A Mystical Portrait of Jesus - by Demetrius Dumm (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The poetic and symbolic nature of John's gospel betrays the weakness of historical-critical and other scientific" methods of scriptural exegesis: Although valuable for the insights they do provide, scientific methods are not sensitive to the spiritual dimensions of biblical revelation.

Father Dumm therefore offers something more than the traditional chapter-and-verse commentary. Understanding that all of the gospels were written after the resurrection and, consequently, that the passion narrative greatly influenced how the earlier chapters were composed, Father Dumm gives more prominence to the climax of the career of Jesus: his passion, death, and resurrection. By beginning "at the end," Father Dumm uncovers the guiding principle of this gospel. In the process he makes some surprising discoveries about the dangers of religious ritual but finds remedy for these dangers in the importance of personal mystical experience within the context of a believing community.

Chapters are "The Hour has Come," *Testifying to the Truth, - *Love Gives all, - *Love Conquers all, - *Love One Another, - *Abide in Me as I Abide in You, - *That They May be One, - *Conversion, - *Baptism, - *Eucharist, - *Enlightenment, - and *Eternal Life. -

Demetrius Dumm, OSB, is a monk of St. Vincent's Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania. A professor of New Testament for almost fifty years, he is the author of several books and has given numerous retreats and workshops designed to allow scholarship to bear fruit in the spiritual life of the nonscholar.

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Review Quotes

With a rare ability to express complex theology and biblical scholarship in an engaging, readable style, Fr. Dumm offers a valuable gift to all who long to understand the Gospel of John and its truth that sets us free. A great power of the book is that it is not an impersonal exchange of information, but, like John's Gospel itself, a witness in faith to the power of love which Jesus brings from the Father and offers to us. I found A Mystical Portrait of Jesus to be as informative as a fine graduate course, and as inspiring as an outstanding retreat.Patricia H. Livingston, Counselor, author, and speaker

Demetrius Dumm, using a new and daring approach, brings remarkably fresh insights to John's Gospel. In his usual lucid and clear style, he goes beyond the literal, historical, and critical approach to reveal the transcendent elements in this unique Gospel. In reading his commentary one continues to say, 'Of course, now it makes sense, ' only to find that it also becomes much more challenging.Most Reverend Rembert G. Weakland, OSB, Archbishop of Milwaukee

This is a contemplative reading of a contemplative Gospel. Father Demetrius' study is rooted in sound biblical scholarship but available to everyone. Using the passion narrative as lens, he perceives a theme of loving service, the vocation of Jesus and his true disciples, running through the Gospel from beginning to end. Above all, he leads us into the Gospel of John as through a doorway to the experience of God.Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB