This book is of particular interest to scholars whose interest is in New Testament, historical Jesus, hermeneutics and historiography study. Donald Denton refers to the emergence of distinct approaches to historical Jesus studies, which are based on similarly distinct conceptions of the historiographic enterprise and how it relates to basic hermeneutical concerns. Trends have developed in Jesus studies that can be categorized in terms of these historiographic and hermeneutical issues. An understanding of these trends will help the observer of, and participant in, historical Jesus studies to sort through the surplus of current options from a basis of informed decisions about the root issues that guide historical investigation. This is volume 1 in the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus Supplement Series and Volume 262 in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series.

The book presents the Ascension as public truth, examining questions such as when did Jesus ascend - and how, where did he go, with what kind of body and into what kind of space? It discusses the nature of Jesus' victory, how it has been challenged, how it has been understood at different times in history, and how it relates to his second coming. The author examines the relevance of the doctrine for personal spiritual life: our union with Christ, Jesus praying for us, worship, and our own prayers. He goes on to consider living in God's kingdom, the tension between waiting for the kingdom and working for it now, suffering, humanisation, and the church and the world today. The book approaches the Ascension thematically, making it a useful teaching tool. Its themes arise from the categories in which the Church Fathers employed the doctrine. Gerrit Dawson shows the Ascension to be a vital key to understanding in a fresh way the person and work of Christ, union with Christ, the mission of the church in the world, Christian identity and spiritual theology. A unique feature of the book is the way Dawson combines a full presentation of Nicene trinitarian Christology with its application to the practicalities of Christian life today. Praise for Jesus Ascended: 'Gerrit Dawson harkens back to an older vision of ministry, that of the pastor-theologian. This vision is remarkably illustrated in this beautifully written book that can properly lay claim to being practical theology. Very highly recommended for both pastors and theologians who want to have a faith grounded in the continuing reality of the incarnation in the ascension of Jesus.' Andrew Purves, Princeton Theological Seminary 'This is a truly outstanding book for students, pastors and thinking Christians alike. I could not recommend it more enthusiastically!' Alan Torrance, St Andrew's University, UK 'A yawning gulf often appears between the interests of preacher and scholar, of pastor and theologian. Serious attempts to bridge that gulf are too few. This book is one of them. It brings to life the voice of the Fathers on the subject of the ascension of Jesus, and calls the church back to the roots of its faith.' Douglas Farrow, McGill University, Canada

Freed's highly accessible introduction, directed at students and interested non-specialists as well as scholars, explains and examines these well-known stories from a critical perspective. "Critical" is taken in the sense of judging among alternative answers to problems that arise from such study and arguing for the preferred solution. The aim of this book is to draw the reader to the gospel accounts for the purpose of evoking critical thought rather than to persuade of a particular interpretation. In pursuit of this goal, the author shows how many diverse factors, including earlier traditions, literary styles, and the theological convictions of each gospel writer, have contributed to the composition of the narratives.

This is a study of the historical Jesus that pays close attention to the role of space and place, from household to kingdom, for understanding Jesus' identity. Moxnes employs a sociological and anthropological approach that promises to give greater depth to our perceptions of Jesus. household. He explores the significance of Jesus leaving his own house and calling his disciples. He asks whether Jesus and the disciples' leaving their households have had an effect on their masculinity. Finally he discusses Jesus' creation of a new place, the kingdom of God, over against the established political powers in Galilee.

Devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus has long been one of the most popular forms of Catholic spirituality. David Williams traces the roots of this devotion in Holy Scripture: the words of the prophets foretell the suffering Christ, while the New Testament witnesses to the victorious scars borne by the risen Lord. The Sacred Wounds of Jesus remained a persistent theme in the writings of the Desert Fathers and Doctors of the Church, a theme that was to be more fully developed in the devotional practice of the mediaeval period and on into modern times. Detailing the several forms devotion to the Five Wounds has taken (both mediaeval and modern) - in art, liturgy and poetry - David Williams recalls those holy people favoured by visons of the suffering Lord, as well as those who themselves came to bear the stigmata of Christ. He outlines the history of devotion to the specific wound in the Side - later seen as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and describes the 'gift of tears' given to some from their reflection upon the Passion of their Master. David Williams is the author of The Cistercians on the Early Middle Ages and The Welsh Cistercians, both published by Gracewing.

This book is a clear treatment, in nontechnical language, of the person and work of Jesus Christ, especially focusing on the nature of atonement. The chapters are arranged around several central questions: Who is Jesus? What do the Bible and the church tell us about him? Just what is in the nature of the salvation he offers, and how does it work? Most of all, what difference do the answers to these questions make for the church and for the world? The Foundations of Christian Faith series enables readers to learn about contemporary theology in ways that are clear, enjoyable, and meaningful. It examines the doctrines of the Christian faith and stimulates readers not only to think more deeply about their faith but also to understand their faith in relationship to contemporary challenges and questions. Individuals and study groups alike will find these guides invaluable in their search for depth and integrity in their Christian faith.

