Portraits Of Jesus

This is an introductory guide to the ways Jesus is depicted in the New Testament. Both college students and the general reader will find here a variety of New Testament understandings of Jesus that are rooted in critical reading of the four gospels and Pauline letters. This new edition adds historical context to the portraits of Jesus as each document is somewhat shaped by historical factors. This work presumes neither religious faith nor lack of faith; its aim is to inform and to stimulate some fundamental questions as well as to give the readers portraits as synthetic balance to the vital work of analysis.

" ... A biography of the person and ministry of Christ, as revealed by 100 names and titles ascribed to Him in Scripture."--Preface.

To Christians worldwide, the man Jesus of Nazareth is the centerpiece of history, the object of faith, hope, and worship. Even those who do not follow him admit the vast influence of his life. For anyone interested in knowing more about Jesus, study of the four biblical Gospels is essential. The second edition of Four Portraits, One Jesus has been updated throughout to meet the needs to today's students. It is a thorough yet accessible introduction to the four biblical Gospels and their subject, the life and person of Jesus. Like different artists rendering the same subject using different styles and points of view, the Gospels paint four highly distinctive portraits of the same remarkable Jesus. With clarity and insight, Mark Strauss illuminates these four books addressing the following important areas: First he addresses the nature, origin, methods for study, and historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds of the Gospels. He then moves on to closer study of each narrative and its contribution to our understanding of Jesus, investigating things such as plot, characters, and theme. Finally, he pulls it all together with a detailed examination of what the Gospels teach about Jesus' ministry, message, death, and resurrection, with excursions into the quest for the historical Jesus and the historical reliability of the Gospels. This textbook together with its workbook, video lectures, and laminated sheet gives students everything they need for a thorough and enriching study of Jesus and the Gospels.

"The Five Portraits of Jesus" presents a progressive revelation of Jesus as a person. The first portrait shows him as He is revealed in the Gospels as the Christ who came in the flesh. The Gospels deal with his earthly life and his relationships with men and women. In the second portrait in the Acts of the Apostles, Christ is revealed as the risen Lord. He was resurrected and a whole new view of Him was experienced as the disciples were renewed and broadened in their faith and as the church was established. The third portrait is in the Epistles where Jesus is revealed as he relates to the church and disciples as the Divine Redeemer in his relationship to God, and in the Christian experience. The fourth portrait is found in Hebrews and in the Revelation where Jesus is shown as the everlasting Priest and King. The fifth portrait is found in the history and growth of the Christian Church throughout its existence under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This book provides a learning-by-doing approach to the study of the Gospels. It allows students to uncover literary patterns, theological issues, and interpretive problems through close readings of primary sources. Questions are asked along the way that help readers understand the shape of the narrative, and the themes important to each Gospel writer.

This book contains over 80 paintings of Jesus Christ for the purposes of enjoying and meditating. Painting has always been associated with the life of the Church. From the time of the Catacombs it has been used in ecclesiastical ornamentation, and for centuries after Constantine, religious art was the only form of living art in the Christian world. Its fecundity has been wonderful and even now, although much diminished, is still important. Until the Renaissance, the Church exercised a veritable monopoly over this sphere. Profane painting in Europe dates only from the last five centuries and it took the lead only in the nineteenth century. It may, therefore, be said that throughout the Christian Era the history of painting has been that of religious painting.

This companion volume to the best-selling "The View From Mount Calvary" shows readers how we are never far from encountering the lordship of Christ, no matter where we are in our biblical reading. Respected teacher John Phillips guides readers, illustrating how the Bible provides a window through which we encounter Jesus our Lord, and discusses the many biblical events, stories, and prophecies that reflect his lordship.