Jesus: A very brief history
About this ebook
With over two billion followers today, Jesus of Nazareth is the most influential person to have walked the earth. But why has he had such an enormous impact?
Written by a world authority, this brief history begins by assessing Jesus the man - his Jewish heritage, his message, his friends and enemies, and his eventual execution.
Helen Bond then considers Jesus' legacy, starting with the accounts of his life in the New Testament. She also looks at other early portrayals of Jesus, at the spread of Jesus-devotion during the Middle Ages, and at what Jesus means to people today - both in the Church and in secular culture.
About the author
Part One: The History (What do we know?) This brief historical introduction to Jesus assesses his impact on the world as it was at the time and outlines the key ideas and values connected with him. It explores the social, political and religious factors that formed the context of his life and teaching, and considers how those factors affected the way he was initially received. Part Two: The Legacy (Why does it matter?) This second part surveys the intellectual and cultural ‘afterlife’ of Jesus, exploring the ways in which his impact has lasted. Why does he continue to be so influential, and what aspects of his legacy are likely to endure beyond today and into the future? The book has a brief chronology at the front plus a glossary of key terms and a list of further reading at the back. Contents: Part 1: Jesus of Nazareth Did Jesus Exist? The Political Context: Dreams, Prophets and Messiahs Jesus’ Message Jesus as Miracle Worker – Healings and Exorcisms Friends, Family – and a Wife? Jerusalem, Betrayal and Execution Part 2: Jesus’ Legacy Resurrection - and the Earliest Portrayals of Jesus Jesus the God and the Centre of Time Jesus in the Middle Ages: Art, Relics and Passion Plays Jesus in Contemporary Religion Jesus Today Glossary
