Jesus of Nazareth - by Maurice Casey (Paperback)

About the Book

A new 'life' of Jesus written by one of the outstanding scholars of his generation, it offers a complete resource on the 'Historical Jesus' debate.

Book Synopsis

A new 'life' of Jesus written by one of the outstanding scholars of his generation, it offers a complete resource on the 'Historical Jesus' debate. With an overview of the various positions taken on who the historical Jesus was, Casey provides a helpful and accessible tool for understanding how the historical Jesus has been received and understood, with attention paid to the contortions in evidence in the last century to prove that Jesus was not Jewish.

From the Back Cover

Professor Maurice Casey provides a sophisticated and engaging historical reconstruction of Jesus life tackling controversial issues such as the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection. Casey s masterful treatment of the Aramaic sources and background to the Gospels make this volume unique in that no other life of Jesus has been written by a scholar with such expertise in the language which Jesus spoke, as a result Casey is able to draw us closer to the historical Jesus than ever before. Casey provides an up-to-date overview of the historical Jesus debate, covering the Jewishness of Jesus teaching, the foundation of early groups of his followers, and the location of Jesus within his wider context. He also gives a bold ideological critique of the very discipline of historical Jesus research, discussing the possibility that anti-Jewish views have skewed research in the past. This major contribution will be of interest to anyone interested in the historical figure of Jesus and the roots of Christianity.

Review Quotes

... offers the safest route toward a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of Jesus.
Biblical Theology Bulletin

Reviewed in Contemporary Review
Methodist Recorder

The subtitle of this massive and powerful study of the historical Jesus describes its fundamental approach... [Casey] begins with an extensive survey of modern literature on this subject- an incisive analysis worth the price of admission that, with wit, sarcasm, and breathtaking erudition, leaves no scholar unscathed... The end result of this meticulous study is remarkably 'conservative' that is, in Casey's view the overall portrayal of Jesus' mission, life, and teaching found in the gospels has strong historical verisimilitude.

About the Author

Maurice Casey is Professor of New Testament Languages and Literature at the University of Nottingham, UK. He has published extensively on the Son of Man problem, and more generally on reconstructing Aramaic traditions about Jesus from the Greek Gospels.