Customer Reviews

The Incomparable Christ

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This is the first book I have read by John Stott, and am impressed. I quickly came to the conclusion that here was an author whose opinion carries weight. No hackneyed collection of classic quotes and tired connect-the-dots reasoning, the book exhibits rich scholarship, broad range, and a wise combination of boldness and caution. He discusses both Jesus as a historical person (and I agree with him that the "historical Jesus" is the "Christ of faith"), and the influence of Jesus on history, through intermediaries not so unlike you and I.

Some of the people Stott discusses,(offering mostly positive but I think balanced critiques of Wilberforce and Gandhi, for examples, and a deservedly negative review of the Jesus seminarians) have been written about often enough elsewhere. But Stott makes the story fresh because he thinks for himself, reads a lot, and displays a depth of background knowledge such that his evaluation carries weight. Others of whom Stott writes, Justin Martyr, N.T. Wright, and Toyohiko Kagawa, I agree ought to be better known. Some (St. Benedict) were new to me. Whether famous or forgotten, Stott establishes himself as a trustworthy and wise guide from page one to the end.

Not that he is necessarily right about everything. I disagree with his view of the Crusades. Certainly Stott does not cover everything worth covering. (The Clapham Sect also deeply influenced India, for example. See Farquhar, Crown of Hinduism, and Mangalwadi, Missionary Conspiracy, etc.) This is only one book, and Christ is not only incomparable, but also incomprehensible, in the historical sense: a river of influence whose channels and depths and end no one standing on our side of the bank can fully know. But Stott generally notices what is important in those topics he does discuss. Even his take on that mysterious, strange book of Revelation does not overlook the obvious, as so many do: that in some sense at least, the book sure is inspired.

Yancey, Wright, and Polkinghorne are also worth reading on the "historical Jesus." There are some good books out there on the influence of Christ on history. But all in all, and combining both, this may be the best of the Jesus books I have read so far. (Along with my own, Jesus and the Religions of Man, which naturally I also recommend.)

Some have said that the Anglican/Episcopalian church is "the thinking man's church" (although there may be some concern regarding the church in North America) and I must say there is some evidentiary merit in this assessment. To a list of excellent expositors that includes C.S. Lewis, John Polkinghorne, Desmond Tutu, and Alister McGrath, based on this volume, I may need to add John Stott. This book is very strong throughout.
The book is structured in four parts. I/ The Original Jesus (the New Testament accounts [excepting Revelation, that being treated in part 4]); II/ The Ecclesiastical Jesus (Jesus as the church has presented him); III/ The Influential Jesus (the inspirational influence Jesus has had on selected individuals): IV/ The Eternal Jesus (how Jesus challenges us today).
Any time a writer undertakes an exegetical treatment of the book of Revelation (part four of this volume) he will [necessarily] put forward disputed understandings. But in this reader's opinion, Stott is near masterful here. Some rather popular but poorly considered literalizations and convoluted embellishments are gently but firmly 'left behind.'

Each of the four parts is so good that no one stands above the others. I appreciated Stott's consideration, in part two, of Thomas a Kempis' "Imitation of Christ", a long esteemed devotional classic that unfortunately promulgates some sorely deficient theology. I was happy to find that others have observed this (my amazon.com review of that volume was not well received). Churchmen have, in many instances, presented some poorly developed Christology. Inevitably our ideas about Jesus fall short of the profundity, mystery, and beauty of the incomparable Christ. Sometimes, the Teacher who's "burden is light" has been taught by men as being far too burdensome. Stott relates: "Procrustes in Greek mythology was a brutal robber who compelled his victims to fit the dimensions of his iron bed. If they were too short, he stretched them. If they were too long, he chopped off their feet. The Christian Procrustes exhibits a similar inflexibility, forcing Jesus into his or her way of thinking and resorting to ruthless measures in order to secure his conformity. From Procrustes and all his disciples, good Lord, deliver us!" (p128)
Stott's book is highly recommended, particularly for the individual who's understanding of Christian faith might be focused upon his own excellent (of course) doctrine or his personal affinity for a stilted "old time religion".

This is the first book I have read by John Stott, and am impressed. I quickly came to the conclusion that here was an author whose opinion carries weight. No hackneyed collection of classic quotes and tired connect-the-dots reasoning, the book exhibits rich scholarship, broad range, and a wise combination of boldness and caution. He discusses both Jesus as a historical person (and I agree with him that the "historical Jesus" is the "Christ of faith"), and the influence of Jesus on history, through intermediaries not unlike you and I.

Some of the people Stott discusses,(offering mostly positive but I think balanced critiques of Wilberforce and Gandhi, for examples, and a deservedly negative review of the Jesus seminarians) have been written about often enough elsewhere. But Stott makes the story fresh because he thinks for himself, reads a lot, and has a depth of background knowledge such that his evaluation carries weight. Others of whom Stott writes, Justin Martyr, N.T. Wright, and Toyohiko Kagawa, I agree ought to be better known. Some (St. Benedict) were new to me. Whether famous or forgotten, Stott establishes himself as a trustworthy and wise guide from page one to the end.

Not that he is necessarily right about everything. I disagree with his view of the Crusades. Certainly Stott does not cover everything worth covering. (The Clapham Sect also deeply influenced India, for example. See Farquhar, Crown of Hinduism, and Mangalwadi, Missionary Conspiracy, etc.) This is only one book, and Christ is not only incomparable, but also incomprehensible, in the historical sense: a river of influence whose channels and depths and end no one standing on our side of the bank can fully know. But Stott generally notices what is important in those topics he does discuss. Even his take on that mysterious, strange book of Revelation does not overlook the obvious, as so many do: that in some sense at least, the book is certainly inspired.