Should the dissimilarity between Jesus and early Christianity or between Jesus and Judaism be the central criteria for the historical Jesus? Gerd Theissen and Dagmar Winter argue that the criterion of dissimilarity does not do justice to the single most important result of more than two-hundred years of Jesus research: that the historical Jesus belongs to both Judaism and Christianity. The two authors propose a criterion of historical plausibility so that historical phenomenon under question can be considered authentic so long as it can be plausibly understood in its Jewish context and also facilitates a plausible explanation for its later effects in Christian history. This book is a cooperative project between Dagmar Winter and Gerd Theissen and represents the fruit of many years of their research on the historical Jesus.

The recent discovery and exhibition of an ancient Jewish ossuary (a burial box) that bears the inscription "James the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" has stunned scholars and public alike. Could it really be that this small stone box actually contained the bones of James, the brother of Jesus Christ? While the preliminary scientific and paleographic study suggests that this ossuary may well be authentic (in other words, datable to the 1st century) and may well refer to James, the brother of Jesus, whose leadership to early Christianity in Jerusalem has become public, what is still shrouded in mystery is that this ossuary is only one of several that shed important archaeological light on the historical Jesus and the origins of Christianity.

In Jesus and the Ossuaries, Craig A. Evans helps all readers, expert and layperson alike, understand the importance of this recent find for the quest for the historical Jesus and any historical reconstruction of early Christianity. Evans provides an overview of the most important archaeological discoveries, including those near the Dead Sea, before summarizing archaeological findings relevant to 1st-century Galilee and Judea.

Against this backdrop, Evans then provides a detailed study of nine other inscriptions (six on ossuaries, three on stone slabs) that pertain in one way or another to the historical Jesus and the arguments for and against the authenticity and identification of the recently discovered James Ossuary (the tenth major inscription). Evans concludes his volume with a measured consideration of the historical, exegetical, and apologetic value of the archaeological data afforded by the several inscriptions.

From "The Greatest Story Ever Told" to "Jesus of Montreal" to "Shane", the figure of Jesus has made repeated - and varied - appearances in American cinema. In this book Richard Walsh brings "Jesus-films", the canonical gospels, and American culture into conversation. The discourse begins in the theatre with the lights down low and the Jesus-films on the big screen. Walsh's commentary starts with the films themselves and the American Jesus(es) portrayed therein. Ironically, while we do not expect Jesus-films to "get Jesus or the gospels right," they do cast light on interesting literary and mythical features of the gospels - and on American culture. For example, Arcand's "Jesus of Montreal" offers fresh understanding of the apocalyptic discourse in Mark 13, and "Shane" and "Pale Rider" demonstrate that Americans desperately want a conquering hero who is not a capitalist or an imperialist to deal with their frustrations.

"The Friend of the Bridegroom" offers a compelling theological interpretation of John the Baptist as seen through the eyes of Eastern Orthodoxy. Written by Sergius Bulgakov, the greatest Russian theologian of modern times, this book sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist, commonly referred to in Orthodoxy as the Forerunner of the Lord. Bulgakov traces the Baptist's life from beginning to end -- his birth, his preaching of repentance, his baptism of the Lord, his agony, his death, and his veneration in the context of Eastern Orthodoxy. In addition to its use of the Gospel narratives, Bulgakov's profound portrait of the Baptist is colored by sacred tradition as it is embodied in patristic literature, in liturgy, and in iconography. Yet this is not a work of arcane scholarship intended just for academic readers. Typical of all of Bulgakov's books, "The Friend of the Bridegroom" is steeped in devotional language and holy awe. In the words of translator Boris Jakim, it is a work of prayer that will stir the souls of Christians everywhere.

Who Was Jesus? is a collection of articles revolving around the dialogue between Jewish New Testament scholar Peter Zaas and Christian apologist William Craig, with a focus on the differing Jewish and Christian assessments of Jesus of Nazareth, and the question of Jewish-Christian relations. Their points of agreement and disagreement, as well as how interest in the historical Jesus continues to promote dialogue and controversy, are fascinating and informative.

Twenty-seven authors from a variety of backgrounds contribute essays concerning the distance, historically and theologically, between the historical Jesus and the Gospel of John to this collection. Part One discusses issues related to the historical and ideological context in which the Fourth Gospel was produced. Part Two explores the possibility of oral and written sources that John may have utilized. Part Three compares the Fourth Gospel with early noncanonical literature to identify various ways in which Jesus' traditions were appropriated by early Christians.

This is a compelling case study of a distinctive theological theme - the eschatological interpetation of the historical Jesus in Edwardian England - as an attempt to add greater precision to the history of theology in a neglected period. Looking at the impact of Adolf Harnack, Alfred Loisy, Albert Schweitzer and Johannes Weiss on biblical studies and theology before the First World War, Chapman argues that the future course of theology, in which eschatology played such a crucial role, was already mapped at this time. Assessing the work of William Sanday F.C. Burkitt and George Tyrrell, Chapman looks at the theological diplomacy between Britain, France and Germany and uncovers a cultural crisis that made eschatology such an appealing idea.>

A natural sequel to The Historical Jesus Quest, The Historical Jesus Question offers commentary on the work and significance of the classic writers presented in the earlier volume--Spinoza, Strauss, Schweitzer, Troeltsch, Bultmann, Kasemann--and some additional comment on the work of Pannenberg. Not merely a summary discussion of these important writers, this book goes beyond to follow the implications for theology of the ongoing challenge history presents to biblical authority.

