Recovering Jesus: The Witness of the New Testament

by Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld

Overview

In Recovering Jesus, Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld leads you through an honest and careful study of the testimony of Jesus's first-century followers, as well as more recent scholarly and popular witnesses. The result is a journey that will challenge you to move beyond the Jesus you think you know to a deeper understanding of who he was and why he matters.

This text will be a valuable tool in academic settings, as well as for believers and nonbelievers alike who want to know the real Jesus.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781587432026
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2007
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld (ThD, Harvard Divinity School) is associate professor of religious studies (New Testament) and peace and conflict studies at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. He is also director of graduate theological studies at Conrad Grebel.

Table of Contents

Preface
1. One Jesus or Many Jesuses? 2. Development of Jesus Traditions: Digging through the Layers
3. One Jesus—Four Gospels
4. Jesus's World
5. Birth of Jesus
6. Kingdom of God: What? Where? When?
7. Announcing the Kingdom: John, Baptism, Testing, and the Twelve 8. Teaching the Kingdom: Parables 9. Enacting the Kingdom: Healing, Exorcism, and Food
10. Living the Kingdom: Seek First the Kingdom of God and Its Justice! 11. Death of Jesus
12. Resurrection of Jesus 13. Jesus—Christ and Lord

Editorial Reviews

Can history and theology be reconciled? The New Testament contains the story of a man, Jesus; it is a primary historical source for our knowledge of his life, death and alleged resurrection. But it also has been the basis for 2,000 years of theological speculation and doctrinal formation. As Neufeld puts it, "theology has had to contend with history," and "history has had to contend with theology." There are sources outside the Bible that inform us about the context in which Jesus was born and into which his movement blossomed into Christianity. The author, associate professor of religious studies at Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, mines the depths of New Testament writings and other contemporary sources, looking to effect this reconciliation and to present Jesus as a real person in real history. His subject is complex, but he succeeds nicely in simplifying terms and explaining difficult ideas in understandable language. Describing himself as both a "believer and a scholar," Neufeld finds the real Jesus in both history and theology. Readers at all levels will enjoy this fine volume. (Aug.)

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Publishers Weekly

Neufeld (New Testament & peace/conflict studies, theology; Conrad Grebel Univ. Coll., Univ. of Waterloo, Ont.) provides a very helpful introduction to the New Testament, its contemporary scholarship, and its cultural milieu. His introduction outlines the most critical issues, their importance both to biblical studies and to Christian theology, and the chief arguments supporting and opposing various conclusions. Neufeld's Christian commitment and fair-mindedness are evident as he considers various sorts of first-century evidence-canonical, noncanonical, and oral tradition, as well as Jewish and Roman influences. He is especially adept at comparing the four canonical gospels. Each chapter is supplemented by suggestions for further reading and a list of key terms and concepts. The book is engagingly written and guides both believers and nonbelievers into analytic and exegetical thought. Neufeld's own position is centrist: finding both historical probabilities and symbolic and theological language in the New Testament, he encourages readers to come to their own conclusions. Highly recommended for academic, seminary, and public libraries.
—Carolyn M. Craft

Library Journal