JESUS AND THE GOSPELS

The title of this lecture series is slightly misleading. Luke Timothy Johnson does considerably more than explain Jesus and the gospels. Johnson discusses the nature of historical interpretation (especially regarding religious texts), how to view the gospels as literary constructions, and how they came into existence. Throughout these engaging lectures he repeatedly puts Jesus's identity into useful contexts, relating it to the cultural conditions in which the gospels were written and to Judaism at the time. Johnson's love of his topic comes through clearly in his enthusiastic tone and in the care he takes to make points clear by weaving in references to contemporary culture. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]