Jesus, the Final Days: What Really Happened (Paperback)

~ (Author), N. T. Wright (Author)
Key Phrases: ruling priests, pointed gable, New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth, Pontius Pilate (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A fascinating read, bringing a freshness to the most recognizable scriptures of our Christian faith: the death and resurrection stories of Jesus the Christ.' --The Newark Advocate, April 2009

'Massively learned, short and readable.'
----Catholic Insight, April 2009

Product Description

What do history and archaeology have to say about Jesus death, burial, and resurrection? In this superb book, two of the world's most celebrated writers on the historical Jesus share their greatest findings. Together, Craig A. Evans and N. T. Wright concisely and compellingly dubunk popular myths about the historical Jesus and convey the true, world-shattering significance of Jesus' final days on earth.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox (January 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664233597
• ISBN-13: 978-0664233594
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little book!, February 12, 2009

By	Sam Booksmith - See all my reviews

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I can not believe I am the first to review this book. It should be getting more attention. The book is based on lectures presented by the great Anglican theologian, Bishop N.T. Wright, and the noted evangelical Bible scholar, Craig Evans. As a short apologetic for historical resurrecting Jesus, this ranks right up there with James D.G. Dunn's The Evidence For Jesus. As a Christian I find little to disagree with in this short book. However, it is written in a secular academic style that might appeal to some agnostics, too. Hopefully, it will sway some of them. The book evolved out of a lecture series that was intended to show how Biblical scholarship can be used beneficially by the Church. The editor states in the preface that the book is intended for those who are not Bible scholars. Though it was clearly written with educated people in mind, it is accessible enough to be understood by anyone who can read, and knows the difference between Noah and Moses.

There are only three chapters, two by Evans, one by Wright: The Shout of Death (Evans), The Silence of Burial (Evans) and The Surprise of Resurrection (Wright). If you already know a lot about historical Jesus, I doubt this book would add much to your knowledge. However, the conclusions drawn pretty much support traditional understandings of Jesus, and the arguments are cogent. It makes an excellent entry way into the subject. Overall, it may be a little less detailed than Dunn's The Evidence For Jesus, and focuses more on archaeological data and ancient literature (Dead Sea Scrolls, etc) and a little less on the Gospel text itself. Definetly more focus here on the Old Testament-New Testament connections. It does make quite a few points that Dunn does not make in his book.

Evan's essay, The Shout of Death, about the passion and crucifixion of Jesus, points out a number of historical parallels that prove that "Everything we are told about Jesus' arrest, trial(s), and mockery is consistent with what we know of Roman practice in the first century... " Page 28. On the same page Evans states: "Although hyper-critics have called into question this or that detail, there is every reason to regard the gospel accounts of the juridical process that overtook Jesus of Nazareth as essentially reliable." In the next chapter, The Silence of Burial, he deals with "outlandish theories" about Jesus' execution and burial.

In the last chapter, The Surprise of Resurrection, Wright addresses the subject of resurrection in the ancient Near East; and concludes that only Jews and Christians, not Pagans, believed in this form of afterlife. He also addresses Paul's concept of resurrection, which he says, has been mistranslated by the RSV and NRSV. The terms translated "physical body" and "spiritual body" actually mean "present body" and "future body." Dr. Wright argues that this mistranslation had lead to the misconception that Paul thought risen Jesus was something like a ghost. This chapter might be of minimal value to those who have read his book, "The Resurrection of the Son of God."

I can recommend this book for anyone who wants a brief historical scholarly assessment of Jesus' "last days on earth."

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing information presented with scrupulous fairness , March 14, 2009

By	Jeri Nevermind "loves to read" (Idaho) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This small book contains a wealth of information about the resurrection. Evans and Wright, both famous biblical scholars, have aimed it at the general reader, not the scholar, so it's accessible and entertaining.