Scholarly literature on Jesus has often attempted to relate his miracles to their Jewish context, but that context has not been surveyed in its own right. The present study supplies that lack by examining both the ideas on miracle in Second Temple literature (including Josephus, Philo, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha) and the evidence for contemporary Jewish miracle workers. The penultimate chapter explores insights from cultural anthropology to round out the picture obtained from the literary evidence, and the study concludes that Jesus is distinctive as a miracle-worker in his Jewish context while nevertheless fitting into it.

Since the late nineteenth century, New Testament scholars have operated on the belief that most, if not all, of the narrative parables in the Synoptic Gospels can be attributed to the historical Jesus. This book challenges that consensus and argues instead that only four parables-those of the Mustard Seed, the Evil Tenants, the Talents, and the Great Supper-can be attributed to the historical Jesus with fair certitude. In this eagerly anticipated fifth volume of A Marginal Jew, John Meier approaches this controversial subject with the same rigor and insight that garnered his earlier volumes praise from such publications as the New York Times and Christianity Today. This seminal volume pushes forward his masterful body of work in his ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.

Who was Jesus? What did he do during his lifetime? What do people say about him today? The answers to these questions and many others are provided in this collection of facts, articles, stories, and more. Each entry is arranged alphabetically by topic and draws from sources such as the Bible, literature, and popular culture. Jesus: Everything You Need to Know to Figure Him Out is a delightful and engaging book that reveals fascinating information about Jesus Christ and his enduring influence today.

C. David McKirachan offers eighteen first-person narratives told in the voices of characters from the life of Jesus, ranging from the Christmas story through the crucifixion and resurrection. In each story we are invited into the Gospel text. We inhabit the stories, and through the voice of each teller, we are drawn closer to the wonder experienced by the first witnesses of Jesus.

This volume presents 12 interactive Bible stories exploring the wealth of meaning in the terms "healing" and "salation" used by Jesus. Are they the same thing? What happened to the individuals concerned? What is the bigger message the Gospel writers are trying to get across? Focusing on key episodes in Jesus' ministry, this book aims to transform our understanding of these two great Christian concepts and offer fresh insights into the meaning of Scripture for today. John Davies is the former Bishop of Shrewsbury and was previously Principal of the College of Ascension in Birmingham. He spent many years as a priest in South Africa townships where his theology was shaped.

6-8 sessions. The Miracles of Jesus will help learners experience the miracles as part of the redemptive work of Jesus and to understand these miracles as a testimony to Jesus identity, as depicted in the Gospels. Included are: Jesus as a miracle-working figure, Healing as symbolic action, such as rethinking the purpose of the Sabbath, Exorcisms, Portents miracles showing Jesus divine authority and Old Testament predecessors, such as Moses and Elijah, Miracles, or signs, in the Gospel of John, Miracles as signs of the early church, Miracles of healing and touch, and Jesus and miracles beyond the Gospels. DAVID OTTO is an Associate Professor of Religion at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana, and a nationally recognized speaker and provocative scholar. Dr. Otto is the author of several books and is a featured workshop leader throughout the church."

In this introduction to the heart of the gospel, readers are invited to discover for themselves what Jesus has done for the world and continues to do in the world today. The invitation is offered in the form of daily readings from the four gospel accounts of Jesus' story. The story itself is preceded by suggestions for reading and background aids for understanding the world in which Jesus carried out his earthly ministry. This is followed by brief accounts of how others responded to Jesus, along with the authors' answers to commonly-asked questions about the Christian faith.

In this authoritative and thought-provoking work, Geza Vermes transforms our understanding of Jesus. Taking a fresh approach which gives an equal voice to both New Testament and non-biblical Jewish writings, he explores the differing portrayals of Jesus that have defined two millennia of Christian belief and speculation. Beginning with the most recent gospel, the Gospel of John, Vermes takes us back in time to reveal the historical figure of Jesus hidden beneath the oldest gospels, revealing how and why a charismatic Palestinian holy man was elevated into the divine figure of Christ.

This book provides a learning-by-doing approach to the study of the Gospels. It allows students to uncover literary patterns, theological issues, and interpretive problems through close readings of primary sources. Questions are asked along the way that help readers understand the shape of the narrative, and the themes important to each Gospel writer.

A meditation on the seven words of Mary's life as recorded in the Scriptures and Our Lord's seven words on the cross. It is interesting and instructive that Our Lord spoke only seven times on Calvary and that his mother is recorded as speaking only seven times, the last of which is at the Marriage Feast of Cana, the beginning of Christ's ministry.