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Nov 26, 2007

Karey rated it:

A friend from a faith other than my own gave me this book in 1983 before I left to do volunteer service. Jesus the Christ is the most complete compendium (that I know of) of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ found in the New Testament. John the Baptist, Herod Antipus, and virtually any subject you would want to study about New Testament subjects is found in this marvelous book.

1 comment like (6 people liked it)

Aug 26, 2008

Jerk rated it:

I am amazed at how intricate and powerfully written this book is. This book is the summation of intense work by a very meticulously educated man. The bible does not really contain a lot of historical background within itself. This book gives readers a wealth of historical background and sound context for reading the New Testament. From the tone of the author this is also a very emotionally written book. I have never seen anything quite like it.

There are two ways to read this boo More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Jun 12, 2008

Josh rated it:

This book is based on the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormons. It is a critical study and biography of the life ot Christ from his pre-mortal exsistance through his continuing mortal ministry, in to his role in the end of days.

This is like the Book of Mormon, another testiment that the LDS church is a Christian church. If in doubt, seek it out, and decide for yourself. Parts may be unfamiliar to mainstream Catholicism and Protestism, but the v More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Dec 11, 2011

Beth rated it:

I figured What the Heck!? In a 2 week period, I'd already read like 3 or 4 serious, non fiction books about Jesus Christ AND I'd perused The miracle of Forgiveness.....I might as well check out the Big Boy for REALLY smart people...Jesus the Christ.

Talk about intimidating!

And as you probably already guessed, I didn't read the whole thing, cover to cover. I popped around a bit, looking specifically for comments on Grace and its role in our lives. I read enough to kn More...

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Dec 01, 2011

Dave rated it:

I would normally give this book a higher score, but the preponderance of glowing reviews leaves me with an overpowering urge to temper the average. A well-known anecdote in the LDS world claims that a visiting general authority piled a table with popular scriptural commentaries, discussing their different merits, before abruptly flinging them all to the ground with a sweep of his arm and replacing them with the Standard Works...and Talmage.

In popular Mormon culture this book straddle More...

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May 10, 2011

Anita rated it:

Seldom do I take a year to read a book. In this case, I am glad I did. As part of a study group we undertook a chapter a week to read, study, and discuss; I would recommend this to everyone attempting a serious study of the book. It is not a read cover-to-cover type book. It would be more correctly classified as a textbook, meant to be taken in in small doses, contemplated, and then moving on.
Yes, his vocabulary is challenging. His sentences are long, complex, and semi-colon ridden (and c More...

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Sep 28, 2010

Ailsa rated it:

This book was read to me when I was a teenager, and at that age it helped greatly to have someone who understood every phrase close at hand to explain and be my living breathing dictionary and thesaurus. I finally took to reading it for myself. Every line is quotable, every single paragraph is tight and focused. The technical language doesn’t extract the author’s passion for the subject the way it can certainly seem to do so in other works, instead, it seems to me that James E. Talmage is just s More...

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Feb 03, 2009

Aaron rated it:

This is a wonderful, life-changing book that every fervent member of the LDS church should read. Yes, the style is ornate (and sometimes dated). Yes, the vocabulary is occasionally tough (and, again, dated). Yes, there are some things that need to be updated (for example, a reference to President Joseph F. Smith's revelation -- now found in Doctrine & Covenants Section 138 -- regarding Christ's work in the spirit world between his death and resurrection is seriously needed). But these minor More...

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Jun 04, 2009

Julenew rated it:

I majored in Classical Greek in college so I could read the New Testament in the closest language we have to the original. I came away from the experience with a B.A. and with SO MANY insights that I couldn't *wait* to share with my friends.

What, then, was my delight to discover as I read "Jesus the Christ" by Talmage that EACH TIME he would come to one of those spots where I felt my studies had given me exceptional enlightenment, EVERY TIME he would pause in his narrative More...

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Mar 05, 2009

Mattmcmurry rated it:

This book is a powerful view into the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It is a long read, and when you get to the end chapters it does feel like you are reading almost straight from the bible (which isn't bad). However, James E. Talmage has done a great an inspired job in capturing the character and nature of Jesus Christ. While it has been some time since I have read this book. I love it! it is a great book and after reading it I feel a great understanding of who my Savior is. This is a book More...

