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Title: Who Is Jesus?: Answers to Your Questions About the Historical Jesus by John Dominic Crossan, Richard G. Watts ISBN: 0-664-25842-5 Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95

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Average Customer Rating: 4 (13 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: The historical Jesus for ordinary readers
Comment: This is a great book for many kinds of readers interested in the historical Jesus as understood by one of the contemporary world's most noted scholars. It is an especially good introduction for those who are interested but have little prior reading in historical Jesus studies and little theological training. The question and answer format and the small "chunks" of text make it easy to approach, and the vocabulary is easier than most books of its kind. Even those who have already read some of Crossan's more scholarly books will enjoy this one. I particularly enjoyed the excerpts of actual letters, many of them quite eloquent, received by Crossan from countless readers of his earlier books. The last section of the book also offers material not included in other books, material at once more personal and more focused on the implications of historical Jesus studies for present-day life in the world and in Christian churches.

Rating: 5
Summary: Good Intro
Comment: So for those of you interested, this is a great crash course in Crossan's material. The information easy to read, and Crossan is, as always, engaging. I strongly encourage you to attend one of Dr. Crossan's lectures if you can. He has this great irish accent, and damn, the man knows what he's talking about. This book gives you a taste of the vast pools of insight Crossan has. Don't be surprised if you go along saying "I never thought of that."

To those who denigrate the Jesus Seminar, I would say its purpose is not to destroy christianity, but to voice a generally suppressed opinion. And if Christianity can be destroyed by a bunch of academics who thought it would be nice to find out what everyone agrees on, maybe Christianity isn't worthy of survival. For my part, although my faith was never in trouble, my ability to pursue it through the christian edifice was in doubt, and it was the Jesus Seminar that allowed me to do so. Thank you, Jesus Seminar.

Rating: 4
Summary: A Fine Work
Comment: I enjoyed this book very much and will recommend it.

However, I am not giving a full 5-star recommendation because of Crossan's belief that the gospels were written with symbolism in the phrasing. I have heard this from different authors and historians before and I am still not convinced. The gospels were probably written for the literate, because the poor that Jesus was so fond of would never had been able to read them at all, much less understand any symbolism in the writing.

I submit the gospels were written to gather as many new converts as possible. It would not have been enough to show Jews and Gentiles the "Q" book, and try to win them over with teachings only. The story of Jesus needed more panache, with supernatural proof he was the Son of God.

I simply believe the gospels evolved out of campfire tall tales, taking what was known for sure, and stretching the myth. After all, that's how the Old Testament came about, as well as the mythologies from Babylon, Egypt, Greese and Rome (and even America)

I respect Mr. Crossan's works, and I will continue to read them as much as I can.

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