The Gospel According to Jesus: A New Translation and Guide to His Essential Teachings for Believers and Unbelievers (Paperback)

by Stephen Mitchell (Author) "One of the icons on the walls of my study is a picture of Thomas Jefferson, an inexpensive reproduction of the portrait by Rem Peale..." (more)
Key Phrases: authentic passages, authentic memory, virginal conception, Zen Master, Prodigal Son, Synoptic Gospels (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Following the example of Thomas Jefferson's The Jefferson Bible and modern humanistic scholarship, Mitchell ( Parables and Portraits , HarperCollins, 1990) here examines Jesus as a person. He retains only the passages concerning moral instruction, and therefore considers only Jesus' teachings of unconditional love and forgiveness to be authentic and essential. Mitchell draws parallels from these teachings to modern-day, ancient Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi, and Jewish traditions. His guide is recommended as a good source for studying the religious beliefs of our founding fathers.
- Ravonne A. Green, Emmanuel Coll. Lib., Franklin Springs, Ga.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
A dazzling presentation of the life and teachings of Jesus by the eminent scholar and translator Stephen Mitchell.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (February 19, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060923210
• ISBN-13: 978-0060923211
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #146,071 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Translation, but a Perspective, January 25, 2002

By	James Daniel (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stephen Mitchell does something almost unforgivable in this book by stripping core tenets of the Christian faith from his "translation" of the New Testament. Something strange happens, though: God's truth shines through anyway. The author parses and paraphrases, and leaves out virtually the entire Gospel, but the reader can tell what he's aiming for.

This is not, as I see it, an attempt to rewrite the Gospel or translate the Gospel, but rather an attempt to show particular facets in an enlightening way. The reason the gross omissions are forgivable is that he takes parts of Jesus' teachings and makes them shine far more brightly than before. The parable of the Prodigal Son, in particular, receives the attention that it should. Mitchell might have problems with what he considers the more "mythological" aspects of Christianity, but his writing demonstrates a real understanding of the concepts of grace, forgiveness, and divine providence. Yes, a lot of this is because these are the facets of Christianity that dovetail with his Zen philosophy and training, but this remains the strength of the book.

What every reader should realize about this work, though, is that it cannot be considered a definitive translation of the Gospel. It is neither scholarly nor historical. Rather, it is poetic and interpretive, and the author prefers to present the gist of the text, particularly where a precise translation doesn't translate context or connotations. Obviously, the problem with this is that the author's subjective judgments can and do get in the way.

The main reason that I give this book four stars rather than three is that the author is explicitly honest about his motives and intentions, and those parts of the Gospel he chooses to translate are helpful both to unbelievers who are trying to understand Christianity and to believers as extensions to traditional Bible study.

Finally, while the whole book is technically blasphemy, it helped me return to my faith after a long hiatus. Make of that what you will.

45 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grateful for this gift from Mitchell, April 24, 2005

By	a NM reader (USA) - See all my reviews

I spent a good 15 years of my life trying to make peace with Christianity. I've struggled to appreciate the avid Christians' ability to embrace the Bible as a literal transcription of God's word. I've struggled to forgive those who applied peer pressure to me as a young teen to "accept Jesus as my personal savior." I've pondered with bewilderment the idea that God would create us with inquisitive, questioning minds but then require us to engage in blind acceptance of Jesus' teachings.

Finally, I was pushed over the edge by an evangelical Christian housemate who wouldn't shut up, and I picked up Mitchell's book in the hope of developing my gentle art of verbal self-defense. What an expected blessing this book has been! I was touched deeply and permanently by Mitchell's focus on forgiveness, and the many ways in which the teachings of Jesus the man are relevant to finding the Kingdom of Heaven within myself every day. Mitchell's book has helped me make peace with Christianity and Christians, and that is no small gift.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Profound, yet incomplete, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

I purchased this book when it first came out in late 1993, after reading a laudatory review of it in Commonweal. Its insights into the man Jesus -- admittedly empathic and speculative rather than academic -- are profound, and I find myself still referring back to many of its passages. I especially like Mitchell's discussion of how Jesus's perceived illegitimacy led to his focusing on forgiveness, and on Joseph as the real hero of the Christmas story. My only problem with Mitchell's portrayal of Jesus as "spiritual master" is that it leaves out those qualities of Jesus that got himself killed. The historical record is clear that the real Jesus was crucified by the Romans, most likely for disturbing the peace (like overturning the money tables in the Temple). I can't see Mitchell's Jesus acting in such a way that would get himself crucified.