Jesus: A Historical Portrait

Who was Jesus? While almost everything we know about him is exclusively from what was written in the four Gospels, more can be extrapolated when his life and work are analyzed in relation to the history, culture, and politics of the first century times in which he lived.And that is just what the late Daniel J. Harrington, a Roman Catholic priest and professor of the New Testament at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, has done in this succinct and fascinating book.From why it was so radical and potentially scandalous for Jesus to have women following him to why Jesus taught lessons using parables to why he was considered a threat by the political authorities, Harrington analyzes Jesus's ministry in light of the history of his times. Perhaps the most interesting chapter is on Jesus's Resurrection and the proof found in history for what had to have been viewed as a most audacious claim made by the first Christians.Best of all, you don't have to be a theologian to read and appreciate this book, since it was written for lay readers. It is an ideal way to place Jesus of the Gospels in a historically accurate way in the times in which he lived to better understand what he did and why.Note No. 1: While there are some Roman Catholic teachings in the book, they are minimal. This really is an ecumenical text; Christians of all denominations will find the book to be useful.Note No. 2: There are several typos in the Kindle version in which the first word of a sentence is missing. It's usually easy enough to figure it out, but I found it annoying.

This was a good book by a famous author who is now deceased - Fr Daniel Harrington. It is a serious but simple life of Christ. I recommend it highly for those who want to know what the life of Jesus was really like.

Anything Fr. Dan Harrington wrote is great. He is so clear and easy to understand, presenting solid scholarship for the general public, without dumbing things down or taking above people's heads.

The author, Daniel Harrington, is a Jesuit. Therefore, I was expecting a more scholarly work, with deeper insights into who was Jesus. Clearly that is not what the author had in mind. The author conveys a factual, historical perspective of Jesus in a relatively short and easy to read style. For those looking for such a book, look no further. I have read many books about Jesus. From this book, you will learn a lot about who Jesus was.On the other hand, if like me, you are looking for a deep scholarly examination of the life of Jesus, this is not your book. Of course such a book would have been four times as long as this one, with lots of details and footnotes few people have any interest in.

It is a very short book, and a vast subject, but maybe Harrington should have trimmed his sails somewhat. The end result is a book that tries too hard to reach too far, and ends up with a disjointed, superficial feel to it. It is clear that Harrington can write good prose, and I will have a look at some of his longer work, but this book is disappointing. It is too detailed to be a real entry-level primer, and far too basic to serve as anything else. Hardly a "historical portrait".

Great c!aroty about the Creator God who I trust in Faith to be as forgiving and loving in whatever comes next as He has bee in this wonderful gift of life..

Got this for master's program course, very informative and easy to read.

Harrington writes a fascinating and insightful portrait of the historical Jesus without sacrificing faith on the altar of secularism. Well worth reading.