The Best Books On The Life Of Jesus Christ

By Camille Nicholson


Readers looking for books on the life of Jesus Christ will have plenty to choose from. There is no other historical figure who has been the subject of more writing over the past two thousand years. It does not matter weather a reader is looking for a religious, historical or philosophical perspective, there are more than enough works to keep them busy for years.

The best place to begin reading is with the Bible. Most people are familiar with the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This is a good place to start as it introduces the reader to the Biblical perspective of what happened to Christ. Christians throughout the world use the four gospels as the foundation for their knowledge about the lifetime of their Messiah.

The problem with any work that was written so long ago is that it is practically impossible to authenticate. There is no real agreement on when the gospels were actually written. Some historian argue that the writings about the life of Jesus were complied in the twenty to thirty years after his death. Others argue that it was closer to seventy or more years. Depending on which of these figures is taken as true totally changes the perspective of the work. If they really were written closer to one hundred years after the death of Christ, their accuracy can be viewed as questionable.

It is vitally important for students of religious history to learn to critique their sources very well. Before they can accurately synthesize all the information, they must have a good basic understanding of the social, cultural and political perspectives of Nazareth in the time of Christ. The Roman occupation of the area and the resulting tensions are very important and must be factored into the work.

Many authors spend their entire working lives studying the authenticity of their sources. It is crucial to understand how the Christian church has developed over the centuries. There is so much to learn and many aspects must be accurately synthesised. Readers must learn to critique their sources carefully and be willing to do a lot of research.

The modern debate continues with many new works being published every year. One of the main contributors is the American author William Lane Craig. Craig has produced many works that explore the philosophical roots of religion. His many books about the Christian world and particularly about the impact of Jesus on modern faith are well worth the time to read.

Many writers have explored the angle of Jesus as a mythical character. This is connected to the Pagan world and the roots of the early Christian church. There are many fascinating books that give the reader plenty of food for thought. Earl Doherty's The Jesus Puzzle is one of the better works.

The old beliefs have been incorporated into the modern Christian doctrine and can often be found very near to the surface. This makes the study of Christianity even more fascinating. Books on the life of Jesus Christ are still so popular because they are able to appeal to everyone and have still not answered the question. Was Jesus really the son of God?




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