Customer Reviews

An Introduction to New Testament Christology

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i guess this will be just another five star review for father brown! raymond brown (now deceased) was a catholic priest and a moderately critical new testament theologian PAR EXCELLENCE. this, like his other works, is well-reasoned, thorough, and essentially impartial. probably the best overall introduction to Christology (which one might define as the study of not only of Jesus, but of His relationship to His surroundings). father brown concentrates on subjects such as Jesus' preception of Himself and His purpose, the probable reaction of His comtemporaries to His teachings, and the overall picture we get from the gospels. this is tremendous scholarship distilled into a brief readable capsule! you will respect this work whether you are fundamentalist or pagan!

The book does not presume to be an exhaustive study, but hopes to relate a simplified (not simplistic) account of NT Christology. There are four reasons why Father Brown has achieved his purpose:

First, he is clear. The book does not leave the reader wondering what Christological options are among contemporary and outdated scholarship nor where he himself falls in that spectrum. Throughout the book he italizes the point he intends to communicate, and closes each chapter and section with the salient features communicated therein. Furthermore, Brown does not burden the reader with overly technical language, but writes with simplicity for the layperson. If he does use the language of scholarship, he always explains its meaning and import.

Second, he is thoroughly organized, which provides the Christological neophyte with logical categories by which the information may be easily assimilated. There are points and subpoints, but never does he lose the reader in the minutae or become opaque.

Third, he is brief. However, he is so without doing injustice to an admittedly complex and highly technical subject. He continually keeps in mind his introductory ambition, and consequently allows the recommended reading list at the close of the book to elucidate the subject.

Fourth, R. Brown takes a moderately conservative approach, which allows him to moderate the subject to fundamentalists and liberals alike. Each will be challenged by his perspective.

He accomplishes majestically his purpose, thereby offering a substantial work for the beginner.

This little book is remarkable. I spent a month with it. It is a compact, scholarly, and informative introduction to a very important and complex subject. Father Brown apologizes neither for his faith nor for the generally unblinking, critical scholarship he applies to to his subject. This book is a treasure for Christians who seek to love the Lord their God with all their minds.

I used this text as a primary text in a high school course in Christology successfully by helping the students along in their comprehension of some concepts. It is a good text for those who are serious about their studies. Generally I'd recommend it for college level readers or beyond, but with the right mix it works at senior high level

Raymond Brown (1928-1998) was probably the best-known Catholic biblical scholar in the U.S. He was controversial because his views on the Bible were center to left, yet nonetheless his books earned the imprimatur of the Catholic Church and he even was appointed a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. While Fr. Brown appeared to support most of the Church's teaching, it's hard to imagine that his "critical" approach ever did much to increase the faith of Catholics.

AN INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTOLOGY (1994) is an excellent introduction to Christology from the "centrist" perspective. Brown hits on many of the standard topics in Christology such as the "titles" of Jesus, the resurrection, the messianic expectations of the Jews, and the like. (It is an introduction and therefore does not cover topics that are found in longer works.)

What is most frustrating is that while Brown discusses other views, he generally limits the options to the center/left perspective. For example, the synoptic gospels report that on at least three occasions Jesus predicted his death (Mk. 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34 & par). What does Fr. Brown say about these? Well, "it is difficult to decide about Jesus' foreknowledge of his passion, crucifixion, and resurrection." [P. 49.] Now, if these predictions were simply "retrojected" by the early church, it is at least interesting to note that: (1) Jesus refers to himself as the "Son of man" in these passages - an expression which does not appear in the early church; and (2) there is no mention of the crucifixion or the atonement in Mark, which one might expect if they were later theological reflections put in the mouth of Jesus. Considering that Mark was probably the first gospel written, such arguments should carry some weight. They might not persuade non-believers, but if Brown is going to mention the findings of skeptics such as Todt and Higgins, at least he could find space for a paragraph or two to discuss the arguments I just mentioned (which, of course, aren't original to me.)

Dr. Father R. Brown is a gifted writer who has the talent to bring complicated academic thoughts down to Layman understanding. The book asks and gives answer to the question that faces any person of Christian Faith. It's the same question that Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say I am." As a study book or simply a furthering of your knowledge about the personage of Jesus, this is a must-read.

Raymond Brown produced herein a study of New Testament Christology that I wish I had studied in seminary. The balanced and comprehensive approach is what we need as believers to counter imbalance and heresy. I recommend this text to anyone who wants a clear understanding of what the Bible says that Jesus said about Himself, and what other authors of Scripture said about Jesus.

I am currently using this book while enrolled in a course in Cristology in graduate school. I have found it to be very helpful and fact filled. The author is very staitforward and does not stray from the subject matter.

I wonder if the Catholic Church fully understands what a loss to ecumenical scripture scholarship
Raymond E. Brown's death means. Raymond E.Brown was a very holy man and priest and one of the greatest
biblical scholars the Catholic Church has had. His contributions have not been universally praised,however,
by bishops who fail to understand his christological insights and fear they are "dangerous" to the faithful.
Surely Raymond E. Brown is widely read and admired by readers across religious boundaries, and even by
thoughtful atheists,and Eastern religious. As with astrophysics, our concept of the cosmos expands to the inconceivable
and interiority (spirituality) becomes the mode of communication.
Practicing reading the New Testament "chronologically" as Brown indicates, forces one to realize that the first telling of the "good news" recorded in Mark (1:15) has Jesus saying:
"Change the way you think about reality, for the Kingdom of God is WITHIN you. Believe THIS good news."

My personal theology is considerably more liberal than Dr. Brown's. Nevertheless, I think that he does a good job of explaining what many Christians believe about the divinity of Jesus and why. I also believe that his scholarship is thourough and honest, albeit not always impartial. But then again, I doubt that anyone's scholarship is totally impartial.