Jesus: An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, And His People

by Leith Anderson

Now in paperback, an expanded retelling of the life of Jesus including the gospel accounts, historical and cultural details, and the geopolitical scene.

Genres: Christian, Biography, Faith, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ian DeVaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mary-Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Eric Gendreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Michael Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Melissa (Vacation Mode) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jacob Sabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anderson tries to take a chronological approach of all the Gospels in his book entitled Jesus. There are a lot of helpful additional notes which can help the reader understand aspects about the Gospels/the Jesus narrative they may not have known before. While I understand why he did not quote verses specifically in a heavy way (because the book is meant to be read as a story/narrative feel), if one did not know the story well, they might like it better to follow along in their Bibles. He adds his own flair sometimes. I do not mean it in a bad way, we all do it when we are preaching, teaching, or writing. There were a couple of interpretations to some of the parables where I know Anderson took the traditional approach which I am not sure if that is the case or not (Skip Heitzig has a very different approach to the Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven for example and I think Skip may actually be right). But there is nothing in the book which I think was heretical or wrong to write, believe, etc. I probably would not read it again, but I would use some of the notes again (this is where having more detailed headings for chapters and everything else would make it easier to reference them faster). For a new Christian or someone who is just trying to read/understand the Gospels better, this could be a great tool.

[Rebecca Baughman · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Karen]

A touching narrative of our Savior.

[Janice M Dodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read book and liked it very much!

[Jason Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Joni]

I 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.

[Jeff Noble]

Jesus: An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, and His People by Leith Anderson (?)

[Rachel Birt · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Thomas C Wilson Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.