<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Tremendously powerful logic, totally honest analysis.
Review: Being of Protestant background, I approached this book with a little caution. However, I found the handling of the subject flawlessly honest and the scholarship behind the writing brilliant. Luke Timothy Johnson handles the subject with great reverence, and yet with piercing analysis. His logic behind his assertations regarding the Living Jesus are not refutable. I found this a refreshing and tremendously illuminating view into a subject I have studied and lived with since my mother took me to Sunday School as an infant. The writer has inspired me to raise my own level of study and expectation into this (for Christians) vital subject, and has given me a new sense of awe for Him, the Great I Am. Even though I have a BA in English, I found myself pulling out the dictionary several times, and got several lessons on vocabulary and English. This can be either educational or distracting, depending on the motivations and inclinations of the reader. At times I found it educational. other times it seemed distracting. But I do admire the writer's skill and intelligence.
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT AND CONCISE
Review: lt johnson is a moderately conservative catholic (in fact an ex-monk) who has written extensively on nt studies. this 203 page book can be read in a few hours and is not bogged down with scholarly jargon. essentially he is putting into perspective the value of historical Jesus studies. lt states that if Jesus is today alive for Christians, how then can we get a reliable picture of Him by using the means by which we study dead people! he has been gently criticised by some including ben witherington and raymond brown for separating the Jesus of history from the Jesus we worship - but i don't think that is the focus of johnson's argument. i think lt is simply pointing out (quite validly) that historical critical studies can give only a limited picture of Jesus. he uses as an interesting example adolf hitler. if we were to perform a study in "historical hitlerology" (attempting to construct a portait using what hitler thought of himself as well as the thoughts of his closest associates), we would indeed come up with a picture of hitler that would be quite different than what we know to be true. i would agree that this comparison is a little oblique, but johnson makes a good point. the first few chapters may seem a little fluffy to some but they move quickly into the meat of the work. all in all, this is a very readable work. not everyone will agree with johnson but all those interested in Jesus studies need to be exposed to his point of view!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT AND CONCISE
Review: lt johnson is a moderately conservative catholic (in fact an ex-monk) who has written extensively on nt studies. this 203 page book can be read in a few hours and is not bogged down with scholarly jargon. essentially he is putting into perspective the value of historical Jesus studies. lt states that if Jesus is today alive for Christians, how then can we get a reliable picture of Him by using the means by which we study dead people! he has been gently criticised by some including ben witherington and raymond brown for separating the Jesus of history from the Jesus we worship - but i don't think that is the focus of johnson's argument. i think lt is simply pointing out (quite validly) that historical critical studies can give only a limited picture of Jesus. he uses as an interesting example adolf hitler. if we were to perform a study in "historical hitlerology" (attempting to construct a portait using what hitler thought of himself as well as the thoughts of his closest associates), we would indeed come up with a picture of hitler that would be quite different than what we know to be true. i would agree that this comparison is a little oblique, but johnson makes a good point. the first few chapters may seem a little fluffy to some but they move quickly into the meat of the work. all in all, this is a very readable work. not everyone will agree with johnson but all those interested in Jesus studies need to be exposed to his point of view!
Rating:
Summary: Learning About Jesus
Review: Luke Timothy Johnson does a masterful job at creating a book that engages the reader's mind and heart. Though this book is written from an ex-priest and still retains much Catholic tradition, the Protestant reader can also enjoy and gain insight from this well written text. This book is not written for the skeptic or the Christian revisionist, like his previous book "The Real Jesus." Instead this material will penetrate the heart of the believer. As he wonderfully points out, "To be a Christian means to assert that Jesus is alive, is indeed life-giving Spirit." This book reminds the Christian that we should be learning from a living Jesus. To often, we look at Jesus as a piece of history. This is a wake-up call to Christians everywhere. We are to learn from Jesus from great Christians, the church, and the New Testament. I find Dr. Johnson's book to be honest and forthright and appreciated his candor about the church and himself. This is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: Learning About Jesus
Review: Luke Timothy Johnson does a masterful job at creating a book that engages the reader's mind and heart. Though this book is written from an ex-priest and still retains much Catholic tradition, the Protestant reader can also enjoy and gain insight from this well written text. This book is not written for the skeptic or the Christian revisionist, like his previous book "The Real Jesus." Instead this material will penetrate the heart of the believer. As he wonderfully points out, "To be a Christian means to assert that Jesus is alive, is indeed life-giving Spirit." This book reminds the Christian that we should be learning from a living Jesus. To often, we look at Jesus as a piece of history. This is a wake-up call to Christians everywhere. We are to learn from Jesus from great Christians, the church, and the New Testament. I find Dr. Johnson's book to be honest and forthright and appreciated his candor about the church and himself. This is a must read!
Rating:
Summary: Spirit-filled.
Review: One of the best books I have ever read! If you want to read a concise, insightful, and compelling summary of (learning) faith in Jesus, this is the book for you!
Rating:
Summary: Spirit-filled.
Review: While firmly rooted in Holy Scripture and Tradition, the author presents his broad vision of what it means to follow in the footsteps of the Lord - especially in His role of suffering servant and revealer of the Father.
<< 1 >>
| 
