Global reaction to the book makes it clear that Benedict XVI has contributed a work on Jesus that is as important and historically significant as it is well-written and thorough.
“It’s a remarkable achievement,” said Protestant scholar Dr. Craig A. Evans of Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University, in Wolfville, N.S., Canada. “It’s the best book I’ve read on Jesus in years. This is a book that I think all Christians should read, be they Protestant or Catholic.”
“(The Pope) asked for the union of theology and critical history, a response to the failure of critical historical scholarship during the last century,” said Dr. Jacob Neusner, Rabbi and Distinguished Research Professor of Religion and Theology at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. “And he’s accomplished something that no one else has achieved in the modern study of Scripture.”
It should be noted that the pope has made it very clear that much of what he has written is not defined Church dogma and has not been officially proclaimed “ex cathedra.” Although I am sure that what he has to say is likely to be very accurate as well as deeply profund considering his background.
That is an exceedingly important point, #1, and it’s very good you make it – it should be more widely stressed.
One hopes that reading this second volume of the pair will cause new readers to read the first volume as well. In that book B16 developed his considered refutation of the case against recognizing Jesus as Messiah made in a book by his friend Rabbi Neusner (quoted in the article here). That contains one of the best arguments and explanations for recognizing the historic Church as the new Israel that I have ever read anywhere.
I can’t wait to get the book. His exegesis in the first one is simply masterful.
Can’t wait to read refutations by Anglican Scholars (TM) Katharine ‘Mother Jesus’ Schori, John ‘Why I am right and you are all fools’ Spong and that Other Famous Guy in New Westminster whose name I can’t remember.
#4, you must mean Michael ‘Mansions in the Spirit’ Ingham.
I’m sure that Hans Kung, long-time Catholic theological gadfly, will find something to complain loudly to the press about. If not about the topic or reasoning in the book, then about his grudge against the author.
If you have access to The Guardian you might wish to read Geza Vermes’ almost-contemptuous dismissal of the book. Vermes, Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies at Oxford, as a young Jew converted to Catholicism in the 1950s, was ordained a priest, and about a decade later returned to a form of Judaism that seems devoid of religious belief.
I already used some of the Holy Father’s exegesis from the first volume last Sunday when preaching on our Lord’s temptation. The study guide is also on order for this volume. This has Adult Forum possibilities written all over it. Looking forward to this book as I prepare to preach during Passiontide! May God continue to bless Pope Benedict. Would that Anglicanism had a leader like him.
[blockquote]Would that Anglicanism had a leader like him.[blockquote]
It does!!! see the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus and the emerging Anglican Ordinariate.
#6, Kung released a new book on the same day, 10 March, in German, titled “Can the Church Still Be Saved?” in translation. It encourages lay Catholics to reject the Church’s authority, and its reviews sound like it contains lots of reasons Herr Doktor Professor Kung should really become an Episcopalian……
Should make for an interesting time in late September when Benedict XVI the Pope of Christian Unity makes his state visit to Germany!