Yancey, Wright, and Polkinghorne are also worth reading on the "historical Jesus." There are some good books out there on the influence of Christ on history. But all in all, and combining both, this may be the best of the Jesus books I have read so far. (Apart from my own, Jesus and the Religions of Man, which naturally I also recommend.) I will be looking for more books by this author.

Dear Sir:
Only book beside the Holy Scriptures that I found very uplifting and encouraging. Part I on THE ORIGINAL JESUS and Part IV on ETERNAL JESUS are masterly and superb. I had written off western theolgians and their writings. They are not worth the paper they are printed on. Dr. Stott's book "Incomparable CHRIST" is worth having and studying.
His analysis of Ecclesiastical Jesus was an honest depiction of the JESUS that the fallen human beings have made in their own image.
In the part II on Ecclesiastical Jesus, in section 8 "Christ the human teacher: Ernest Renan and Thomas Jefferson", the author talks about Jefferson cutting and pasting the passages of the Scriptures to come up with his own Bible devoid of the Spernaturals and Miracles of the LORD ESHOO MESHIHAH. Jefferson should have subjected himself to the warning in the book of Proverbs " Do not add to His words; lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar". I am told that he is one of the signers of the declaration of independence. If He had truly understood the Holy Scriptures and embraced the LORD ESHOO who is the PERFECT Priest, who made the Perfect Sacrifice and inaugrated the Perfect Covenant, the lines in the declaration of Independence " Life. liberty, and pursuit of happiness " would have instead read " Eternal life, freedom from sin, and pursuit of holiness".

In the Part III on Influencial Jesus, in section 4 on the Sermon on the Mount the author talks about how Mahatma Gandhi tried to emmulate sermon on the mount via Non-Violence principles? Gandhi was too proud of his humilty to grasp the essence of the Sermon on the Mount. Gandhi in his autobiography titled " My experiment with truth" made blasphemeous statement on the Perfect Sacrifce that ESHOO MESHIHAH made on behalf of sinners like me. Having rejected ESHOO's work on the cross, Gandhi forfeited the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT who God gives to those that believe in HIM and obey HIM. It is only through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can live out the life as expounded by my SAVIOR and LORD in the Sermon on the Mount that issued from His blessed lips 2000 years ago and still speak to us today, for Eshoo said, heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away.

Finally God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Ten Commandment forbide us to make an image of Him. Therefore putting a picture of Eshoo on the cover page of the book is in violation of the second of the Ten Commandments. Apostles have left us with the work of Christ and the words of Christ, but not have handed down to us any picture of ESHOO.This may be the result of the Anglican church being an offshoot of the Catholic Church whose especiallity it is to make and sell pictures of Jesus thus making merchandise of the Gospel. I strongly urge that the picture from the cover page be deleted.
As for as my own copy of this book is concerned. I have smeared the picture with a black ink marker thus honoring the Ten Commandment. I was tempted to throw the book away but did not want to throw out the baby with the bath water. This is the perseverence of saints that they keep the commandments of God and their testimony of Jesus.
After all I am honoring first of the three test that Dr. Stott talks about in this book and they are (1) Doctrinal Test, (2) Moral Test, and (3) Social Test.
I shall always be deeply indebted to Dr. John R. W. Stott for writing this book especially the chapters on THE ORIGINAL JESUS and THE ETERNAL JESUS.
Sincerely and Cordially.

Dr. Ram Munjal

With 'The Incomparable Christ,' John Stott provides one of the most comprehensive resources for understanding how the New Testament presents Jesus Christ and his message of reconciling love and salvation, how the church has interpreted Christ through the centuries, how Christ has inspired and still imspires people around the world, and how Christ is still challenging us today. The final section of this book, in which Stott examines the Book of Revelation, is the best I have ever read in providing an interpretation in its historical context and still providing current meaning. Truly, a complete and "incomparable" study of Christ.

Who is Jesus of Nazareth? The answer to this question has major implications. And the answer depends very much on who you ask.

In "The Incomparable Christ," John Stott tells us who Jesus was/is by first examining the New Testament Gospels and Epistles. The result is the "normative" Jesus; the Jesus revealed by the infallible Word of God.

Stott then takes us through church history, comparing and contrasting the views of various figures with the Jesus of the New Testament. For example, we are introduced to Anselm, Martin Luther, Gustavo Gutiérrez and NT Wright, among others. Sadly, most have views - at least in part - that contradict the testimony of Scripture.

In the third section, Stott warms the heart, discussing how Jesus has inspired the church throughout history. For instance, the Sermon on the Mount motivated the actions of Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Last Judgment drove William Wilberforce in his work against the slave trade.

Lastly, the "eternal" Jesus is portrayed. Stott masterfully unfolds the New Testament book of Revelation, chapter by chapter, giving us a vision of the majestic, resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords.

It has been said that Christianity is not so much a system of beliefs, but a relationship with a person. While somewhat of an overstatement, the point is well taken: to be a Christian is to be a "little Christ." Indeed, we must imitate Christ. But how can we, if we do not know him? "The Incomparable Christ" is a wonderful way to begin and deepen your acquaintance.

John Stott shares Jesus in a profound scholarly light while maintaining the true and passionate heart felt response to Him as God and Savior. "The Incomparable Christ" is a book that guides readers through what the Bible says about who Jesus is as well as paints a vivid picture of Church history as they have portrayed Christ. Always, Stott brings his listeners back to Biblical Truth.