Beginning with Jesus' birth, Ken Bailey leads you on a kaleidoscopic study of Jesus throughout the four Gospels. Bailey examines the life and minis...
read full description
reviews
Oct 31, 2011
Gregory
rated it: 
This book is amazing! Bailey lived for 60 years in the Middle East, and has literally lived through the Bible story. The book begins with a stunning study, which presents a convincing case that Jesus was actually born in a house (since many poor, Middle Eastern homes actually have mangers in the house!). I won't give away the rest of his argument, but I did want to share another tid-bit that lept out at me.
Speaking of the Magi, and who they might have been, he writes: "In the More...
Speaking of the Magi, and who they might have been, he writes: "In the More...
5 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Aug 29, 2011
Joanne
rated it: 
Interesting - mostly - analysis of New Testament stories and parables, but adding MIddle Eastern historical and cultural context. Best is chapter 1 on the birth of Jesus. For example, the "stable" might have been a house, and Mary wouldn't have been alone. Peter's calling is also interesting, and so are some of the stories featuring women. The sections on the Beatitudes and the parables are a Big Yawn, I think because they stand pretty well by themselves and don't need much more co
More...
Jan 27, 2012
Josh
rated it:
The sad thing about living in a Western influenced culture is that we rarely have the opportunity to hear and learn from our brothers and sisters in the East. Kenneth Bailey tries to remedy this issue with his book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies In The Gospels.”
“Middle Eastern Christians have been called the forgotten faithful. The world knows that across the centuries there have been Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. For the most part, however Middle Eastern More...
“Middle Eastern Christians have been called the forgotten faithful. The world knows that across the centuries there have been Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. For the most part, however Middle Eastern More...
Jul 27, 2011
I must say that I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I thought that it would give me many new insights in the Gospels and about the person Jesus through its cultural perspective, but I can't say that it gave me much in either way. Bailey goes on about the structure in more or less evey single interpretation, and he is right, but it is so obvious that one doesn't have to mention it every time. The book feels more like a normal biblical commentary than a monograph on Jesus. There are some g
More...
Jun 21, 2010
Diane
rated it:
Fascinating cultural history of the Gospels by someone who has lived most of his life in the Middle East. Topics include the parables of Jesus (with an explanation of how Middle Eastern stories put the climax in the middle), Jesus and women, etc. Bailey provides many new insights, although I would estimate that about half of his insights on the parables are available in other commentaries and/or do not directly relate to Middle Eastern cultural history.
Nevertheless, the book is fil More...
Nevertheless, the book is fil More...
Jul 09, 2010
Charlie
rated it:
This book opened up a whole new understanding of Jesus in the Gospels. Kenneth E. Bailey spent many years in the Middle East and studied under many Middle Eastern writers. He presents Hebrew, Greek, and Mideastern thought in this book and documents his sources.
Another thing I like about this book is that Mr. Bailey presents various options to consider in interpreting the Gospels and life of Jesus from a cultural standpoint, but leaves the reader with the freedom of choice as to how More...
Another thing I like about this book is that Mr. Bailey presents various options to consider in interpreting the Gospels and life of Jesus from a cultural standpoint, but leaves the reader with the freedom of choice as to how More...
Oct 26, 2011
Stewart
rated it:
Brilliant contextualisation of many of the stories in the Gospels - the writer makes it clear that so little had changed from Jesus' day up til very recently that he could see direct parallels between Palestinian life in the 1960s to 80s and the time of Jesus. My favourite is the story of the Samaritan and Jewish friends meeting - the Samaritan can only eat an apple and only that coz he could peel it with his own knife and remove the skin which was unclean as it had been touched by a non-Samarit
More...
Jul 23, 2010
Michael
rated it:
I highly recommend this book, and it's on my list of books to buy for my library. It's highly readable by the layperson and filled with tremendous insight on Jesus and his teachings from a Middle Eastern perspective. It is a commentary, but without being academic and unreadable like many commentaries: each chapter covers the text, some comments and meditations on the text, and then a summary of take away points. I found it very practical to use in my bible study and devotional time. Great fo
More...
Dec 31, 2010
Shorel
rated it:
Like "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus" this book tries to look at Jesus in the light of middle eastern culture. A bit dry/academic at times, but still fascinating.
"Our Christmas creche sets remain as they are because "ox and ass before him bow, / for he is in the manger now." But that manger was in a warm and friendly home, not in a cold and lonely stable. Looking at the story in this light strips away layers of interpretive mythology that have built up aro More...
"Our Christmas creche sets remain as they are because "ox and ass before him bow, / for he is in the manger now." But that manger was in a warm and friendly home, not in a cold and lonely stable. Looking at the story in this light strips away layers of interpretive mythology that have built up aro More...
Sep 11, 2009
Tim
rated it: 
A book the benefits of which have been perhaps oversold (I'm reading Luke commentaries now and it seems Bailey overstates the newness of his insights to western eyes), but which does provide some new cultural framework for Jesus and his times. Unfortunately, I read his discussion of the parable of the unjust manager first and found it unconvincingly removed from the context of subsequent verses about money. That slowed my reading at first, but, Bailey on rhetorical form and especially his sect
More...
Nov 10, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This is the book I've been searching for my whole life. It is basically a commentary on the gospels through the lens of Middle Eastern culture, and it is by far the best commentary I have read.
