What do you think?
Rate this book
Jesus: An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, and His People
An expanded retelling of the life of Jesus, includes all the details from the Gospels in chronological order, the geopolitical scene, the historical and cultural setting, and the likely emotions and motives of those who interacted with him.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2005
120 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 14, 2017
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, religious or not, who is interested in learning more about the life and teachings of Jesus. It combines the accounts of the four Gospels, along with historical data and commentary, into one easy-to-read narrative. It also includes helpful footnotes which provide additional historical and literary context.
I have studied The Bible my whole life, and in college, and this book has provided me with new insights into the life and teachings of Jesus and the historical setting in which He lived.
I have studied The Bible my whole life, and in college, and this book has provided me with new insights into the life and teachings of Jesus and the historical setting in which He lived.
August 29, 2009
A fabulous book for Christians or non-Christians. Chronological account of Jesus' life based on the four gospel writers' accounts, with extra information to help understand the culture. I read a preview edition, so would like to read this one again.
July 7, 2008
Leigh Anderson masterfully intertwines the Gospels with historical facts. It is a great read for old and new Christians as well as anyone just interested in learning about Jesus.
February 5, 2009
not quite done yet....little over half way. great companion for devotional reading. leith is great at uncovering the cultural stuff that really brings the stories of Jesus alive.
May 22, 2019
Leith Anderson is a well-known Biblical scholar who has combined the four Gospels in the Bible into a chronological account of the life of Jesus Christ in Jesus: An Intimate Portrait Of The Man, His Land, And His People. The author explores motivations, background, culture, traditions and history, placing it all in context of the Biblical account.
Sidebar notes clarify events, so that readers can understand the meaning behind the story. For example, when Jesus travels from one city to the next, the author explains the reason for taking certain routes, the culture of the particular city, and the possible motivation for traveling there. Bible verses are given a fresh perspective through this narration.
I often shy away from biographies written by Bible scholars. Why? Because I am afraid either that they will be boring or that I won't understand the technical discussion. Anderson's book is neither dull nor too technical. I was captivated from the first page, and the book led me back to my Bible numerous times for additional clarification and confirmation. I think the mark of a good Bible-based book is that it does not replace the Bible, but leads you to it. This biography is written in layman's terms, without being over-simplified. Basic lessons are clearly presented.
Whether you are a new Christian, a longtime believer, or are simply interested and seeking information, Jesus: An Intimate Portrait Of The Man, His Land, And His People is a biography that will enrich and enlighten.
Sidebar notes clarify events, so that readers can understand the meaning behind the story. For example, when Jesus travels from one city to the next, the author explains the reason for taking certain routes, the culture of the particular city, and the possible motivation for traveling there. Bible verses are given a fresh perspective through this narration.
I often shy away from biographies written by Bible scholars. Why? Because I am afraid either that they will be boring or that I won't understand the technical discussion. Anderson's book is neither dull nor too technical. I was captivated from the first page, and the book led me back to my Bible numerous times for additional clarification and confirmation. I think the mark of a good Bible-based book is that it does not replace the Bible, but leads you to it. This biography is written in layman's terms, without being over-simplified. Basic lessons are clearly presented.
Whether you are a new Christian, a longtime believer, or are simply interested and seeking information, Jesus: An Intimate Portrait Of The Man, His Land, And His People is a biography that will enrich and enlighten.
April 5, 2023
Well, the first thing to remember is to always make sure that what you are reading is the way the Bible tells it. This book is easy to read, and it follows the Bible in many ways. The author just adds details that are his own thoughts and ideas. They are not exactly wrong or right, he just tries to make it more alive to the reader.
Read
August 13, 2020A touching narrative of our Savior.
January 4, 2021
I just read book and liked it very much!
July 16, 2024
I love Leith and this book was full of so much information. However, it was like reading a text book, very dry and slow. Consider it more of a reference guide than a story.
June 11, 2021
The author took the four gospels, arranged everything in chronological order, and added lots of details about the culture, geography, politics, and much more from the time that Jesus lived. I learned so much that put the story of Jesus in context and made it that much richer for me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about who Jesus is, as well as anyone who wants to look at the story of the gospels with fresh eyes. This biography of Jesus was excellent.
Read
September 2, 2008I was trying to find out who Jesus was while He was on earth. I think it is a wonderful book for someone on a journey to find Jesus.
Read
April 17, 2009Jesus: An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, and His People by Leith Anderson (?)
May 1, 2012
What a great read of Jesus's life and times. The historical facts and in-depth explanations expands my ability to understand many if the "Why's?" I had when studying the Bible as a young Christian.
April 30, 2017
A wonderful biography
This book is written by a highly respected Biblical scholar. He is perfectly capable of writing a paper suitable for an academic journal. But this book is written so that the vast majority of the public can understand and even enjoy what they are reading. This is not a paraphrase of the Gospels, but a retelling of the life of Jesus. He uses only the Bible as source material for the story and connects the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah to the event in His life. There is also the use of extrabiblical sources for the secular parts that fill out the story or explain for example the intricacies of Jewish law and how it had to exist under Roman rule. Some artistic license is taken, but it only served to make the story more accessible to a twenty-first century reader. Special attention is also given to terms in the original languages and that attention serves to give more contemporary meanings to those terms.
This book is suitable for laymen, Sunday School teachers, ministers, professors, and seminarians. Anyone looking for a solid biography of the Savior would do well to start with this one. It is both carefully researched and well written. I definitely recommend it.
This book is written by a highly respected Biblical scholar. He is perfectly capable of writing a paper suitable for an academic journal. But this book is written so that the vast majority of the public can understand and even enjoy what they are reading. This is not a paraphrase of the Gospels, but a retelling of the life of Jesus. He uses only the Bible as source material for the story and connects the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah to the event in His life. There is also the use of extrabiblical sources for the secular parts that fill out the story or explain for example the intricacies of Jewish law and how it had to exist under Roman rule. Some artistic license is taken, but it only served to make the story more accessible to a twenty-first century reader. Special attention is also given to terms in the original languages and that attention serves to give more contemporary meanings to those terms.
This book is suitable for laymen, Sunday School teachers, ministers, professors, and seminarians. Anyone looking for a solid biography of the Savior would do well to start with this one. It is both carefully researched and well written. I definitely recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews