The essays in this volume bring a fresh approach to the question, Who was Jesus? by combining the best elements of historical research and narrative criticism. Approaching the Jesus question from the outside in, the contributors reflect both on what can be known historically about the figures who surround him in the Gospels and on how these figures function within the respective narratives as foils to create distinct portraits of Christ. In the process, the essays provide an excellent overview of both the reception-history of characters in the Gospels and the ways that they can contribute to our understanding of the historical Jesus. The content of the discussion will be of interest to scholars while the accessible presentation will make this book a valuable resource for students.
-Tom Thatcher,
professor of New Testament, Cincinnati Christian University
It is innovative to ask historical questions about Jesus and the Gospels without getting caught up in the quagmire of the authenticity criteria, and this book is innovative because different authors bring different methods to the texts. And what better topic--asking what Jesus's friends and enemies thought of him! Time and time again we are taken to the Gospels themselves to see how the narratives shape our understanding of Jesus. It is the breadth of the testimony of these narratives that makes this book sparkle.
-Scot McKnight,
Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, North Park University
"The recipe for this book is brilliantly simple: get to know Jesus through those who knew him. Seek out both friends and enemies. Interview family and foreigners, disciples and detractors, men and women. Confer not only with secret allies but also with public opponents, with loyalists as well as traitors. Find out what drew each group toward Jesus or scared them away. Into this mix stir what modern scholars are saying about the impressions Jesus left on the Romans and Jews of his day and about the most responsible ways to read the Gospels. Simmer. Season with clear prose. Serve.Jesus among Friends and Enemies is a great read, a rich introduction to Jesus and his world, and a fresh addition to the often-bland menu of Jesus studies.
-Bruce Fisk,
associate professor of New Testament, Westmont College
A fascinating concept for a collaborative book on the historical Jesus--to see him through the biblical and extra-biblical stories about his friends and enemies. This book covers it all, providing clear and robust historical and literary examinations of Jesus from our knowledge of John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Caiaphas, Pilate, Judas Iscariot, and more. This book will inspire classes.
-April DeConick,
Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of Biblical Studies, Rice University; author of Holy Misogyny: Why the Sex and Gender Conflicts in the Early Church Still Matter
An outstanding teaching resource, Jesus among Friends and Enemies offers a balanced and comprehensive collection of essays treating the historical contexts and narrative methods of ancient Christian and Jewish writers. Though Jesus and the New Testament Gospels are the primary focus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, non-Christian discussions of Jesus, writings associated with apocalyptic Judaism, and non-canonical Gospel traditions are also addressed, providing readers with a rich store of comparative data from which to assess canonical descriptions of Jesus, his friends, and his enemies. Keith and Hurtado are to be congratulated for this superior contribution to the study of Jesus in the Gospels.
-Jennifer Knust,
assistant professor of New Testament and Christian origins, Boston University
