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Rating: 
Summary: good news
Review: I have learned a great deal from "an ADULT CHRIST at CHRISTMAS". Father Raymond Edward Brown, PhD, presents, yet another, work of brilliance. As with all of Father Brown's work, the scholarship is objective and thorough. He takes great pains to provide a balanced apologetic even with extremely controversial topics within his own organisation, by way of example, immaculate conception and mariology. The question posed here is, why were the infant narratives of Luke and Matthew deemed appropriate for to be included in the good news (greek: "gospels") which bear their names. The answer offered is that these narratives provide a salvific message consistent with the gospel message, in general, and the passion narratives, specifically. The writers of Matthew and Luke understood the christological significance of these early stories because, for them, the conception and birth consititute the moment when GOD revealed who the CHRIST was. That is the first important idea I learned from this short book. The second idea which was clarified for me was that the proclamation of a gospel message is met with two responses in the cannonised material. Some accept it, believe and dedicate their lives to its growth and development. Others reject it, despise it and dedicate their lives to its destruction. Each of these are equally valid individual decisions with their own respective conseqences. As those who are familiar with my comments elsewhere already know, I am in the former category of those who believe. For this reason, I have found great spiritual insight in this work by Father Brown. If you are interested in the gospel message of the first century christians, this book will be interesting to you
Rating:
Summary: Matthew and Luke wrote different things than you belive.
Review: I read this book in this time of Christmas, 2001-2002. The content was incredibly interesting and changed my mind about the narratives of Jesus infancy. The two initial chapters of Matthew and Luke now say different things than I understood just a month ago. Recommendable only for people with a very well cemented faith. Short and very interesting and clear reading. That is the reason why I am a father Brown's fan.
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Summary: Thoughtful and faithful book all Christians should read
Review: This book is short (50 pages) and well written. It can form the basis of an lay class on Christmas or Advent, either led by clergy or laity. Excellent resource.
This book is an exacting and thoughtful set of essays by the most eminent bibical scholar of our time, the late Fr. Raymond Brown. It is a summation of much of what he wrote elsewhere in his volumnious work (for example, his epic "The Birth of the Messiah"). In this 50-page book he explains why the gospel writers wrote the birth stories the way they did, with differing plot twists. Brown reaches profound insights with major implications for the spirituality and theology of the Christian Church. His insights about the centrality of Mary is particularly interesting, especially for a Roman Catholic. He sees the miracle of Mary not so much as the "virgin" birth or as the theotokos (mother of God) of the early Church, but rather as the first and most loyal disciple of Jesus. And that should have implications about the role of women in the Church and priesthood.
Brown, as ever, does his homework. His scholarship is solid -- even the footnotes are worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful insights from a great scholar
Review: This booklet contains an excellent summary of some of the important conclusions reached in Father Brown's comprehensive and scholarly work, "The Birth of the Messiah." Father Brown's concern in the booklet is the theological message of the evangelists--he views this as the most important aspect of the message, and something that can get lost amid modern searches to either prove or disprove each item of the stories as historical events. As usual, the late great Father Brown did an excellent job. He explores the Old Testament roots of Mathew's and Luke's Birth Stories and analyzes broad and beautiful topics such as "the Meaning of the Magi" (the Good News is for all who will believe, including Gentiles) and the "Importance of the Shepherds" (they symbolize an Israel that comes to recognize and glorify its Lord Jesus, the Davidic Messiah foretold in the Jewish Scriptures). Father Brown said he hopes the regognition that there is an adult Christ in the message of Christmas--i.e., that the theological meaning of God's gift of Jesus is included in these beautiful opening verses--will lead believers to proclaim that revelation to others, and that they will respond in faith. It was a wonderful thing to have this brilliant and intellectually honest scholar also put his faith on display.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful insights from a great scholar
Review: This booklet contains an excellent summary of some of the important conclusions reached in Father Brown's comprehensive and scholarly work, "The Birth of the Messiah." Father Brown's concern in the booklet is the theological message of the evangelists--he views this as the most important aspect of the message, and something that can get lost amid modern searches to either prove or disprove each item of the stories as historical events. As usual, the late great Father Brown did an excellent job. He explores the Old Testament roots of Mathew's and Luke's Birth Stories and analyzes broad and beautiful topics such as "the Meaning of the Magi" (the Good News is for all who will believe, including Gentiles) and the "Importance of the Shepherds" (they symbolize an Israel that comes to recognize and glorify its Lord Jesus, the Davidic Messiah foretold in the Jewish Scriptures). Father Brown said he hopes the regognition that there is an adult Christ in the message of Christmas--i.e., that the theological meaning of God's gift of Jesus is included in these beautiful opening verses--will lead believers to proclaim that revelation to others, and that they will respond in faith. It was a wonderful thing to have this brilliant and intellectually honest scholar also put his faith on display.
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