Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus

Rating:
Summary: Finest reading of a Christian scripture I've encountered
Review: At the end of his preface, Ched Myers writes, "I pray that this study might help Mark to speak, and the reader to have 'ears to hear', the good news that promises yet to overthrow the structures of tion in our world." Although he is nobody's seasoned Greek scholar, the author lives up to his end of the bargain. Myers serves up, in this reading of the earliest gospel, a much-needed focus of radical discipleship -- i.e., Jesus as exemplar of nonviolent resistance to the powers-that-be in his day, and ergo in ours. Myers wrote this groundbreaking work not in the effete ivory tower of liberal intellectualism, but while living in seven intentional faith communities over the course of several years ... and yet, it's a remarkable piece of scholarship. Finally: a serious application of the socio-literary approach to a book of scripture, by an author who beckons us not to worship and adore a tall-steeple bourgeois Jesus, but to follow the itinerant rabbi he really was!

Rating:
Summary: Finest reading of a Christian scripture I've encountered
Review: At the end of his preface, Ched Myers writes, "I pray that this study might help Mark to speak, and the reader to have 'ears to hear', the good news that promises yet to overthrow the structures of tion in our world." Although he is nobody's seasoned Greek scholar, the author lives up to his end of the bargain. Myers serves up, in this reading of the earliest gospel, a much-needed focus of radical discipleship -- i.e., Jesus as exemplar of nonviolent resistance to the powers-that-be in his day, and ergo in ours. Myers wrote this groundbreaking work not in the effete ivory tower of liberal intellectualism, but while living in seven intentional faith communities over the course of several years ... and yet, it's a remarkable piece of scholarship. Finally: a serious application of the socio-literary approach to a book of scripture, by an author who beckons us not to worship and adore a tall-steeple bourgeois Jesus, but to follow the itinerant rabbi he really was!

Rating:
Summary: Binding the Strong Man
Review: Excellent book - ideas for all who want to understand the Bible from the point of view of Liberation Theology - a gospel for the poor and oppressed. Book is quite technical and very researched but may be difficult for those who do not have Scriptural backgound and higher studies. I was very impressed and felt that many new insights were attainted. I have read the book three times.

Rating:
Summary: Binding the Strong Man
Review: Excellent book - ideas for all who want to understand the Bible from the point of view of Liberation Theology - a gospel for the poor and oppressed. Book is quite technical and very researched but may be difficult for those who do not have Scriptural backgound and higher studies. I was very impressed and felt that many new insights were attainted. I have read the book three times.