For our book club (2010-2012) we will be exploring Luke's portrait of Jesus.
On this page you will find some helpful books and essays that will aquaint you with the Scriptural and historical world in which the New Testament in general and the gospel accounts in particular were born and in which they are best understood.
The Story of the Bible
Below are examples of how several thoughtful authors sketch out the main contours of the Bible when read as Story--God's, our world's, and ours.
Rob Bell and Mars Hills Church, Grandville, MI
Here's the opening of their articulation of the story of God and his world:
In the beginning God created all things good. He was and always will be in a communal relationship with himself – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created us to be relational as well and marked us with an identity as his image bearers and a missional calling to serve, care for, and cultivate the earth. God created humans in his image to live in fellowship with him, one another, our inner self, and creation. The enemy tempted the first humans, and darkness and evil entered the story through human sin and are now a part of the world. This devastating event resulted in our relationships with God, others, ourselves, and creation being fractured and in desperate need of redeeming.
We believe God did not abandon his creation to destruction and decay; rather he promised to restore this broken world. As part of this purpose, God chose a people, Abraham and his descendants to represent him in the world. God promised to bless them as a nation so that through them all nations would be blessed...
Sean Gladding, The Story of God, The Story of Us: Getting Lost and Found in the Bible (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2010). Amazon
The Author
Originally hailing from Norwich, England, Sean Gladding has made his home in the U.S. for the last two decades, where he has served in various forms of pastoral ministry, getting around on his '84 Ironhead Sportster. During his time at Asbury Theological Seminary he first encountered the concept of the metanarrative of scripture, an experience that has deeply shaped his life.
His first book, The Story of God, the Story of Us, has its origins in a Bible study Sean led during a summer internship at Mercy Street, a church in Houston, Texas, for people in recovery from addiction and from bad church experiences--often both. Sean went on to co-pastor Mercy Street for seven years, during which time he and his wife Rebecca narrated the "Story of God" with people who had never heard it before or who had only heard a fragmented version. Hearing the "Story" with both the enfranchised and those on the margins has continually deepened their understanding of scripture, and shaped their lives and the way they tell the "Story."
Over the years they have made "The Story of God" narrative freely available to anyone who wanted to use it. The "Story" has been told in homes, churches, college campuses, coffee shops, pubs and laundromats, spread over five continents.
Sean and Rebecca have two children. After their time with Mercy Street they returned to Lexington, Kentucky, to rejoin friends at Communality--part of the family of New Monastic communities--where they are seeking the welfare of the city.
The Book
"The ever present ache of exile rises above the comforting sounds of the river, as the image of the house of the LORD in ruins breaks the peace. . . . Despite the warmth of the fire, he feels a chill. He wraps his cloak around him and looks into the eager faces of his people, then closes his eyes. 'Picture this scene . . .'"
Before the Bible was a book, it was flesh and blood.
In this book, you can travel with Sean Gladding between the lines of the Scriptures to listen in on the conversations of people wrestling with the Story of God for the first time. Whether sitting around a campfire in Babylon, reclining at table in Asia Minor or huddled together by candlelight in Rome, you'll encounter a tale that is at once familiar and surprising. The Story of God, the Story of Us can be read alone but is especially rich shared with a group. Sean Gladding presents an account of the Bible that pays attention to its audience as well as its message. He introduces you to people who may remind you of yourself or your family, friends and coworkers. As much as the Bible is a story about God, it's also a story about you--and all of us--as we encounter God in a new way.
Greenslade has been working with Crusade for World Religion (CWR) since 1991. As well as being a full-time lecturer and tutor, he is also the Consultant Editor of ‘Bread for the Journey’ pastor’s journal, and, with Selwyn Hughes, a teacher on the Institute of Christian Ministry.
This book presents a vision of God's big story. This accessible survey introduces the Bible as a whole and shows how the important pieces of the biblical narrative fit together in their right context and perspective. The Bible tells the story in the broadest way, implementing Gods kingdom rule in history through a series of covenantal arrangements all in pursuit of a coherent redemptive plan the ultimate goal of which is new creation.
