What Jesus Meant: The Beatitudes and a Meaningful Life [Hardcover]

Erik Kolbell (Author), William Sloane Coffin (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

In this popular interpretation of the Beatitudes, Kolbell suggests that the eight pillars of the Beatitudes--meekness, empathy, righteousness, peace, persecution, purity, poverty, and simplicity--are timeless codes of conduct for our busy, anxious lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though they are fundamental to Christian devotion and practice, the New Testament Beatitudes can become so familiar to the faithful as to seem almost bland. Writing with a barely banked passion for personal and social transformation, psychotherapist and minister Kolbell aims to restore the Jewish roots and subversive edge of these blessings uttered by Jesus. Kolbell, the former Minister of Social Justice at New York's Riverside Church, evinces an enthusiasm for his subject matter that is scarcely restrained by his rich and allusive prose. In the process of elaborating the essence of Jewish law, Kolbell argues, Jesus urged his listeners to seek the intention behind the words, and to let that intention lead to action. "This king who loved the loveless, who washed their feet and raised their dead and taught their children and healed their wounds and forgave their sins, whose ministry was very much lived on the outer edge, has called us here, to the sacred responsibility of an eccentric life, and all the blessings and costs that that will entail." This slim volume of reflections on how to live out such difficult virtues as self-denial and forgiveness is enhanced by the author's willingness to share his own experiences and by his close acquaintance with the Old and New Testaments. In his insightful and heartfelt approach to some of the most challenging verses in the Gospels, Kolbell offers modern readers an interpretation of the Beatitudes as timeless as it is up-to-date.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In exploring the meaning of the eight Beatitudes, psychotherapist and minister Kolbell wonders whether it is human nature that compels us to place ourselves against one another, to choose conflict rather than the more difficult path of peace. He devotes each brief chapter to a particular verse--"Blessed are the poor in spirit," "Blessed are those who mourn," and so forth. In these simple blessings, he finds the solace of counsel on how to live a life of faith in a world of doubt. Carefully and thoughtfully examining each line and word, he offers his interpretations of what ails modern Western society and what we can choose to do to change it. Moreover, he shares anecdotes from his own private and professional experiences to better illustrate pathways toward a more meaningful life. As if delivering a good sermon, he turns the personal into the universal. By asking the hard questions that need to be asked, Kolbell asks us to consider our roles in the society that we create. June Sawyers
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 140 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1 edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664222927
• ISBN-13: 978-0664222925
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Written Gem of the Beatitudes and LIFE, October 18, 2003

By 

J.D. Evans "gr8scribe" (Chico, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Jesus Meant: The Beatitudes and a Meaningful Life (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book on two levels. First, Kolbell does an excellent job on analyzing the Beatitudes. He puts them into historical context, compares then to other Biblical passages, discusses the origin of words used, and most importantly, he helps common folk like me understand the meaning of each Beatitude by putting it into simple language. Secondly, Kolbell makes each Beatitude relevant in today's world. He refers to current events, uses anecdotes about every day people,and shows parallels to "real" life. His language is beautiful. He writes wonderfully. His writing is profound in parts, poetic in others, simply stated at other times. A gem of a book. I am buying one for all my family and friends for Christmas!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bedside table must-have!, January 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: What Jesus Meant: The Beatitudes and a Meaningful Life (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful, thoughtful book; I know I will always keep it nearby. I hadn't realized how little thought I give to these famous teachings of Jesus. Erik Kolbell brings them alive and makes them relevant in the most personal and pleasing way. I was carried away by his words and his stories and his ideas. What a thrill.

But even better; I simply felt good after reading the book! I felt revived, hopeful, and - calm. This book is a kind of mental health medicine; or a soothing massage; or an encouraging pat on the back. Definitely a bedside table must-have for a daily dose!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I want all the people I care about to read this book!, February 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: What Jesus Meant: The Beatitudes and a Meaningful Life (Hardcover)

I love this book! I'd never really thought of how to translate lessons of the Bible into everyday life (especially Jesus' teaching as I'm Jewish), and this book gives me inspiration and real examples of how to do that. It helps me figure out how to make my own life more meaningful by the way I think about things that affect me, and how I think of (and do for) others. I'm a better person for it. I also read somewhere the author is the inspiration for the minister on the tv show "Seventh Heaven" - based on this book, I can see why.