jettisoned and substituted with one man's claim to accuracy accompanied by what is merely "a multitude of OPINIONS" of his groupies! Of course OPINIONS are often disguised under a cloak and claim of scholarship, and in this case an intriguing offer of Aramaic freshly spoken and heard is yet a further enticement. But how sad that so many will embrace the spiritual SPIN on such crucial texts of the Bible simply because it is interlaced with the offers that the author makes with regard to being able to hear the texts in their original language. As Douglas-Klotz opines his view - egg-headed pundits and readers who have a dearth for critical thinking seem to be scurrying in much haste to make this all out to be a bonafide "new revelation"! Is it that they are merely finding great contentment in a "translation" (really merely an "interpretation") of the scriptural texts that steal away the proper rendering that would lay bare their soul's need for God's redemption? - - - However, the full context of Jesus' teaching and that of the Bible in its entirety points to and emphasizes mankind's need for salvation and how that salvation is found ONLY in Jesus. The author's New Age slant that would obviate that is unmistakable (even though it comes under the guise of "translation" and cloaked in some ability in the Mid-eastern languages). It's clear to me that most of the other reviewers' commentaries that I've read point to how they are eager to embrace this author's slant. (That is understandable in that it leaves open, meshes with, promotes, and affords the widest path possible for accommodating the varied opinions over what is spiritual truth.) This so falls in line with the Bible's explanation as to REALLY why the gospel is HIDDEN to so many: It is hidden to those whose hearts remain closed to God and what He genuinely declares (see Matthew 13:10-16; 1 Cor.2:6-8; 2 Cor.3:14, & 2 Cor.4:3-4). Yet notwithstanding, the intellectual banter will undoubtedly go on between those who have genuine revelation from God and those whose minds are blinded by the state of their own unredeemed hearts . . .
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Perspective
Review: Neal has done it again. As he did in Prayers of the Cosmos, he has redefined studies of what the man we know today as Jesus, actually said as translated from the origianl Aramaic language in which it was spoken. Your hard core Christian friends might get their feathers ruffled in here, the King James translation ends up being only a passable interpretation of his words. Imagine having to re-view everything you thought Jesus said against a better translation of his words based on a Mid Eastern perspective. Some suprises and uncoverings. I dare you.
Rating:
Summary: A Return to the Spiritual Roots of Christianity
Review: Neil Douglas-Klotz returns to the original language that Christ spoke to recover the message that has been lost over time. Douglas-Klotz utilizes a rigorous method of interpretation which returns to the essential message of Christ. His interpretation is in opposition to the politically motivated interpretation which has masqueraded as the 'correct'one since the 6th century. Those of us who have been alienated by the hegemonic, phallocentric, politically instigated 'correct' interpretation of Christ's message have been invited to revisit and be inspired by a return to our spiritual roots. No longer will we be put off by the hypocrisy of an image of a compassionate Christ juxtaposed by a disempowering, life denying 'christian' discourse!
Rating:
Summary: A Return to the Spiritual Roots of Christianity
Review: Neil Douglas-Klotz returns to the original language that Christ spoke to recover the message that has been lost over time. Douglas-Klotz utilizes a rigorous method of interpretation which returns to the essential message of Christ. His interpretation is in opposition to the politically motivated interpretation which has masqueraded as the 'correct'one since the 6th century. Those of us who have been alienated by the hegemonic, phallocentric, politically instigated 'correct' interpretation of Christ's message have been invited to revisit and be inspired by a return to our spiritual roots. No longer will we be put off by the hypocrisy of an image of a compassionate Christ juxtaposed by a disempowering, life denying 'christian' discourse!
Rating:
Summary: Jesus Christ's own words, newly translated from Aramaic
Review: Neil Douglas-Klotz's The Hidden Gospel: Decoding The Spiritual Messages Of The Aramaic Jesus is a direct presentation of Jesus Christ's own words, as newly translated from Aramaic, the Middle Eastern language that Jesus spoke. Each chapter of The Hidden Gospel also contains exercises in meditation and body prayers, the better to understand the practices of Jesus' tradition. The Hidden Gospel is not to be missed by students and scholars of Christianity's origins, because the words of Jesus Christ influence billions of people today - directly for those who are Christian, and indirectly for those who are not Christian but do come into contact with Christians. Everyone with any interest in the words of Jesus Christ is strongly urged to read this book to learn more about them, as well as the inherent difficulties of translating Christ's teachings across so many different languages. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden Gospel reclaims Jesus from institutional Christianity
Review: Scholar and spiritual teacher Neil Douglas-Klotz does a superb job of opening the readers' eyes to see The Hidden Gospel in plain view. Jesus, a Jewish mystic and prophet, has been misunderstood over the centuries by the imposition of layers of Christian dogma and doctrine over his essential message/Truth. Discover that "pray in my name" literally means "pray in/with the same atmosphere and vibration" that you experience with me...NOT that Jesus intended that his literal name would ever be the focus for prayer, not that Jesus intended institutionalization of a new church focusing upon himself. Jesus offered a living path of direct experience of Divine Mystery. Regardless of spiritual background, this book offers a drink from a deep well to those who are thirsty for a enlivened faith in today's world.
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