First, did Jesus exist? "No serious historian of any religious or nonreligious stripe doubts that Jesus...really lived...and was executed" (p 3). Pilate focused on the claim that Jesus was king of the Jews, which would be considered a threat to the Romans, even if Jesus only had a handful of followers. No wonder, then, that the soldiers mocked and saluted Jesus as a king, and even, on the cross, offered him spiced vinegar, a drink "which mimics spiced wine, often served to kings" (p 26). And the titulus again mentions the claim to kingship.

Most readers will find the information on crucifixion and Jewish burial practices quite interesting. Recent archaeological finds have increased our knowledge here considerably, especially since a Jew who had been crucified was recently discovered. "The Jewish people thought that the soul of the deceased lingered near the corpse for three days" (p 45).

The last essay, by Wright, is compelling. Wright has published an important book on the subject of resurrection, and this is a short version of some of his main arguments.

Resurrection "was not a fancy way of talking about a beautiful, glorious life after death" (p 78) nor was it about a vision of a ghost. Within Christianity, "there is virtually no spectrum of belief about resurrection" (85). The early Christians believed passionately, not only in the reality of Jesus' resurrection, but that they, also, would one day be resurrected.

Wright points out that the crucifixion of Jesus should have ended his movement. Surely the inglorious deaths of other would-be saviors of the Jews had ended their movements. Yet the followers of Jesus were not discouraged, but encouraged. Christianity not only survived, it thrived, and it did so in spite of the ignominy of the death of Jesus.

These short, snappy arguments should be of immense use to many readers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars solid, succinct, sound, March 23, 2009

By	Michael Thompson (Twelve Mile, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This morning I read this short book which is comprised of three lectures given at the Symposium for Church and Academy lecture series at Crichton College (Memphis, TN). The three lectures aim to discuss the historicity of Jesus' death and resurrection - two on the former by Craig Evans, one on the latter by The Bishop himself (I mean, who else are you going to get to talk about the resurrection at this point?).

Three lectures, three chapters - 1. The Shout of Death; 2. The Silence of Burial; 3. The Surprise of the Resurrection.

Admittedly, there isn't much here that you cannot readily find in other books (both for Evans and especially Wright). But there is much to be said for having this type of data assembled together in a concise overview aimed toward a wider readership than is considered typical.

1. The first chapter focusses on Jesus' death, quickly dismissing flimsy claims that Jesus did not actually die and emphasizing the reasons for the death of Jesus. Here Evans provides solid overview and foundation of the many converging factors of why Jesus was executed. Admittedly, many Christians do not understand the complexity of history on this point, and I was glad to see Evans go right at the nonsense of Jesus being crucified because he was more popular than the Pharisees, et. al. Further, the chapter investigates the question of whether or not Jesus anticipated his own death and how this anticipation shaped his preceding ministry. From this Evans then discusses the trial of Jesus, the mockery and the actual crucifixion itself - all without becoming lost in the physical suffering of Jesus but remaining forthright so as to maintain historical credibility.

2. Knowing that these lectures are not designed to be entirely apologetic, I must confess that I was unsure how a full essay on the burial of Jesus was going to be possible. But Evans engages the material well, not only interacting with the charges against the tomb account as given in the Gospels but by exploring the traditions of burial in the first century Jewish world. Again, there is a wealth of information neatly gathered and succinctly presented regarding the intricacies of tradition and culture which are largely unknown among Christians who recite the Easter story year after year. Not only does this help with the defense of our faith, but grasping the context of the burial accounts also bolsters modern faith. I probably consider this the best essay of the three.

3. The third chapter is basically a condensed version of N. T. Wright's fuller treatments - a short essay of summation. I agree with the notes on p. 75 that those who desire a fuller treatment will find such in his seminal works, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Vol. 3) and Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. One cannot say much more than that, for this material is being widely discussed and a few comments here would be terribly lacking. But (again) understanding how this book is designed, one would consider this essay as a solid introduction to the material for a wide readership. And The Bishop is certainly capable of that.

In the end, I highly recommend this book as both an introduction for the uninitiated on this topic, and a timely seasonal review and reflection for those more familiar. (I might also add that those who have studied this material at some length may just find perspectives or data which is somewhat new to them, as I have not seen this particular gathering of material presented in such a manner very often. Worth considering.)