The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem
by Marcus J. Borg, John Dominic Crossan
List Price:
Our Price: $5.75
You Save: $8.20 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.65 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: John Dominic Crossan, Marcus J. BorgEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-01-30
ISBN: 0060872608
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: HarperOne
Book Reviews of The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem
Book Review: Very good for reflection or 'book group' use
Summary: 4 Stars
May I begin with the caveat that I am one who disagrees with the interpretations of the gospels which are common to The Jesus Seminar, with which both authors are much involved. This is not to downgrade their scholarly abilities, which are unquestionable despite one's agreement with the conclusions. For example, the works of Dominic Crossan are outstanding scholarship, quite possibly the most authoritative and original treatment of first century Palestine of our day.
This particular book is suited to devotional reflections or 'book group' study, as the lengthy works (which combine history, archaeology, literary analysis and the like) I would consider to be purely of the textbook class. Those other volumes, for all of their valuable detail in scriptural study, also contain unorthodox conclusions which, for example, those in church or school reading groups could find puzzling or offensive, the more since such settings would not lend to also considering other works, with contrary conclusions, from equally distinguished scripture scholars.
The Last Week is though provoking indeed, and includes reflections (for example, conformity of Jesus to "God's will" as illustrative of trust, not of God's having willed the suffering) which make excellent points clearly and with strict reverence for the scriptural context. The statements which appear sceptical about the original text's meaning or integrity should not provide difficulties, because the approach to the overall text is more akin to that of the 'story genre' of Judaism and many orthodox scripture scholars today.
Details related to the society, domination, anthropology, and beliefs of 1st century Palestine are explained with clarity and insight. Though Christology is acknowledged as a driving element in the gospel of Mark, it is not set forth as doctrine to be embraced per se - but the detail can lead the devout reader to the conclusions that it is indeed. The questions are more 'left open' than criticised.
Overall, unless one is using the book in a highly conservative or literalist congregation, it is a fine and enriching work.
Summary of The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem
Top Jesus scholars Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan join together to reveal a radical and little-known Jesus. As both authors reacted to and responded to questions about Mel Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of the Christ, they discovered that many Christians are unclear on the details of events during the week leading up to Jesus's crucifixion.
Using the gospel of Mark as their guide, Borg and Crossan present a day-by-day account of Jesus's final week of life. They begin their story on Palm Sunday with two triumphal entries into Jerusalem. The first entry, that of Roman governor Pontius Pilate leading Roman soldiers into the city, symbolized military strength. The second heralded a new kind of moral hero who was praised by the people as he rode in on a humble donkey. The Jesus introduced by Borg and Crossan is this new moral hero, a more dangerous Jesus than the one enshrined in the church's traditional teachings.
The Last Week depicts Jesus giving up his life to protest power without justice and to condemn the rich who lack concern for the poor. In this vein, at the end of the week Jesus marches up Calvary, offering himself as a model for others to do the same when they are confronted by similar issues. Informed, challenged, and inspired, we not only meet the historical Jesus, but meet a new Jesus who engages us and invites us to follow him.
New Testament Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in A few different perspectives on Christianity
God in Us : A Case for Christian Humanism (Societas)by Anthony Freeman
Imprint Academic; Published: 2001-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.77
Price in other shops:
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faithby Anne Lamott
Riverhead Trade; Published: 2006-03-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.45
Price in other shops:
C. S. Lewis's Case for Christ: Insights from Reason, Imagination and Faithby Art Lindsley
InterVarsity Press; Published: 2005-10-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.86
Price in other shops:
Mere Christianityby C. S. Lewis
Harper; Published: 2001-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.84
Price in other shops:
Dynamics of Faith (Perennial Classic.)by Paul Tillich
HarperOne; Published: 2001-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
The Courage to Beby Paul Tillich
Yale University Press; Published: 2000-07-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Lifeby A. W. Tozer
HarperOne; Published: 1992-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.07
Price in other shops:
Handbook of Process TheologyChalice Press; Published: 2006-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.85
Price in other shops:
Process Theology: A Basic Introductionby C. Robert Mesle
Chalice Press; Published: 1993-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.53
Price in other shops:
The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Loveby John Shelby Spong
Published: 2005-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.52
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Emerging Christian Way: Thought, Stories, And Wisdom for a Faith of TransformationNorthstone Publishing; Published: 2006-04-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.59
Price in other shops:
Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faithby Marcus J. Borg
HarperOne; Published: 1995-03-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.70
Price in other shops:
The God We Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion To A More Authenthic Contemporary Faithby Marcus J. Borg
HarperOne; Published: 1998-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.16
Price in other shops:
Jesus for the Non-Religiousby John Shelby Spong
HarperOne; Published: 2008-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.24
Price in other shops:
Living the Heart of Christianity: A Guide to Putting Your Faith into Actionby Marcus J. Borg, Tim Scorer
HarperOne; Published: 2006-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.20
Price in other shops:
Reading the Bible Again For the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literallyby Marcus J. Borg
HarperSanFrancisco; Published: 2002-02-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.71
Price in other shops:
The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faithby Marcus J. Borg
HarperOne; Published: 2004-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.53
God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Nowby John Dominic Crossan
HarperOne; Published: 2007-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.49
Price in other shops:
Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionaryby Marcus J. Borg
HarperOne; Published: 2008-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.52
Price in other shops:
The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Birthby Marcus J. Borg, John Dominic Crossan
HarperOne; Published: 2007-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.97
Price in other shops: