The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others [Paperback]

Scot Mcknight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

Winner of the 2005 Christianity Today Book Award

When an expert in the law asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, Jesus responded with the Shema, the ancient Jewish creed that commands Israel to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. But the next part of Jesus' answer would change the course of history. Jesus amended the Shema, giving his followers a new creed for life: to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, but also to love others as themselves. Discover how the Jesus Creed of love for God and others can transform your life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Amid a sea of books on Christian spiritual formation, McKnight, professor of religious studies at North Park University in Chicago, brings us a simple, highly readable one focused on the weightiest teaching of Jesus: love God and love others as yourself. The "Jesus Creed" of the title is a trimmed down version of the Shema of Judaism (Deut. 6:4–9), which declares we are to love God with all our being, amended to include caring for one's neighbor as oneself (Lev. 19:18). Packed with vivid and touching stories—from the Bible, history and the author's life—this book covers important aspects of what it means to love God and others. McKnight shows great respect for the Jewish heritage of Jesus and offers readers scholarly, yet highly accessible, illustrations of the sociocultural landscape of first-century Palestine. The book is slim on doctrine, making no comment on the thorny theological squabbles that divide many Christians. That's refreshing for the reader tired of the squabbling, but may leave others wondering what love does require in certain difficult situations. Still, this book is an excellent introduction to Christian spirituality. Its pages glow with compassion, generosity and the invitation to understand what was important to Jesus and what is crucial for Christianity.
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Review

This fascinating book explains that the gospel is about the restoration of "cracked Eikons" (fallen humans) so that humans can be in union with God and in communion with the saints. In the candid and lucid style that has made McKnight's THE JESUS CREED so appealing to thousands of pastors, lay leaders, and everyday people who are searching for a more authentic faith, he encourages all Christians to recognize the simple, yet potentially transforming truth of the gospel message: God seeks to restore us to wholeness not only to make us better individuals, but to form a community of Jesus, a society in which humans strive to be in union with God and in communion with others. Prisim ePistle July 26, 2006

With a degree of theological insight that is refreshingly "meaty," The Jesus Creed is an excellent resource for anyone desiring life-changing, Christ-centered, spiritual growth. CBA Marketplace September 24, 2004

Amid a sea of books on Christian spiritual formation, McKnight brings us a simple, highly readable one focused on the weightiest teaching of Jesus: love God and love others as yourself. . . . McKnight shows great respect for the Jewish heritage of Jesus and offers readers scholarly, yet highly accessible, illustrations of the sociocultural landscape of first century Palestine. Publishers Weekly August 24, 2004 <hr>

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Paraclete Press (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557254001
• ISBN-13: 978-1557254009
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Southern Illinois, came of age in Freeport, Illinois, attended college in Grand Rapids, MI, seminary at Trinity in Deerfield, IL.

Now a professor at North Park University.

Two children.

Kris, my wife, is a psychologist and the greatest woman on earth.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars the greatest command January 17, 2007

By Daniel B. Clendenin

Format:Paperback

First published in September 2004, The Jesus Creed is already in its third printing, and the recipient of Christianity Today's Book Award for 2005 as one of the best books of the year to introduce people to evangelical Christianity. Clearly, McKnight, the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park College (Chicago), has struck a chord with a considerable reading audience.

The strength of his book is its focus on what is central to the faith rather than peripheral, and to present that central affirmation in a simple, which is not to say simplistic, manner. McKnight taught seminary students for eleven years before choosing to teach college-level students for the past ten years, and about half of these younger students are not Christian. I admired his ability to move from his capacity as a technical specialist who has written more weighty tomes to connect with people who know nothing at all about the faith. A number of other strengths commend this book. McKnight draws upon a wide fund of ecumenical sources--Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, and evangelical. He uses story-telling to good effect by sharing real-life anecdotes from his personal, family, and professional life. His style is casual throughout, and for that reason entirely accessible. John the Baptist, for example, "was wired hot and a bit off his rocker, living in the wilderness, eating bugs, and calling the nation to repentance" (141). Being the scholar that he is, McKnight also roots his discussion in the Jewish context of the life and times of Jesus. Although his presentation is simple, at the same time it is comprehensive, guiding the reader through such issues as community, social justice, the sacraments, and so forth.... Finally, I appreciated McKnight's book because he introduces his readers to sources from the ancient to the modern, and to points in between. You will learn about the early fathers, the medieval monastics, the Reformation Protestants, and modern-day writers from Dorothy Sayers to CS Lewis and Dallas Willard.

