The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah: New Updated Edition Hardcover – July 1, 1993

This is a rather famous reference book, NOT a "story of Jesus" per se. It was recommended to me by an acquaintance and since the price was only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle for such a huge book, I bought it. As far as a book goes, it's been a tough one to read, and I often recalled the adage "you get what you pay for".The book seems to be missing sentences here and there but makes up for it by repeating whole paragraphs almost randomly. ;) I don't know what happened to the electronification of this book but something failed. Maybe more importantly, being a reference book, the reader will miss out if he can't readily refer to citations and definitions. There are a metric ton of abbreviations in every chapter, and I found myself skimming over portions because they were made unwieldy to read.What I'm looking forward to, assuming I can or will continue the struggle of reading this enormously dry but informative, scholarly book, is the deeper understanding of how ancient Jewish culture shaped the philosophy and life of Christ Jesus.

This book is quite an undertaking to read. I am 30 Percent through at the moment. The value in this study is to learn the culture, geographic, political, and tradition setting of the Jews in Jerusalem during the time Jesus Christ lived in that area. It sheds light on many encounters he had with both the common people and the Jewish religious leaders of the day. A good deal of the book deals with the physical geography of Israel and records the sight and sounds Christ would have encountered on his walk from Galilee to Jerusalem, for example. I recommend it for any serious student of scripture.

5-star content. Not an easy read. [Side notes] are inline text, very long, and very distracting. By the 5th page I'd seen FOUR typographical errors. UGH. Really REALLY hard to focus on the main text. I want to copy and paste the whole book into a word processing document, edit it myself, and then start reading again at the beginning. Get the paperbacks. Hopefully they were better edited. $0.99 is overpriced. Very sad day for me. I guess I should heaved expected to get what I paid for.

This is not an easy read. It was originally written in 1883, and although I have the 1993 updated version, it is still in old English. Aside from that, this book is an amazing book. Albert Edersheim has not only covers the life of Jesus, but the background information throughout the book gives you such a deeper understanding of why Jesus did and said some of the things He did. I have tried to read it cover to cover and didn't finish. But I have gone to it many times for information as I prepare for various bible studies. It is a must for anyone who desires to know more about Jesus.

This is the best book ever written by man! I love the reverent, loving and scholarly way this was written. Everyone should read this wonderful book! The author paints a full picture of the area and times of Jesus with wonderful insight and psychology of human behavior of the people in the stories. I feel like I am living among them as i read.

Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish scholar and convert to Christianity, brings out the Rabbinic background which most people miss. Many of Jesus' statements and actions are a complete contradiction to prevailing sentiments of the Jewish culture. For instance, "Where 2 or more gather to study the Torah, God's glory is there...." Jesus radically transformed this statement. My NT professor in the 1970's recommended this book highly. And for the past 45 years, I discovered that he was right!

I purchased "The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah" because I kept seeing it cited over and over again during a nine month study of Revelation. After reading it...I understand why it is quoted by so many Theologians. First off, let me warn you that it is over 1,000 pages and a very difficult read if one is to read it cover to cover as I did. The details about the land and culture Christ lived in is like no other book I have studied. The book covers the life of Jesus from birth to ascension with as precise a timeline as I have ever seen, When the timeline is in doubt then alternative theories are offered up or if a date or town is unsure a greatly appreciated "only God knows" gave the author, Alfred Edersheim, credibility. Like I said...it is a tough read but it is, at the same time, one fantastic reference book tracing our Saviors walk on earth.

Edersheim is one of the best and most interesting commentators there is. His Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah was a classic for over a 150 years............no one like this guy. If you want to read the Jewish historical, political, religious, social backgrounds of the period when the Lord lived and ministered..., then Edershiem's Life and Times is the book for you. His commentary on the Gospels is insightful, interesting, though provoking!! I read this book some 40 years ago and it is a book I still return to...........like visiting with a great Bible teacher of the past whose work and words creates a "shaping vision" that guides you throughout your life ..........a great Jewish brother in the Lord and wonderful scholar.............

Written by a scholarly Jewish convert (messianic), the insight offered is indispensable. A clearer understanding of the Jewish background is required to de-gentilise the latter testament (covenant), and return it to the actual context, where our Lord lived, and died on a Roman cross. His conversations, teaching and interpretation of the Tenach take on a contextual accuracy which one must not overlook in the 20th, or 21st centuries, sadly as has often been done.

I real gold mine of information. I bought the paperback in the mid 1980's. Like the Holy Bible it is best used as a dip into book rather than try to read it from cover to cover. I for one am grateful to Alfred Edersheim for going to all the trouble of writing it.It is important that you have the council of God the Holy Spirit to help you as you study. He clears the mind and the heart to allow the teaching to be properly assimilated. John 14:23 people should have no problem. John 14:24 people may have. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GB5gpALpsQ

I like Edersheim but I regret that I did not find this to be his best book. At least he is Evangelical which is unlike some books on the subject. He knows his subject.The problem is that here he is very wordy and can be very hard-going to the point that by-and-large I could not follow what he talking about. I am will to believe that that is my fault but nevertheless I longed for less-demanding reading.I would recommend it but with a very clear caveat.

A great book. And a great complement to your bible reading. Be prepared for the English language used it was written in 1800's.

An appreciation of Jesus that would prevent inappropriate preaching.An absolute must for anyone who wants to understand the Gospels fully and properly.