When asked, “Why read the Bible at all?” Greenslade replies:
Because as you read you discover God’s Story. Jesus proved with His parables that there’s no better way to communicate God than through stories. This is what the Bible essentially is – a thrilling, action-packed adventure with God, one in which we can play a part. It is not a pick-and-mix catalogue of religious goodies or spiritual recipes. It is not an occult code to be deciphered by 'experts'. And the Bible is most definitely not a compendium of texts which we can use to buttress our own theological position.
Under pressure to "make the Bible relevant", too often we trivialize or water down its message, reducing its impact to slogans and soundbites. We can end up draining the Bible of its colour. We squeeze the life out of it and render it a “flat” book, a bland moral mandate with passionless principles. But this is not the way the Bible came to us.
It came as a story – a vast, sprawling, untidy, story, but a story nonetheless. It’s not always the easiest book to read, but it is the most rewarding and enriching.
Many people find the Bible a puzzling book, difficult to follow. Stephen Travis offers a solution for people who long to read and understand the Bible but simply to not know where to begin. The Bible in Time offers the reader a sense of the developing story of the Bible by offering commentary on 130 passages in chronological order. The first passage treated is the Prologue to John's Gospel ("In the Beginning was the Word . . .") This is a book for people who want a better sense of how the Bible fits together as a whole, who want an introduction to the basic themes of biblical faith, and who want to read the Bible regularly for themselves. Stephen Travis is vice-principal of St. John's College in Nottingham, England.
For our prior discussion of the first half of this book (the Old Testament half), check out Exploring Jesus' Bible, part 1 and part 2
For more on the importance of grasping the story of the Bible, see our Story Page
The New Testament
deSilva (PhD, Emory University) is professor of NT and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ohio. He is known for his expertise in the socio-cultural world of Jesus and the early church. He also has served as an interim preacher, organist, and director of choirs.
In this little paperback is addressed Grace, Discipleship, Community, and Apocalyptic, by which deSilva means the Favor of God, which leads to walking in the Way of God, corporately as the People of God, who are drawn into the Triumph of God. He provides an excellent, accessible overview (one of the best I've seen) of the major motifs of the NT.
“For those who are new to the social landscape and teaching of the NT, David deSilva proves to be a trustworthy and engaging guide. For those sometimes bewildered by NT emphases that seem disjointed or strange to our world, he makes plain the complex and mysterious. For anyone ready to be inducted into the thought world of the NT and to be nurtured by its message, New Testament Themes issues an invitation that will not disappoint.” Joel B. Green, Fuller Theological Seminary, California.
"The New Testament offers every reader many words of advice, promise, and challenge, but all of them are to be understood in light of a big picture--a way of viewing the world that is distinctly different from any understanding that we would achieve on our own. David deSilva realizes that the early Christians were introduced to this new worldview before they were expected to grasp the finer points of Christian teaching. He shares the life-changing revelation with us in a masterful exposition of what lies at the heart of these biblical writings. Almost every verse in these twenty-seven books [that we call the New Testament] can be understood in light of four central themes that illuminate God's revelation through Jesus Christ." Mark Allan Powell, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Ohio.
Jesus in Context
In The Original Jesus Wright focuses on key stages in Jesus’ life and on key elements of his teaching. In the process, Wright presents a vivid reconstruction of what Jesus himself was aiming to achieve and how the movement he began can best be understood in relation to the turbulent politics and fervent aspirations of his day. Wright also looks at the way we interpret the different Gospel narratives about Jesus, showing how modern readers coming fresh to these texts can do so in an informed and discriminating way. Based on rigorous historical research and featuring numerous full-color illustrations as well as short, clear chapters, The Original Jesus offers compelling insight into what Jesus really stood for, why he was crucified, and how it was that his followers came to regard him as nothing less than the human face of God.
Designed for readers with little to no knowledge on the subject, this accessible and honest survey introduces the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Using only the most reliable historical sources, this study clears away the myth and reveals a man who challenged the contemporary norms of society and religion, associated with social outcasts, demanded compassion toward the needy, and subverted imperialism. Insight is also offered into Jesus’ teachings and parables in an effort to uncover their true meanings. The role and impact of Jesus in his own time, throughout history, and in today's world is also provided.
Markus Bockmuehl argues that while different views of Jesus are in theory possible, not all views are equally probable. This book points to a Jesus of history who makes sense within the world of Palestinian Judaism and the faith experience of the early churches.
“The best thing about this book is the author's recommendation in the preface that readers accompany their reading with Mozart's concertos for flute, oboe, and clarinet. It is written with undergraduates in mind, in response to writing associated with the Jesus Seminar and the so-called third quest for the historical Jesus. But it is not a direct engagement with that body of literature so much as a summary of historical material that, in the author's estimation, is compatible with Christological speculation connecting "the Jesus of history" with "the Christ of faith." The connection is a legitimate one, and readers whose faith has been troubled by a supposed separation may find the book comforting. They may also find themselves inspired to investigate the "third quest" literature cited in Bockmuehl's notes. That could lead to direct engagement, which, accompanied by Mozart, is certain to be an inspiration.” Steve Schroeder, Booklist
Richard Bauckham, Jesus: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011). Biosketch
This book in being written and should hit the press sometime around mid 2011.
The most important development in recent historical Jesus studies is the attempt to understand the ministry of Jesus in "political" terms. In calling the nation of Israel to repentance, Jesus served as a national prophet concerned with the salvation of Israel. Scot McKnight furthers this line of inquiry by showing how Jesus' teachings are to be understood in relation to his role as a political figure. McKnight looks closely at Jesus' teachings on God, the kingdom, and ethics, demonstrating in each case how Jesus' mission to restore Israel brings his teachings into a bold new light.
Following Jesus's Lead
Amid a sea of books on Christian spiritual formation, McKnight, professor of religious studies at North Park University in Chicago, brings us a simple, highly readable one focused on the weightiest teaching of Jesus: love God and love others as yourself. The "Jesus Creed" of the title is a trimmed down version of the Shema of Judaism (Deut. 6:4–9), which declares we are to love God with all our being, amended to include caring for one's neighbor as oneself (Lev. 19:18). Packed with vivid and touching stories—from the Bible, history and the author's life—this book covers important aspects of what it means to love God and others. McKnight shows great respect for the Jewish heritage of Jesus and offers readers scholarly, yet highly accessible, illustrations of the sociocultural landscape of first-century Palestine… this book is an excellent introduction to Christian spirituality. Its pages glow with compassion, generosity and the invitation to understand what was important to Jesus and what is crucial for Christianity. Publishers Weekly
Here, prolific Anglican theologian and historical Jesus quester Wright makes accessible to lay readers the arguments he laid out in his scholarly tome Jesus and the Victory of God. But Wright does more than just rehash old arguments; he adds a discussion of the resurrection, absent from Victory, and addresses the prickly problem of relevance. In the first six chapters, Wright tackles many of the questions of the historical Jesus debate: Did Jesus believe the Kingdom of God was "now" or "later"? (Both, says Wright.) Did He know He was God in the same way "that one knows one is hungry or thirsty"? ("It was not a mathematical knowledge.... It was more like the knowledge that I have that I am loved by those closest to me.") What exactly happened on Easter? (Jesus' body seemed both physical and transphysical.) Wright then addresses how all these historical-cum-theological musings are significant for Christians living in a postmodern world. This superb addition to Wright's oeuvre will prove fruitful reading for neophytes as well as for those already familiar with his approach. Publishers Weekly
Taking his trademark intellectual approach to understanding Christianity, Keller uncovers the essential message of Jesus, locked inside his most familiar parable. Within that parable Jesus reveals God's prodigal grace toward both the irreligious and the moralistic. This book will challenge both the devout and skeptics to see Christianity in a whole new way. Book webpage
J. R. Daniel Kirk, Provisional Title: Discovering Paul's Role in Jesus' Story (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011). Biosketch
This book in being written and should hit the press sometime around mid 2011.
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke, often mined for information about the life of Jesus, is also one of the earliest Christian examples of narrative theology. Luke goes to great lengths to ground the work of Jesus in the continuing story of God's redemptive plan, and his emphasis on the ongoing character of that story challenges his audience to discern the purpose of God and order their lives around it. This exploration of the way in which he accomplishes his theological task in the first century is both informative and illuminating for contemporary readers. Joel also has a full-length commentary on the third gospel: The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
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