Jesus Christ The Jesus of History, the Christ of Faith

by Porter, J. R.

• ISBN13: 9780195325430
• ISBN10: 0195325435
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-08
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Illuminating the life of Jesus--his historical context, his religious teachings, and the changing perceptions of him over the centuries--this lavishly illustrated volume offers one of the most comprehensive and authoritative accounts available of this great and charismatic man. Featuring some 180 illustrations (including 20 full-color maps) and numerous boxed and sidebar features that shed light on interesting facets of the story, Jesus Christ paints a vivid portrait of Christ's life from the Nativity to the Ascension. Drawing on the Gospels and other evidence, J. R. Porter disentangles many of the mysteries and confusions surrounding the life of the historical Jesus--such as the role of women in his career and the political issues surrounding his trial--and paints a detailed background portrait of all aspects of society in first-century Palestine, from the fishing communities of Lake Galilee to life under Roman rule. Porter also explores the teachings of Christ, looking at his use of parable, his view of Hebrew Scriptures, his attitude toward the law, and his thinking about the Kingdom of God. The book assesses the many interpretations of Christ through the ages, from his immediate impact on the early Church, to the changing image of Jesus in art and illustration, to his perceived role as apocalyptic preacher, revolutionary, mystic, and prophet. A marvelous gift at Easter time or for a child's confirmation, this attractive, informative volume gives us an inspiring portrait of one of the most complex figures in world history.

Author Biography

J.R. Porter is Professor Emeritus of Theology at the University of Exeter and a former Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. A renowned scholar, he has served for twenty years as a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and has held many other prominent posts throughout his distinguished career. He lives in the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 6
The Setting	p. 11
The Geographical Background
The Land of Palestine	p. 12
Galilee	p. 16
Jerusalem	p. 18
The Political Background
Hellenism	p. 22
The Herodian Dynasty	p. 24
Palestine under the Romans	p. 26
Jewish Internal Government	p. 28
The Religious Background
The Law and the Temple	p. 30
The Synagogue and Jewish Festivals	p. 32
Sects and Parties	p. 34
Society and Economy
Trade and Commerce	p. 38
Farmers and Fishers	p. 40
Marriage and the Family	p. 44
Languages of Palestine	p. 46
The Life	p. 49
Sources
What is a "Gospel"?	p. 50
The Four Evangelists	p. 52
The Gospel Evidence	p. 56
Jesus in other Writings	p. 58
Jesus' Life and Times	p. 60
The Birth of Jesus
The Genealogy of Christ	p. 62
The Nativity	p. 64
The Virgin Birth	p. 68
Infancy and Youth
The First Witnesses	p. 70
The Wrath of Herod	p. 72
The Flight into Egypt	p. 74
Rites of Childhood	p. 76
The Home Life of Jesus	p. 78
The Call to Ministry
John the Baptist	p. 82
The Baptism of Jesus	p. 84
The Temptation	p. 86
The Ministry in Galilee
The Disciples	p. 90
Jesus' Public Career	p. 92
The Healings	p. 94
The Exorcisms	p. 96
The Feeding Miracles	p. 98
Conflicts and Confrontations	p. 100
The Approach of the Passion
The Fate of the Baptist	p. 104
Peter's Confession and the Transfiguration	p. 106
The Road to Jerusalem	p. 108
The Cleansing of the Temple	p. 110
The Last Supper	p. 112
Betrayal and Arrest	p. 114
Condemnation and Crucifixion
The Trials of Jesus	p. 116
Before the Council	p. 118
Jesus and Pilate	p. 120
Jesus Condemned	p. 122
The Crucifixion	p. 124
The Aftermath
The Risen Lord	p. 128
The Ascension	p. 132
The Teachings	p. 135
How Jesus Taught
Sayings and Parables	p. 136
Jesus and Scripture	p. 140
Jesus and the Jewish Law	p. 142
Gentiles and Samaritans	p. 144
The Ethics of Jesus
God the Father	p. 146
Sermons and Discourses	p. 148
The Call of the Kingdom	p. 150
The Teachings in John	p. 154
Interpretations	p. 157
How Jesus Saw Himself
The Healer of Body and Soul	p. 158
The Prophet	p. 160
Master, Rabbi, Lord	p. 162
Messiah	p. 164
Son of God	p. 166
Son of Man	p. 168
The Man and the Message
The Early Church	p. 170
Jewish and Gentile Christians	p. 172
The Patristic Period	p. 174
Jesus and Gnosticism	p. 176
Founder of the Church?	p. 178
The Apocalyptic Jesus	p. 180
The Revolutionary	p. 182
The Mystic	p. 184
Jesus and Feminism	p. 186
Judaism and the Church	p. 188
Jesus and Islam	p. 190
In Search of the Jesus of History	p. 192
Jesus in Art	p. 197
Early Christian Art	p. 198
The Nativity	p. 200
Madonna and Child	p. 202
Scenes from Childhood	p. 206
The Ministry	p. 208
The Passion	p. 212
The Resurrection	p. 218
Christ Triumphant	p. 220
Glossary	p. 222
Abbreviations	p. 223
Bibliography	p. 224
Index	p. 227
Picture Credits	p. 239
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