Paradoxy: Coming to Grips with the Contradictions of Jesus [Paperback]

Tom Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Give to receive. Die to live. Lose to win. Jesus taught such paradoxes, and people listened though these teachings seemed backward to their way of life and the lessons themselves seemed contradictory. But while initially confusing, says Tom Taylor, these paradoxes are the key to contentment, a fuller life, and a deeper faith. Paradoxy analyzes these seemingly contradictory truths, revealing not only their poignancy but also fresh ways readers can apply them to life today. Drawing from his own experiences as well as Scripture, Taylor explores each paradox to reveal convicting realities about life, faith, and our relationships. Both intelligent seekers and experienced Christians will be challenged by this unique study on Jesus's teachings, ultimately finding peace and a deeper, more passionate life with Christ.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Yield to conquer. Die to live. Be enslaved to be freed. Why did Jesus teach in apparent contradictions? If his message was so important, why did he communicate it so mysteriously? Tom Taylor unfolds some of the core mysteries of Jesus as he explores eight puzzling statements whose meanings ultimately reveal critical truths about life, faith, and relationships. In these pages you learn to see the world through Jesus' eyes. You learn how to embrace Paradoxy--a profound way of living that leads to both personal peace and peace with God. "Tom Taylor's insights in Paradoxy clearly reveal how Jesus' upside-down view of life can turn us right side up . . . read it!"--Robert H. Schuller, founder, Crystal Cathedral Ministries "Taylor brilliantly leads the reader through compelling story to the power of Jesus and his paradoxes that both promise and deliver on peace."--Nancy Murphy, associate professor, Mars Hill Graduate School "Tom Taylor retrieves the message of Jesus with wit and wisdom."--Allen Verhey, professor of Christian ethics, Duke Divinity School "Tom's style reminds me of the writings of Donald Miller and Anne Lamott. . . . This may well be the best book you read this year."--James Bryan Smith, author, Embracing the Love of God; coauthor with Richard J. Foster, Devotional Classics Tom Taylor is a speaker and the senior pastor of Glenkirk Church in Glendora, California. He is also adjunct professor in the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of the award-winning 7 Deadly Lawsuits.

About the Author

Tom Taylor (Ph.D., Fuller; M.Div., Yale; J.D., University of Illinois College of Law) is a speaker and the senior pastor of Glenkirk Church in Glendora, California. He is also adjunct professor in the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of the award-winning 7 Deadly Lawsuits. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Jan, and their two boys, Aaron and Ryan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801065399
• ISBN-13: 978-0801065392
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,935,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Future Christian Classic . . ., July 22, 2006

By 

Matthew K. Irwin "Reader" (College Station, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paradoxy: Coming to Grips with the Contradictions of Jesus (Paperback)

In this refreshing and much-needed book, Tom Taylor acts as a 21st Century translator for Jesus and the paradoxes that he taught. Taylor offers, not trite, canned, or boilerplate platitudes, but thoughtful, sensible, and calming insights into these thorny truths that otherwise might seem to contradict reality. In tackling them, most thankfully, Taylor does not propose simple solutions to life's untidy circumstances. Instead, he points us toward Jesus' radical, yet merciful, counterintuitive teachings about a well-lived life.

In a writing style equally useful to scholars yet accessible to laypeople, Taylor combines the intellectuality of a Christian theologian with the moving, hilarious, human storytelling accessibility of writers like Anne Lamott. He lays bare messiness of life that Jesus seemed to know we'd all encounter. More reassuringly, Taylor demonstrates how the elusive keys to Jesus' promises for deeper, better life, are found in the very paradoxes that often (but need not) confound and derail our sojourns toward and with God.

In an age where shallow get-rich-quick and you-mustn't manuals clutter "Christian Living" and "Inspiration" shelves of book marts everywhere, Taylor manages to lead us on a funny, cerebral, poignant, and often tender paradigm-shifting journey through his experiences, timeless literature, sound history, and, of course, the scriptures - a journey on which we learn to see life through Jesus' eyes. The utterly enjoyable, life-giving utility of this book will long outlive the paper on which it is printed. READ THIS BOOK. Then give it to someone else who needs it.

M.K. Irwin - College Station, TX

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous exegetical work with a sound balance for life application, June 16, 2006

By 

Dave Avramovich (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paradoxy: Coming to Grips with the Contradictions of Jesus (Paperback)

Tom Taylor provides excellent insight into the paradoxical proclamations of Jesus. This book is scholastic enough for the professional student and yet provides adequate contemplation for the heart of all laity.

Taylor's discussion enables any person to understand these initially confusing axioms. With a clever title, Taylor attempts to unpack the seemingly contradictory statements of Jesus in the New Testament. (e.g., Give to receive. Die to live. Lose to win.) Although these statements appear to be contradictory, Taylor insists that their significance is eventually the thoroughfare by which we find satisfaction, abundant life, and a momentous faith.

I especially appreciate the touching manner in which Taylor matures the dialogue. It is also evident that Taylor has attempted to provide fresh application for the reader. Not all examples are novel; yet, most will be encouraged and challenged by Taylor's experiential and scriptural perspective. It is rare to find someone academically gifted who so easily speaks about their own faith journey. Taylor uses his own experiences and the scripture to bring to light the confusing message of Christ. Taylor explores each paradox to reveal convicting realities about life, faith, and our relationships. Both bright seekers and practiced Christians will be confronted by this exceptional study on Jesus's teachings. Hopefully you will find God's peace and a deeper, more passionate life with Christ.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Antidote to Me-First Christianity, November 12, 2006

By 

Publius (Utopia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paradoxy: Coming to Grips with the Contradictions of Jesus (Paperback)

Religion should provide doctrines and teachings that do not change with the times. Unfortunately, in early 21st century America, slick televangelists have warped the selfless message of Christ. Such leaders have told us that God wants us to become rich and wealthy. They wish to dispel anything that is negative or contradictory in the Bible. By telling parishioners what they want to hear, these leaders have essentially become pop psychologists rather then spiritual leaders.

Taylor, in this short book, presents a good response to this vapid Christian self-esteem movement. The author asks very basic, but nevertheless important questions, like what if Jesus really meant that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle then a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. While Taylor does not provide concrete answers to this, he does correctly assess however that materialism (even if it is disguised by a supposedly Christian message) leads to an incomplete existence.

Although it is impossible to answer such questions as these, Taylor does his best to present coherent answers. Taylor and I would tend to agree that the answer to spiritual fulfillment is not rampant materialism and the 'me' culture that we tend to emphasize. The answer, Taylor argues, is found in the seemingly contradictory statements that Christ made in the gospels. A good example is "whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it." Thus, if we love our life so much that we indulge in all kinds of meaningless behavior, we will eventually lose it and find life itself meaningless. What has one gained by an I pod, Satellite Radio, every possible movie channel and a fine collection of suits? The answer is not spiritual fulfillment, but rather massive credit card debt. Taylor presents a great counter-argument to this me-first Christianity, and should be read by anyone who takes their faith seriously.