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| Jesus of Nazareth | 
 enlarge | Author: Pope Benedict Xvi
Publisher: Doubleday
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95 (58.73 RON)
Buy New: $16.47 (38.77 RON)
You Save: $8.48 (19.96 RON) (34%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  153 reviews
Sales Rank: 2565
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 0385523416
Dewey Decimal Number: 232.901
EAN: 9780385523417
ASIN: 0385523416
Publication Date: May 15, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 A learned discourse. October 24, 2008
This is a well-written and insightful book about the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is not an easy read in that it is not for entertainment but rather it is a study of a period of time during Jesus' time on earth. I am not a Catholic so I did not have any idea as to the Pope's qualification as a theologian. Obviously, he is very qualified. I am a more informed Christian for having read this book.
 Jesus of Nazareth October 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent book! The section which dissected the "Lord's Prayer" is powerful. Highly recommended for believers to strengthen their faith and for non-believers to get a bright insight.
Scholarly, philosophic, passionate look at the real Jesus September 29, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
There has been a great deal written on the "real" Jesus in recent years. We have had the "Jesus Project" in which a team of scholars has edited the Gospels, to throw out the parts they consider not "real" Jesus. We have had a wide variety of other scholars use various methods of modern scholarly research to cut through what they consider to be the fog of the centuries, to show us who the person Jesus really was. Interestingly, they pretty much all conclude that Jesus was really a modern thinker, whose conclusions pretty much agreed with those of the writer. In other words, we have seen many writers try to take advantage of the prestige of Jesus' name to advance their own modern agendas.
In this book, Joseph Ratzinger tries to give us back the real Jesus. Ratzinger is, of course, one of the world's foremost scholars and theologians. He is very familiar with, and respectful of, modern scholarship. He is also, of course, the current Pope, although he makes it clear that this book is not written as an act of papal authority, but as a personal search for the truth.
His basic conclusion is that the Gospels present Jesus accurately, and that Jesus was the Son of God and the savior of the world. This bald conclusion makes him sound like a fundamentalist, which he is not. He is a man of deep faith, which, of course, one would expect from the Pope.
So, it is not news that the Pope is an ardent believer in Jesus. What is news is the very passionate, simple yet dense way that Ratzinger expounds his case. He does not just tell us that Jesus is the Son of God. He tells us why he says that, how Jesus and His mission are founded in the entire Bible, and what it means to say that he is Son of God. Ratzinger does not simply affirm the faith, he explains it. He makes it a living thing.
Ratzinger's prior big book, of a generation ago, was Introduction to Christianity. It remains a wonderful book. I feel that it is somewhat mis-titled, however. It is not so much an introduction to the religion of Jesus, as it is a sustained argument, to a predominantly secular world, why it should take the idea of God seriously. I feel it is less a specifically Christian book, and more a general case for religion.
This book is a very specifically Christian book. It does not express hostility to other religions, which, of course, we know that the Pope does not feel. It simply is not very concerned about other religions, except for Judiasm, which is discussed at length because it is the religion from which Jesus emerged. This book is totally focused on the Christian view. If you want a one-volume introduction to, and summary of, what Catholics believe, and why they believe it, this is the book you want. It is absolutely magnificent.
Outstanding brightness September 13, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Benedict XVI is a great theologian. Those who had the honor and happiness to approach also know he is a man of great goodness. What wealth Benedict XVI us with this book so clear, deep, humble knowledge on the topic of Christianity in the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
As a passionate in religious readings, I was conquered by scientific rigor used by Cardinal Ratzinger, including "Here's what our God" and the encyclical "God is love: Encyclical on Christian love." "Jesus of Nazareth" goes even further in this necessary accompaniment of the Christian in his love of God.
Outstanding work.
Pope's Analysis Is the Right Balance September 4, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
His Holiness brings a tremendous wealth and background of academic knowledge to the subject of Jesus which is clearly evident from his writing. But most importantly, he describes the beginning of the life of Jesus as chronicled in the Gospels from a perspective that is neither the liberal reconstructionist so popular among academia and the media today, nor the unquestioning faith of those who adhere to a literal translation of the Bible ("Sola Scriptura"). Instead he reflects the Catholic affirmation of the divinity of Christ, but uses historical criticism to bring perspective to the narrative of the Gospel-writers. The only reason I would keep it from being a 5-star rating is that the writing is likely way over the heads of many people who might be interested in exploring the subject from a Catholic perspective, but lack the background His Holiness assumes the readers bring.
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