Jesus of Nazareth - by Maurice Casey (Paperback)

About the Book

A new 'life' of Jesus written by one of the outstanding scholars of his generation, it offers a complete resource on the 'Historical Jesus' debate.

Book Synopsis

A new 'life' of Jesus written by one of the outstanding scholars of his generation, it offers a complete resource on the 'Historical Jesus' debate. With an overview of the various positions taken on who the historical Jesus was, Casey provides a helpful and accessible tool for understanding how the historical Jesus has been received and understood, with attention paid to the contortions in evidence in the last century to prove that Jesus was not Jewish.

From the Back Cover

Professor Maurice Casey provides a sophisticated and engaging historical reconstruction of Jesus life tackling controversial issues such as the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection. Casey s masterful treatment of the Aramaic sources and background to the Gospels make this volume unique in that no other life of Jesus has been written by a scholar with such expertise in the language which Jesus spoke, as a result Casey is able to draw us closer to the historical Jesus than ever before. Casey provides an up-to-date overview of the historical Jesus debate, covering the Jewishness of Jesus teaching, the foundation of early groups of his followers, and the location of Jesus within his wider context. He also gives a bold ideological critique of the very discipline of historical Jesus research, discussing the possibility that anti-Jewish views have skewed research in the past. This major contribution will be of interest to anyone interested in the historical figure of Jesus and the roots of Christianity.

Review Quotes

"... offers the safest route toward a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of Jesus." --The Catholic Herald

"The subtitle of this massive and powerful study of the historical Jesus describes its fundamental approach... [Casey] begins with an extensive survey of modern literature on this subject- an incisive analysis worth the price of admission that, with wit, sarcasm, and breathtaking erudition, leaves no scholar unscathed... The end result of this meticulous study is remarkably 'conservative' that is, in Casey's view the overall portrayal of Jesus' mission, life, and teaching found in the gospels has strong historical verisimilitude." --The Bible Today

"Casey is always interesting... [and] indeed fascinatingly independent, in his methods and his results." --The Times Literary Supplement

"There are many valuable insights and additions to our knowledge about Jesus, His times and His teachings which are now made clearer by the scholarship evident in this book." --The Good Book Stall

"'In several important respects this lively book goes against the grain of recent scholarship, both conservative and radical. But it is a needed and challenging reminder of the fragility of much that passes as the 'assured results' of scholarship. The detailed attention to the relevance of the Aramaic language for constructing Jesus is particularly noteworthy and consistently provocative.' - Dale C. Allison, Jr., Errett M. Grable Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, PA, USA." --Dale C. Allison

"'Only a handful of New Testament scholars can deal with Hebrew and above all Aramaic sources as well as Maurice Casey. After an extensive career concentrating on the life and teaching of Jesus, and at the pinnacle of his intellectual prowess after writing a number of specialized studies, he now generously shares his deep and manifold insights with a larger audience. With neither ecclesiastical nor atheistic baggage to weigh him down, Casey caustically comments first on those who do not take Jesus' Jewishness seriously, especially his native tongue Aramaic. This criticism of older and the most recent secondary literature is - unfortunately - well-deserved. Yet the following chapters with positive analyses by far prevail, making this volume a must read for all those seeking a balanced, yet deeply scholarly view of the life of Jesus by an independent historian. Casey candidly points out what we can reasonably know about Jesus, but just as importantly, what we cannot know. This fascinating volume deserves close reading and a very wide audience.' - The Rev. Dr. Roger David Aus, Berlin, Germany" --Roger David Aus

"'This learned and comprehensive book should prove to be the major historical Jesus publication of the decade. While we all know that much has been written on the historical Jesus, Casey still manages to provide a distinctive slant, most notably with his reader-friendly use of Aramaic reconstructions of Jesus' words and actions. The review of scholarship, which combines savage humour with scholarly insights, hits hard at numerous approaches to the quest for the historical Jesus, from famous historical Jesus scholars to 'mythicist' and conspiratorial theories in popular culture. This book should reinvigorate a tired scholarly quest and raise the bar in the learning required to do serious historical Jesus work.' - James G. Crossley, University of Sheffield, UK." --James G. Crossley

"Maurice Casey has devoted himself to the study of Aramaic... and now puts this knowledge to use in his heavy tome on the Historical Jesus." --The Pastoral Review

"The book is an admirable, fascinating, and stimulating study of Jesus against the background of a Judaism shaped by Aramaic speakers, and, as such, it is well worth reading." --The Church Times

"this book is in many respects an impressive achievement." --The Rev Dr Petor Ensor, Methodist Recorder

"This book ably demonstrates the variety and quantity of work being done all at once on the question of the historical Jesus. Casey's proposals regarding Jesus and the Gospels are bold and boldly stated and will need to be addressed in future histories of Jesus...Casey provides clear and careful discussions in every chapter. His conclusions, moreover, are neither naïvely credulous nor cynically skeptical...Casey has produced a highly original, provocative, and innovative volume...May more volumes find their way to market that raise as many interesting questions as lucidly and forcefully as does this book." --Rafael Rodriguez, Johnson University, Biblical Theology Bulletin

"It is a pleasure to follow a scholar as he considers issues that have occupied most of his career. Readers familiar with Casey's work will admire his distinctive prose and appreciate how his more technical contributions fit in his understanding of Jesus. This volume also offers surprises along the way as well as some productive new insights." --Bruce Chilton, Bard College, The Catholic Bible Quarterly

About the Author

Maurice Casey is Professor of New Testament Languages and Literature at the University of Nottingham, UK. He has published extensively on the Son of Man problem, and more generally on reconstructing Aramaic traditions about Jesus from the Greek Gospels.