And just what is the Jesus Creed? It is Jesus's amended version of the Jewish Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the heart and soul, the sine qua non or quintessence of Judaism. When asked by an expert in the Law about the greatest commandment, Jesus answered with the Shema, adding to it Leviticus 19:18: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:28-33). In this short summary we have what Thomas à Kempis called "a whole dictionary in just one dictum" (8). In the rest of his book McKnight parses the grammar of Christian faith so clearly that few readers could misunderstand. Read more ›

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Why Jesus Still Matters January 3, 2005

By C. R. Merola

Format:Paperback

For those seeking to know more about Jesus, there are few if any books out there that will serve you better than The Jesus Creed.

Part of what sets McKnight's writing apart is his gift for combining sound scholarship with a down to earth writing style and a great sense of humor. That makes for a book of profound insight that it also very readable. It not only informs the mind, but touches the soul.

Another strength of this book is its practicality. The Jesus Creed does indeed analyze the philosophy of Jesus, its historical context, and the principles he espoused. But it also takes these things one step further in making concrete observations about how one might live in accord with Jesus' teaching today.

Whether you are a Christian looking to grow in your devotion to Jesus, or whether you are simply someone interested in knowing more about him from a purely secular point of view, this is a book that will help you understand both the teachings of Jesus Christ and the lasting impact he has had on the world around us.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Good News is still simple May 20, 2005

By Richard E. Morris

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

In our complex society filled with temptations and quickness to judge, it MAKES SENSE that the gospel is still as simple as it has ever been. We as a culture have become more complicated. Jesus has remained the same, and so has his message of love and selflessness.

Scot McKnight's book has shed light on the simplicity, thoroughness, and applicability of Jesus's "Creed" unlike any other theological book I have read. And the author achieves this purpose without the troublesome undercurrent of legalism and judgmentalism that so many authors are afraid to leave out.

I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with perceptions of a "tricky" or "confusing" gospel, such as those whose assurance has been challenged. Or to anyone who thinks the Jesus tossed around in church is *necessarily* the Jesus who walked the earth 2000 years ago or who lives still today.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loving your neighbor January 1, 2007

By G. Stephen Goode VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Jesus Creed - Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight

Summary by G. Stephen Goode

From the Preface --

"A Jewish expert on the law once asked Jesus what was the most important thing for spiritual formation. Jesus' answer turned history upside down for those who followed him. This book is an invitation for you to explore Jesus' answer to that man. I call it the Jesus Creed, and what he said should shape everything we say about Christian spirituality. Everything."

Jesus knows what life is all about. He was born into a Jewish family and culture but he was more than Jewish. He took the Shema which was central to Judaism but he added to it to make it the Jesus Creed. It is simple, yet it will cost us our lives, living it out. Love God. Love others. It is central to who Jesus was and is the core of who we should/can become. Jesus gave us the Creed and a model to follow.

Dr. McKnight is a Old Testament scholar but he does not write like one. I have to admit that I sought out this book because of the loving others part. I think we in the church should be doing that better and more often in order to demonstrate the love of God to the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, animist, to the poor and other unreached worlds. It also has to be integrated. Loving God and Loving others is like a coin. You cannot have one side without the other and yet it seems like we continue to get pulled from one side or another. Either just loving God or loving one's neighbor. We cannot do one without the other. God help us to be more like Jesus.

This book helped me a great deal as I started reading it during our response to the Asian tsunami. Loving God and our neighbor has been there from the beginning.... Listening to those who suffer, entering into their grief and bearing their burdens helps us to fulfill the love of Christ. Compassion in the Jesus Creed is on every page of this book just like it is in the four Gospels. I think we forget that sometimes but Jesus did not. That is why He made it the center.

From page 117

"Jesus doesn't act in compassion in order to dazzle people into adoring him. He acts out of love and to transform the life of the grieving person. The widow gets her son back and has an income again. The prostitute's life is transformed from impurity to purity. Each woman of Luke 8 - Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and others - has a special story to tell about what Jesus has done: one tells a story of spiritual cleansing, another of physical healing, and others(if I may guess) of learning that Roman money is to be distributed to the needy, including Jesus. Wealthy women at the time of Jesus-- and these women were evidently wealthy -- did not pay taxes. Instead, if they had good hearts, they distributed their funds to charities. The chosen charity of these women was Jesus, whom they support and follow his entire life. It is these same women who become witnesses of Jesus' death and resurrection......"

So may we continue to love God and others and fulfill the same creed that Jesus did. Read more ›