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Feb 19, 2009

John rated it:

I read this for the first time on my mission--and just in time, because even though I had studied the gospels in Seminary, this book lays out so clearly the complete life and ministry of the Savior.

The best part is the footnotes--just knowing the little details makes the life of the Savior that much more real and close, like you were there. So many things about Nazareth and Judea sounded like Paraguay to me that on a long walk through strange places (15 miles a day sometimes) I co More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 22, 2008

Kerri rated it:

I made it my goal to read this book during the 2007 year to strengthen my testimony of Christ. I really underestimated how much it would strengthen my testimony, not only of Christ, but of every aspect of his gospel!

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Nov 02, 2011

Joseph D. rated it:

In high school I decided to read this book and it fast became the sine qua non of the development of my faith. I returned to it at least two other times to drink deeply from this well of scholarship about the life of Jesus Christ. Written in a secluded upper room in the Salt Lake City Temple and first published in the early 1920s, this book draws primarily from ancient scriptures as well as from the historian Josephus and sparingly from other more contemporary Christian scholars including Adam C More...

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Sep 28, 2010

Byuboston rated it:

Incredible insights into the life of Christ. Talmage really did his research to understand the purpose behind the Savior's last week's actions, as well as the people's reactions to his light and life.
Talmage helps readers understand both the divinity and humanity of Christ. By commenting on the magnificent accounts of the Savior in both the Bible and Book of Mormon, Talmage helps readers understand the Godly character of Jesus who condescended to earth with a mortal frame to provide safe p More...

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May 03, 2010

Paula rated it:

I read this the summer before I began teaching New Testament in early morning LDS Seminary. I had seen it sitting on our bookshelf for years prior to that and another 30 years on my parents book shelf before that!

I couldn't believe that I had let such a great book and testament of my Savior Jesus Christ sit for so long. I marked the book well, and as I made my way through the New Testament that year, I found myself referring often to the wonderful notes of James Talmage.

More...

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Mar 07, 2010

Meisingerdj rated it:

If a person desires to study and really learn of Christ's ministry and his teachings, this is a great study companion book with the new testament and the four standard works for all to read. I learned that through Christ and his teachings that one can come to know Christ through the Book of Mormon, and as they ponder and meditate upon the words they will gain new insights into the Life of Christ and His teachings. James E. Talmage is a true Inspiration and as well as a great teacher. Study up More...

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Jan 28, 2010

Vicki rated it:

I recently completed this book with a study group who read and studied it over a period of a year. This was a great way to really get into the book and examine the principles taught. I very much enjoyed the insights given by James E. Talmage and by the other women in my study group. This was a spiritual experience for me and helped me to feel that I know my Savior better as we studied all aspects of his life and ministry.

It was also fun for me that my daughter named her new baby More...

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Jan 19, 2009

Tom rated it:

A great book, but limited by the time in which it was written.

The harmonization is well done and the reliance on non-Mormon scholarly sources was a virtual first among Mormon literature of the time. However, the book was written nearly a century ago and sometimes suffers from a lack of doctrines of the modern Church and also from modern scholarship. All of that aside, this is THE foundation book of much of cultural Mormonism; if you want to understand the Mormon worldview first rea More...

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Dec 16, 2008

Amy rated it:

This book has been one of the most influential books in my life. I would might go as far to say it has been the most influential book, tied with one other. The insights that I gained from this book are never ending and no matter how many times i read it I learn more and more. This book showed me the divine and incredible nature of the Savior, as well as helped me really grasp who he is on a personal level.

It is definitely a heavy read, a good heavy. But while reading it I have anoth More...

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Aug 03, 2011

Sandy rated it:

First published in 1915, Jesus the Christ is the classic Latter-day Saint presentation of the life and ministry of the Savior. Elder Marion G. Romney said, "One who gets the understanding, the vision, and the spirit of the resurrected Lord through a careful study of the text Jesus the Christ by Elder James E. Talmage will find that he has greatly increased his moving faith in our glorified Redeemer." This special edition has been completely retypeset for added readability, and for the More...

