Jesus (New and Revised Edition): A Gospel Portrait

I got this book for a college-level theology course and years later decided to read more than just the few assigned pages. I was surprised that the book both covered material in-depth to provide insight as well as kept the material readable and interesting for a church-going Catholic who's never really studied scripture in any detail. Fr. Senior keeps each chapter structured by introducing a lens, giving a background on that lens, and showing examples of where that lens is applied in the gospels. Suddenly, some parables took on a greater meaning, or became much more clear and understandable. The best part of this book is how open Fr. Senior is in recognizing that the gospels are written, and preserved, by humans with all their inherent human weaknesses, biases, and agendas. He tries to use this to explain certain aspects and differences, and always reminds the reader of the focus of the book and Jesus' message.

"Jesus: A Gospel Portrait" is a very successful attempt to draw a portrait of Jesus from the isolated depictions of Him presented in the Gospel. Author Donald Senior, a Paulist Priest and, at the time, president of the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, presents a portrait that is drawn from Gospel sources and supplemented by orthodox understandings of the world in which Jesus lived. Fr. Senior proceeds with the recognition that the evolution in the understanding of Jesus and His message is an ongoing process guided by the Holy Spirit. Because of this, I prefer it to other studies that seize upon every inconsistency in the Scriptures to suggest that its guiding forces are the opinions of the individual writers with their personal agendas. This book is organized into seven chapters the first of which introduce the reader to the art of knowing Jesus and to he world in which Jesus lived. Subsequent chapters consider Jesus in relation to His own circle, His teaching, His healing, His Church and the significance of His Death and Victory to His mission. Written for a general readership, it does not presuppose a high level of understanding of scriptural studies. For one searching for an orthodox, faith based introduction to the Jesus of the Gospels, "Jesus: A Gospel Portrait" is a great place to start.

Fr Donald Senior, a Passionist who has taught for many years at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, has produced an effective, readable introduction to Jesus Christ as shown to us in the Gospels. For those who want to build a view of the Son of God as presented in Christianity's most sacred texts, this book serves as an accessible, inspiring guide. Yes, Fr Senior makes ample use of his understanding of the best scholarship in looking at scripture. And yes, his straight-forward, interesting style challenges me to continue to grow in my Christian faith. In this I am certain not that the best scholarship and research will support my preconceptions and prejudices about Jesus, but that following Jesus Christ sincerely means following the truth. By faith we know, after all, that truth leads us ever more deeply into the mystery of God's infinite love -- love shown clearly to us in the life and most especially in the suffering and death of Jesus. Who better than a Passionist such as Donald Senior, who has devoted his life to spreading this message, to encourage us to look at Jesus of the Gospels.