In Parables: The Challenge of the Historical Jesus

I am a new-comer to Jesus scholarship and so what I say is not as an expert but merely as an appreciative reader. What I found especially valuable about this brief but excellent study was the interdisciplinary elements that Crossan brought to bear on his subject. In order to help us hear what Jesus is up to, Crossan brings in very useful insights from poets and philosophers. These, along with Crossan's very suggestive readings of Jesus' parables, make this a book one could ponder for quite a while. As with poems, the brevity of this book masks a lot of depth.

John Dominic Crossan stands in my mind as one of the most lucid, honest, and forthright biblical scholar of our day. His many publications testify to his integrity and extensive scholarship. I did not read this book when it was first publishd in 1973, but have had the good fortune of having a good friend, the retired rector of an Episcopal church, donate me this book. Since I have read most of the lastest publications of Crossan, I find in this one the same sound interpretation of the parables of Jesus. This is not only a commentary, but a scholarly introduction to the literary genre that the historical Jesus employed to convey the core of his message, which is so often completely misunderstood. I recommend this book very highly to anyone who shares the new understanding of the historical Jesus, so well explored by the Westar Institute.