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Sep 21, 2011

Lisa rated it:

I read this years ago, when it was given to me by a boy I liked. I know that it is a silly reason to read a deep and meaningful book about Jesus Christ, but at least it sprurned me on to finish a very difficult read.

The history and teachings of and about Jesus Christ, written by an apostle of the Lord in our days. It is acurrate and deep, but also simple and easy to understand. I thought there was a good mixture of both in the book, and I truly learned so much about my Savior. More...

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Oct 08, 2008

Ruth rated it:

I love the meatiness of this book. Very satisfying.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 13, 2012

Patra rated it:

What this book is and what I expected to it be are completely different. I thought this book would have an emotional appeal, but this is strictly a scholarly work. My feelings for the Savior were not enhanced by this book, but my understanding of what He did and why He did it were enlarged. I'm giving it five stars because it is very well written and researched. I don't think you could find a better piece on the life of the Savior. It was definitely worth reading, but I'll be looking further for More...

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Apr 04, 2011

Jan rated it:

I read this book four years ago when we studied the New Testament in Gospel Doctrine. I have decided that I will do so every four years as we study the life of Christ. It is so well and wonderfully written. I have/and will learn immensely from its pages. I recommend it to everyone. If you do not have a testimony of Christ before reading, you will afterward. If you have a testimony before, it will enlarge and embolden it. It is a deep read: not easy language or verbalogy; rather eloquent a More...

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Jul 21, 2009

Jeri rated it:

It was one of my 2009 goals to read this book. It is probably now one of my top three. I LOVED it! It was meaty, but not terribly difficult. I loved and read all the footnotes--just because I craved more and more information! I carried it around with me everywhere, because I just couldn't put it down. My testimony of the life of the Savior has definitely been strengthened. Honestly, I had always been intimidated by this book and thought that it would be really dry and boring. Boy, was I More...

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Jun 06, 2011

Laura rated it:

Don’t quite know what to say about this volume. To say that I gained a greater understanding of our Savior would be something of an under statement. To say that my testimony of the divinity and the mission of the only begotten Son of God was increased and enhanced by my reading experience would also be an under statement.

Elder Talmage covers his subject matter from the Pre-existence to the Millenium. He used countless resources to add dimension and color to the accounts known as More...

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Jan 14, 2010

Molly rated it:

I feel kind of guilty not giving 5 stars to a book of this caliber, but it took me almost a year to read it! The language is a little difficult at parts, so that made it harder for me to get through.

That being said, of course the information contained in the book is extremely powerful, spiritual, and life-changing. Everyone should read it. I learned a lot, especially from the notes at the end of each chapter. This book has been a goal for me to read for a very long time, and I'm More...

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Dec 01, 2011

Brad rated it:

During my mission, this book would probably have received a five-star rating. It's still a great resource on the life of Christ and I gained a lot from Talmage's commentary (and his citations of others' commentary) regarding the Savior's parables and context for much of what we read in the New Testament. As a treatise on the life of Christ, this does quite well.

On the other hand, I felt like there would be better resources for covering Christ's post-mortal activities, especially re More...

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Jun 09, 2011

Lora Leigh rated it:

Wow. What an incredible book! Not that you expected me to say anything different, but still. I tried to read this book a few years ago and didn't make it past the first few chapters. This time, however, I was hooked. I just read it in little snippets--like 15 minutes or so a night-- and that made it much more digestable. That was the problem the first time around-- there was way too much to take in and I was trying to read it like a novel.

I grew up in a religious family that attended c More...

1 comment like

Jul 27, 2010

Bryan rated it:

Talmage's clear minded assessment of the life of Jesus Christ is one of the best out there. I listened to it on audio (available for free on my church's webiste: http://tinyurl.com/27e98vb ) this time and found it much better than when I read it in print.
In print, it's such a long book and the type is so small that I often felt exhausted or overwhelmed. It was still enjoyable, just more difficult to absorb.
Listening to it on audio was a far superior experience. Having someone read More...

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