Mythologizing Jesus

Name: Mythologizing Jesus
Brand: Bloomsbury Publishing PTY Ltd
SKU: 9780742558915
Price: 121.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

From Jewish Teacher to Epic Hero

By Dennis R. MacDonald

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3.91

( 22 ratings, 7 reviews)

Summary

Mythologizing Jesus explores how the Gospel stories about Jesus resemble ancient Greek and Roman myths, portraying Jesus as a superhero-like figure with extraordinary powers such as healing, walking on water, and rising from the dead. Dennis R. MacDonald invites readers to view these biblical narratives through a mythological lens, highlighting parallels with epic tales from Homer and others, to deepen understanding of the Gospels' literary and cultural context.
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Format: Hardback

$121⁰⁰

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Mythologizing Jesus

$121⁰⁰

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in religion, biblical studies, classical literature, and those curious about the historical and literary dimensions of Gospel narratives. Suitable for academics, theology students, and informed general readers seeking a fresh perspective on the stories of Jesus.

Dennis MacDonald shows how Gospel stories parallel many Greek and Roman epics--from walking on water to visiting the land of the dead--to compel first-century readers into life-changing decisions to follow Jesus. MacDonald doesn't call into question the existence of Jesus but rather asks readers to examine the Gospels through a new, mythological lens.

Description

Our culture is well-populated with superheroes: Superman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and more. Superheroes are not a modern invention; in fact, they are prehistoric. The gods and goddesses of the Greeks, for example, walked on water, flew, visited the land of the dead, and lived forever.

Ancient Christians told similar stories about Jesus, their primary superhero—he possessed incredible powers of healing, walked on water, rose from the dead, and more. Dennis R. MacDonald shows how the stories told in the Gospels parallel many in Greek and Roman epics with the aim of compelling their readers into life-changing decisions to follow Jesus. MacDonald doesn’t call into question the existence of Jesus but rather asks readers to examine the biblical stories about him through a new, mythological lens.

Mythologizing Jesus invites readers to explore this perspective, focusing on the mythical elements within the biblical narratives and their cultural significance.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Publishers Weekly praises MacDonald for illuminating the literary connections between the Gospels and Homeric epics, presenting 24 major parallels that suggest the Gospel writers drew on Greek epic traditions. The review notes the author's scholarly background and commends the book for its clear, substantial comparison of early Christian literature with ancient classics, making complex ideas accessible.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780742558915

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 May 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield

Illustration: 1 b/w illustration;4 b/w photos; 28 tables

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 160.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 417g

Pages: 178

Collections

Dennis R. MacDonald Non-Fiction Religion & Spirituality

About the Author

Dennis R. MacDonald is professor of New Testament and Christian origins at Claremont School of Theology. He is the author of several books, including The Gospels and Homer and Luke and Vergil.

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