...A must-read, a guidebook for how and why the only prayer Jesus ever taught endures.” — The Daily Beast
“Even if one disagrees with the author’s conclusions, it will be difficult to dislike his book, as one of Crossan’s gifts is his ability to challenge his readers in a gentle, respectful, and nonconfrontational manner.” — Booklist
“John Dominic Crossan is arguably the world’s foremost scholar of the historical Jesus. In The Greatest Prayer, Crossan argues that Christianity’s best-known invocation is misunderstood and undervalued in today’s society.” — Religion News Service
Crossan... shows how Jesus, couched in the words of this prayer, advises His followers to reject violent methods... and instead work for the coming of the Kingdom of God, the only way to achieve true freedom. . . . A fine effort by a fine scholar.” — Publishers Weekly
“A full and loving exposition... of Christianity’s best-known and most-recited prayer. Crossan’s pastoral intent is more straightforward here than in some of his other works; scholars will appreciate the richness of his readings, while nonscholarly readers will be grateful for the directness and clarity of his approach.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Crossan’s reflections reveal something that may surprise his detractors: a man of profound and challenging faith, who in h is efforts to demystify Jesus has called us all back to the core of the gospel message.” — U.S. Catholic
“[P]rovides a satisfying blend of history, scholarship and theology in researching the moral responsibilities that come with living a Godly life. The fundamental Lord’s Prayer here serves as a foundation for examining the principles of this life.” — Midwest Book Review
“Controversial biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan finds in Jesus’ words an evocation for ‘distributive justice,’ making sure all are cared for.” — Los Angeles Times
[P]rovides a satisfying blend of history, scholarship and theology in researching the moral responsibilities that come with living a Godly life. The fundamental Lord’s Prayer here serves as a foundation for examining the principles of this life.
Controversial biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan finds in Jesus’ words an evocation for ‘distributive justice,’ making sure all are cared for.
Crossan’s reflections reveal something that may surprise his detractors: a man of profound and challenging faith, who in h is efforts to demystify Jesus has called us all back to the core of the gospel message.
...A must-read, a guidebook for how and why the only prayer Jesus ever taught endures.
Even if one disagrees with the author’s conclusions, it will be difficult to dislike his book, as one of Crossan’s gifts is his ability to challenge his readers in a gentle, respectful, and nonconfrontational manner.
John Dominic Crossan is arguably the world’s foremost scholar of the historical Jesus. In The Greatest Prayer, Crossan argues that Christianity’s best-known invocation is misunderstood and undervalued in today’s society.
Controversial biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan finds in Jesus’ words an evocation for ‘distributive justice,’ making sure all are cared for.
Even if one disagrees with the author’s conclusions, it will be difficult to dislike his book, as one of Crossan’s gifts is his ability to challenge his readers in a gentle, respectful, and nonconfrontational manner.
No prayer is better known in the Christian world than the Lord's Prayer, taught by Jesus to His disciples as they listened to Him preach about the Kingdom of God. Crossan, co-founder of The Jesus Seminar and acclaimed author of many works on the life and mission of Jesus Christ, writes to answer the question, "How can we who live today hear the words of the Lord's Prayer in ways that reflect the concerns of His immediate hearers and impact our lives 2,000 years later?" Delving deeply into the story of the Jewish nation in Jesus' time, Crossan shows how Jesus, couched in the words of this prayer, advises His followers to reject violent methods of resisting their Roman captors, and instead work for the coming of the Kingdom of God, the only way to achieve true freedom. The theme of nonviolence permeates this book and becomes the foundation for Crossan's understanding, not only of the Lord's Prayer, but also of a variety of extra-biblical sources he references to support his thesis. A fine effort by a fine scholar.
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No historian of the life of Jesus or the world of early Christianity is better known than Crossan (religious studies, emeritus, DePaul Univ.; Who Killed Jesus?). His new, relatively brief book is nevertheless a full and loving exposition—a point by point explication—of Christianity's best-known and most-recited prayer. For Crossan, the Lord's Prayer reflects the dual nature of the New Testament's vision of God as a God of love, as well as a God of justice. VERDICT Crossan's pastoral intent is more straightforward here than in some of his other works; scholars will appreciate the richness of his readings, while nonscholarly readers will be grateful for the directness and clarity of his approach.
