Shadow of the Galilean [Paperback]

Gerd Theissen (Author), John, John Bowden (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1987

First published in 1987 by Fortress Press, this 20th anniversary edition of this classic bestseller includes a new Afterword from the author. Here, in narrative form, is an account of the activity of Jesus of Nazareth, scrupulously constructed so that it does not undercut the insights of New Testament scholarship. What makes it different from other such attempts is that Jesus never actually appears. What we find everywhere is his shadow, his effect. Such an approach avoids the usual pitfalls of the genre and lends this story - attributed to a fictitious narrator - an attraction, freshness, and power all its own. Tension and interest are maintained to the end, even for those sated with books about Jesus. Careful documentation in the footnotes shows how much of the narrative is based on ancient sources.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An achievement in 'narrative theology,' illuminating the social world of Jesus from rich sources and imaginative reconstruction. Theissen's book combines scholarship and story. The author supplements his fictional creations with letters to a professional colleague, Dr. Kratzinger, illuminating methodology. The book should be a boon to preachers of the Gospels." --John Reumann, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Gerd Theissen is Professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and the author of The Religion of the Earliest Churches (Fortress Press, 1999) and The Shadow of the Galilean (Fortress Press, 1987). He is co-author of The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide (Fortress Press, 1988) and a co-editor of The Social Setting of Jesus and the Gospels (Fortress Press, 2001). --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 1st Fortress Press ed edition (January 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800620577
• ISBN-13: 978-0800620578
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Experiencing" Those Who Interpreted Jesus, August 2, 2000

By 

Abelard Spring - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Galilean (Paperback)

In this amazing and enjoyable book, Gerd Theissen (pronounced "Tyson") allows us to experience Jesus the Galilean in a way which demonstrates the manner in which the Christian Testament came to exist. To attempt to understand Jesus is to interpret Jesus, and through the eyes of Theissen's characters we see a theoretical construct at work which is not only insightful, but also faithful to the methods of modern biblical criticism and Christian theology as a whole. I highly recommend this book for those who would like insights into the development of the Christian canon of scripture and for those who wish to better understand the Jewishness of Jesus.

Pastors, lay leaders and religious educators of all types will gain invaluable information from this work. It is both scholarly and easy-to-read and it has been enjoyed and cited by educators and theologians alike.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Shadow of the Galilean, December 28, 1999

By 

Mitch Anderson (Richmond, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Galilean (Paperback)

Wow! This is a super work! Theissen takes the reader to the historical setting and depicts various aspects through the eyes of a fictional character. The main character, who is also a Galilean Jew, makes observations of political and social agendas as he unintentionally becomes submerged in the subjection of these movements. There are plenty of notes throughout the book that gives reference to the historical data that is woven in this work of art. This is a creative reconstruction of emotion and desire from a variety of perspectives in the ancient setting.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning with Trying To, April 5, 2007

By 

John D. White "camsterdad" (Cayce, South Carolina United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shadow of the Galilean (Paperback)

In this beautiful, interesting and easy to read narrative, imaginary characters are introduced from around the time of Jesus. In this "story" Theissen creatively allows the parties, issues, concerns, and major characters of Historical Jesus research to arrive within the storyline itself. In so doing he makes them believeable and sympathetic. This is an utterly unique way of beginning the educational journey through Jesus' history and all of the theories and personalities present. I was hooked from the first page. If you are interested in historical Jesus research I recommend this book as an interesting, unusual, and brilliant way to begin the journey.