The renowned biblical scholar, author of The Misunderstood Jew, and general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many ...
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The renowned biblical scholar, author of The Misunderstood Jew, and general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Amy-Jill Levine offers a fresh, timely reinterpretation of Jesus narratives. In Short Stories by Jesus, she analyzes these problems with parables, taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. Levine reveals the parables connections to first-century economic and agricultural life, social customs and morality, Jewish scriptures and Roman culture. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later."
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Add this copy of Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a to cart. $11.85, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2015 by HarperOne.
Dr. Levine's teachings may resonate with some, but her work simply does not wash with me. I will admit up front that the only reason that I bought this book was because it was required for a church book club; I consider myself fortunate that I opted not to continue with the group. Dr. Levine's basic premise in this book is that Christ's parables are anti-Jewish in nature, which in itself seems more than preposterous. This is because Christ's parables are stories that were intended to convey his teachings to a largely Jewish audience in first century Israel, so saying that these stories go against that group of people hardly makes sense. On a related note, I converted to Christianity from Reform Judaism, so when I hear the word "anti-Jewish," the word anti-Semitism immediately comes to mind. After not only having read the King James Bible cover to cover but also having experienced anti-Semitism firsthand, at least in from what I could tell the parables do not fall into that category. Like all of Christ's teachings, his parables are about peace, love, and understanding towards one's fellow human. Given my observations, I would say that the reason for the popularity of Dr. Levine and her scholarly endeavors is because people who are not only looking for answers in the Bible, but who are also too ignorant to know any better believe that she is knowledgeable solely because she is an academic who is saying something provocative. My guess is that like all things that are faddish in nature, Dr. Levine and her teachings will fall out of fashion sooner than later, particularly once fans of her work come to the realization that the emperor has no clothes.
CLIFFORD B
Mar 24, 2015
Very Satisfied
My book arrived faster than had been quoted, and it was new and in great condition. I would order from this supplier again!
Roy
Feb 8, 2015
While I enjoyed the book, which was interesting, it was too wordy.
