Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite - Hardcover

L.Michael White

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061228796 ISBN 13: 9780061228797

Publisher: HarperOne, 2010

Synopsis

HardCover Pub Date: 2010. Pages: 528 in Publisher: HarperOne In Scripting Jesus famed scholar of early Christianity L. Michael White challenges us to read the gospels as they were originally intended-as performed stories of faith rather than factual histories. White demonstrates that each of the four gospel writers had a specific audience in mind and a specific theological agenda to push. and consequently wrote and rewrote their lives of Jesus accordingly-in effect. scripting Jesus to get a particular point across and to achieve the desired audience reaction.The gospel stories have shaped the beliefs of almost two and a half billion Christians. But the gospel writers were not reporters-rather. they were dramatists. and the stories they told publicly about Jesus were edited and reedited for the greatest effect. Understanding how these first-century Christians wanted to presen...

About this title

Review:

Scripting Jesus combines sober analysis of a broad range of complex issues relating to Jesus and the Gospels with creative appropriation of texts, traditions, and images from the ancient Roman world. White has produced a valuable resource for teachers, rabbis, ministers, and students who want clear exposition informed by a fresh appraisal of primary sources and spirited engagement of recent scholarly debate. --Carl R. Holladay, Charles Howard Candler Professor of New Testament, Emory University

From the Back Cover:

In Scripting Jesus, famed scholar of early Christianity L. Michael White challenges us to read the gospels as they were originally intended—as performed stories of faith rather than factual histories. White demonstrates that each of the four gospel writers had a specific audience in mind and a specific theological agenda to push, and consequently wrote and rewrote their lives of Jesus accordingly—in effect, scripting Jesus to get a particular point across and to achieve the desired audience reaction.

The gospel stories have shaped the beliefs of almost two and a half billion Christians. But the gospel writers were not reporters—rather, they were dramatists, and the stories they told publicly about Jesus were edited and reedited for the greatest effect. Understanding how these first-century Christians wanted to present Jesus offers us a way to make sense of the sometimes conflicting stories in the gospels.

One gospel's version of events will be at odds with another. For instance, in Jesus's birth narrative, there is no mention of a stable in Matthew or Luke, but then there are no wise men in Luke and no shepherds in Matthew. Jesus has brothers in some gospel accounts, and sisters in others, and their naming is inconsistent. Depending on which gospel you are reading, the disciples shift from bumbling morons to heroes of faith. Miracles alter or disappear altogether, and whole scenes get moved around. Such changes from one gospel to the next reveal the shaping and reshaping of the basic story in the living world of the first followers of Jesus.

With his usual engaging style, White helps us read the gospels with fresh eyes, giving us a clearer idea of what the gospel stories meant to people in ancient times, and offering insight for how we can understand Jesus's story today.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperOne
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0061228796
• ISBN 13: 9780061228797
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 528