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80th out of 122 books
—
28 voters
Jesus: A Biography, from a Believer
by
Paul Johnson
From the bestselling author and acclaimed historian, a powerful portrayal of the life of Jesus
Is Jesus relevant to us today? Few figures have had such an influence on history as Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings have inspired discussion, arguments, even war, and yet few have ever held forth as movingly on the need for peace, forgiveness, and mercy. Paul Johnson's brilli...more
Is Jesus relevant to us today? Few figures have had such an influence on history as Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings have inspired discussion, arguments, even war, and yet few have ever held forth as movingly on the need for peace, forgiveness, and mercy. Paul Johnson's brilli...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
March 4th 2010
by Viking Adult
(first published January 1st 2010)
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This was more or less a prose summary of the New Testament gospels. It was if someone was given a book review of the four gospels -- I didn't really learn anything I couldn't have known if I read them myself. This was basically the Cliff's Notes version on the NT. I was a bit put off when he began the book by saying "I do not cite my authorities, though I am prepared to defend all my assertions, if challenged, by documentation." This was very Jesus 101 ... there was a lack of critical reading of...more
I picked this book up (actually BOUGHT it, rather than got it from the library!) because I love Paul Johnson's history books. I was intrigued by the subtitle "A Biography, from a Believer". Nothing new or exciting in the first few chapters, but he did present the setting of Christ's birth and life in a helpful factual way. But when I got to the chapter about Jesus's "new" commandments, I became distressed. Johnson talks about how we are to be like Jesus and if we come close enough to his example...more
Almost done with an easy, pleasant and contemplative read. Johnson answers some questions that have long lingered in my mind such as Jesus' impact on the history of man. I found the answer reassuring as Johnson sees the dizzying advance in quality of life in the last two millennia as attributable to Jesus' unique perspective on an array of issues including philosophy and religion. There are gems in here for anyone even those who are very familiar with the gospels. Of course the reader should bea...more
I didn't like this as much as I expected to. Paul Johnson is one of my favorite historians, so when I saw he wrote a book about one of my favorite topics, I couldn't wait to read it. But I quickly found (and this is true for the whole book) that he spent way too much time re-telling familiar stories, as opposed to offering analysis or commentary about the stories.
Don't get me wrong, there is some of that in this book, but not enough to suit my taste. This would be a great book for a new Christi...more
Don't get me wrong, there is some of that in this book, but not enough to suit my taste. This would be a great book for a new Christi...more
Mar 05, 2013
Mary Ronan Drew
added it
My Lenten reading was going to be Paul Johnson's book, Jesus. But it turned out to be written at a 6th grade level and very simplistic. I suppose it would be useful to someone who didn't know what Christianity is all about. And come to think of it that would probably be more than half the population of the US.
Johnson counts things, like parables - so many in Mark, so many in Matthew. And miracles. And how many times Jesus told the person whom he was healing or raising from the dead that they wer...more
Johnson counts things, like parables - so many in Mark, so many in Matthew. And miracles. And how many times Jesus told the person whom he was healing or raising from the dead that they wer...more
This book makes some pretty bold statements about what Jesus thought, liked, etc. when Jesus made no such statements according the sources that we have. I have no problem with drawing inferences, which we have to do if we are really going to study the life of Christ, but those inferences should be stated as such and shouldn't be declared as fact. While reading this book, I just rolled my eyes at these kinds of statements and overlooked them in favor of looking for the few interesting insights th...more
In reading this book, I kept wondering who its intended audience was. Based largely on the Bible, there was little new information, which made me ask if it was intended for those unfamiliar with the New Testament. The most interesting and original chapter was one devoted to Jesus's ten new commandments. All in all, however, I was disappointed, for I had hoped to see interaction with modern scholarship.
Within just a few months, two slim, brillant volumes from a great writer. "What did Jesus teach?...The only way to grasp his teaching is to read all the Gospels repeatedly, until permeates the mind." "The Christianity he bequeathed has not been tried and failed. As G.K. Chesterton once wrote, it has been found difficult and left untried."
More than any other book - other than the Bible - Paul Johnson's "Jesus - A Biography From A Believer" helped me to understand the life, character, teachings, and context of the man whose life changed the course of human history. After reading this wonderfully precise and and moving work, my praise and worship for Jesus has been elevated to a whole new level. I highly recommend this book!
It wasn't an overwhelmingly impressive read, but the subject and the author's clear admiration of him are appreciated. It was a succinct review of Jesus' life and perhaps Johnson's most valuable point is just how applicable the life of Jesus is for individuals and societies of our time.
Johnson's strength is descriptive characterization, and times he peaks. He refreshingly takes the Bible at face value. Many places he is doctrinally confused and at others he misses the point of what Jesus is doing, like confounding his enemies with parables.
I expected alot more from this book. You take the four gospels and add some historical context and that is it. There are no prying questions, no real digging, needless to say somewhat disappointed.
Merely recounts the Gospels in a summary. Otherwise not very informative and largely disappointing. Does not bring up anything new. Boring and would not recommend reading this.
Životopis, který zaujme jen renomovaným autorem.
Mohu se jen dohadovat, proč jde v podtitulu o životopis pro 21. století, protože si myslím, že stejný text by se dal napsat i pro století dvacáté nebo desáté. Když ale neznáte dobře Nový zákon, zde naleznete jeho stručný výcuc. Taková reader digest verze Ježíšova života, která je vážným konkurentem ukecané gedeonské bibli zanechané v hotelovém pokoji, protože večer díky stručnému textu stihnete v hektickém 21. století uspokojit kromě duše i další s...more
Mohu se jen dohadovat, proč jde v podtitulu o životopis pro 21. století, protože si myslím, že stejný text by se dal napsat i pro století dvacáté nebo desáté. Když ale neznáte dobře Nový zákon, zde naleznete jeho stručný výcuc. Taková reader digest verze Ježíšova života, která je vážným konkurentem ukecané gedeonské bibli zanechané v hotelovém pokoji, protože večer díky stručnému textu stihnete v hektickém 21. století uspokojit kromě duše i další s...more
Extremely well organized and documented analysis of what we do know about the historical Jesus and of the message he brought.
A very basic, and brief story of The live of Jesus. Most people who attended Sunday school know these stories.
A thoroughly disappointing book. Paul Johnson should stick to history, wherein he excels.
one would expect more in-depth story from historian with such reputation ...
Really really well written.
Excellent biography by an historian. There are a few things I don't agree with, but I can recommend this book.
Simple, easy to read, and yet powerful. I loved this book.
meh. Nothing really amazing about this. Doesn't offer any new information that I hadn't already learned from High School Seminary.
very quick read, interesting logic and assumptions by this noted historian, I enjoyed it very much
Apr 15, 2010
Alex
added it
Kind of intrigued...
May 15, 2013
Jesse Mancini
added it
Apr 23, 2013
Christopher Kim
marked it as to-read
Apr 20, 2013
Pforsich
marked it as to-read
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Paul Johnson works as a historian, journalist and author. He was educated at Stonyhurst School in Clitheroe, Lancashire and Magdalen College, Oxford, and first came to prominence in the 1950s as a journalist writing for, and later editing, the New Statesman magazine. He has also written for leading newspapers and magazines in Britain, the US and Europe.
Paul Johnson has published over 40 books incl...more
More about Paul Johnson...
Paul Johnson has published over 40 books incl...more
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Jun 05, 2011 03:57pm