I've always been a bit unsettled by Americanized biblical analysis and have longed for something that focused less on fitting the bible into my frame of reference and more on fitting me into Jesus' frame of reference. Well this is it! Kenneth Bailey has done a masterful job of setting the sc More...
I've always been a bit unsettled by Americanized biblical analysis and have longed for something that focused less on fitting the bible into my frame of reference and more on fitting me into Jesus' frame of reference. Well this is it! Kenneth Bailey has done a masterful job of setting the sc More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 03, 2012
Darin
rated it:
This is a fascinating book. Bailey places many of the stories about the life and teachings of Jesus in a middle-eastern context. In most cases this provides a new minor or subtle insight. In a few chapters, such as the story of the nativity, it completely changes the meaning of the narrative. As a friend commented on Christmas eve after reading the first Chapter, "you get a completely different sermon after reading the Christmas story this way." Many of the chapters have little to
More...
Nov 11, 2011
Aaron
rated it:
While this subtitle to this book is "Cultural Studies in the Gospels," it is more accurate to consider this book to be a Scripture commentary, though with a non-traditional organization. Rather than focusing on a specific book of the Bible, instead the author focuses on 40 different stories and parables in the four Gospels, bringing both his own experience living in the Middle East and his understanding of ancient Arabic-language Biblical scholarship to bear. The results aim to shed
More...
Oct 22, 2010
Steve
rated it:
This may be the greatest Bible commentary ever. For those of us in the western world reading the Bible, we miss so much of its meaning because we aren't from the middle eastern culture. The author is, and uses his knowledge to enhance and explain scripture in ways that were obvious to Jesus' followers, but hidden to us.
In fact, for those who have never read the Bible, I would recommend reading this first, then the Bible. Doing that would make the Bible so much easier to understand More...
In fact, for those who have never read the Bible, I would recommend reading this first, then the Bible. Doing that would make the Bible so much easier to understand More...
Feb 16, 2012
I'm not giving this a star rating because it wouldn't be fair; I didn't read the whole book. I got bogged down and skipped some sections. The first section, covering American misconceptions about the Christmas story, was fantastic. Some of the subsequent material seemed less so. The criticism a friend gives of Bailey's work is that it's too parochial; he doesn't necessarily see that the gospel stories can be just as easily applicable universally whether you understand Middle Eastern culture or
More...
Jul 29, 2011
Adam
rated it:
While not a page turner, Bailey's book is nevertheless brilliant. He spent forty years living and teaching in Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Cyprus and has extensive knowledge in Semitic languages and the culture of the Middle East. Bailey offers insights into the gospel narratives, parables, and culture that are incredibly insightful. He opens up a whole world of historical eastern interpretation by referencing ancient commentaries written in Arabic. This book is a valuable addition to only one
More...
Jan 29, 2012
Michael
rated it:
This book did a great job of unpacking the writings in the Bible surrounding Jesus' arrival on Earth as well as His parables. The author himself is middle-Eastern and is able to read middle-Eastern languages in which many documents relevant to that time period were written, so he is able to provide a lot of historical and cultural context that illuminates subtle points of the Bible that an unaided English reader would understand less fully.
May 25, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
One of the finest aids you can have for New Testament study. Written by a long-term resident and university professor, the book provides critical context and perspective on M.E. culture, language, and history. I know that's generic praise for study books, but this is the real deal. Worth every cent.
Dec 29, 2011
Jacob
rated it:
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot and enjoyed the style and approach of Bailey. Definitely interested in reading some of his other works. The only reason for not giving it a five is that it isn't what I thought it was about - it was much more literary and academic. Still a great read.
Jun 16, 2008
Dan
rated it:
Again another fabulous book by Ken Bailey. Don't let the length of the book cause you problems. It is 400 pages, but each chapter is pretty much stand alone.
Again, the insights that Dr. Kenneth Bailey gives to the culture during the time of Jesus is amazing. You will understand parables in a better way. You will understand why some sayings of Jesus offended the local Rabbi's in a way that you didn't catch with a casual reading.
This books helps me to dig deeper into th More...
Again, the insights that Dr. Kenneth Bailey gives to the culture during the time of Jesus is amazing. You will understand parables in a better way. You will understand why some sayings of Jesus offended the local Rabbi's in a way that you didn't catch with a casual reading.
This books helps me to dig deeper into th More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 24, 2011
Bryan
rated it:
Insightful and thoughtful analysis of Jesus' parables. Bailey's observations on rhetoric and his cultural expertise is helpful in illuminating the biblical texts.
Jan 06, 2010
Brian
rated it:
The birth of Jesus chapter is great. The rest is good but doesn't quite reach the new insights of the first chapter.
Jan 27, 2009
Dmcconkey
rated it:
This is an outstanding book! It is the result of a lifetime of learning & living in the Middle East by the author. Insights are rich: culturally, theologically and spiritual application. Deals with parables and the Gospels. Could serve as an excellent text book for Biblical interpretation and exegesis. i will keep this book close by for reference in study and sermon preparation.
Mar 22, 2011
Jim
rated it:
a really great read that takes stories and parables from New Testament; places them in Jesus' times from the point of view of someone who lives in the Middle East. Some really great insight. I really enjoyed the book - Must Read
Jul 15, 2009
Mary Lou
rated it:
Amazing insight - would highly recommend this book for those wanting to understand more behind the Parables of Jesus.
Jan 29, 2012
Trish
rated it:
Great insight into Jesus and the parables that I'd not seen elsewhere. Very interesting read.
