With the skill of a seasoned journalist and the passion of an amateur sleuth, Russell Shorto offers a radical revision of the gospel story: a new composite of Jesus that is based on scientific research--and supported by some of our most conservative religious scholars. A vivid and sometimes shocking reconstruction of the life and times of Jesus, Gospel Truth will change the way we see Jesus forever.
**
Amazon.com Review
Russell Shorto does a crackerjack job of summing up the latest research on the historical Jesus. Without taking sides, Shorto draws a fascinating picture of Jesus the man by approaching the topic from all available angles, such as his Greekness, his Jewishness, his miracles, and his message. Although there is nothing in this book that hasn't been said already, it's value lies in its easy-to-read, balanced synthesis of the cacophony of scholarly and religious opinions. Not meant as a challenge to the Gospels but as an honest exploration of an issue of profound significance to so many Christians and non-Christians alike.
From Library Journal
Readers, especially Christian ones, who are unaware of current New Testament scholarship may be surprised by Shorto's work, which gives a different picture of Jesus from the one portrayed in the New Testament. Other readers, even if they have read only what popular news magazines have been reporting lately about biblical research?witness recent attention to Robert Funk's Jesus Seminar?will find here an interesting and cohesive summary of the current state of research on the Gospels and specifically on the person of Jesus. Shorto brings together results from the study of archaeological finds, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the extra-canonical gospels to show a Jesus stripped of the unhistorical. Shorto's skills as a journalist are evident in this well-written book. Highly recommended.?John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description:
With the skill of a seasoned journalist and the passion of an amateur sleuth, Russell Shorto offers a radical revision of the gospel story: a new composite of Jesus that is based on scientific research--and supported by some of our most conservative religious scholars. A vivid and sometimes shocking reconstruction of the life and times of Jesus, Gospel Truth will change the way we see Jesus forever.
**
Amazon.com Review
Russell Shorto does a crackerjack job of summing up the latest research on the historical Jesus. Without taking sides, Shorto draws a fascinating picture of Jesus the man by approaching the topic from all available angles, such as his Greekness, his Jewishness, his miracles, and his message. Although there is nothing in this book that hasn't been said already, it's value lies in its easy-to-read, balanced synthesis of the cacophony of scholarly and religious opinions. Not meant as a challenge to the Gospels but as an honest exploration of an issue of profound significance to so many Christians and non-Christians alike.
From Library Journal
Readers, especially Christian ones, who are unaware of current New Testament scholarship may be surprised by Shorto's work, which gives a different picture of Jesus from the one portrayed in the New Testament. Other readers, even if they have read only what popular news magazines have been reporting lately about biblical research?witness recent attention to Robert Funk's Jesus Seminar?will find here an interesting and cohesive summary of the current state of research on the Gospels and specifically on the person of Jesus. Shorto brings together results from the study of archaeological finds, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the extra-canonical gospels to show a Jesus stripped of the unhistorical. Shorto's skills as a journalist are evident in this well-written book. Highly recommended.?John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.