The Gospel of Jesus: In Search of the Original Good News

What if you took a document that no one has seen, no one has a copy of and may in fact have never actually existed. Then you use that document, giving it priority over other, better documented sources to redefine a major religion. That is essentially what we see in "The Gospel of Jesus", by James M Robinson. Dr Robinson is an expert in the field of early Christian documents, Dead Sea scrolls and Q aka the Sayings Gospel Q. Q is a hypothetical (although quite plausible) source that the writers of Matthew and Luke may have accessed when writing their respective gospels. The idea is basically that material they have in common with Mark came from Mark, but material they have in common with each other but not with Mark came from Q. Like I said... quite plausible. But that is not what this book is about. Rather, the Dr Robinson makes the assumption that the Saying Gospel Q is real and seemingly that it has been fully reconstructed and then goes on to apply its content to Christian thought. What did Jesus really teach? What was he really like? What was his relationship with John The Baptist? Was he divine? What about the miracles, virgin birth and resurrection? Finally, there is a short discussion of how the reader should react to this "new" gospel. This is not a forum for debate so I will only mention a few issues that I have with the presentation of material. The reader should keep in mind that Q is hypothetical, even though Dr Robinson repeatedly refers to it as though he had an original copy on his desk. After four decades of work on it, I am sure it is 'real' enough to him. But should it be quoted and included in endnotes along with the other gospels? Be aware that Q is given precedence over all other writings. Where Luke or Matthew contain differences from Q+Mark, it is explained away as a later addition inserted to support developing Christian thought. And, to me, at least, it seems that ideas are introducted that are not supported in the four gospels,Q, or any other document, like the idea the Jesus was a convert of John. It seems to me that Q is the authors "baby" and he doesn't like any competition. And it be sure, I am not calling his baby 'ugly'. This book is easy to read, though, not filled with a lot of word studies or technical references. It is simply Dr Robinsons understanding of the earliest days of the faith, his "Authentic Teaching of Jesus". Some people will find the ideas here agreeable with their beliefs while others will find Robinsons gospel to be severly watered-down. Just read it with your eyes and mind open.

Magnificent book. It has been clear for a long time that the Gospels and the letters of Paul do not give the real Jesus. I will mention only two things for ignoramuses liked J.T. Hobbes. 1. Paul never met Jesus, so why does his version have any authority? 2. We know that the earliest Christians were led by James of Jerusalem, the brother of Jesus. The Gospels do not mention him and the Epistles mention him unfavorably. His group knew the most about the real Jesus and they were considered heretics. It is clear that what the churches teach is false. Prof. Robinson has constructed what Jesus was really about from the Q source. Even Robinson, however, should acknowledge that whatever Jesus intended and hoped for were defeated -- both by his death and lack of resurrection and by the churches which claim him.

I thoughourly enjoyed this book. That said, let me also mention my approach to my own Christianity, which is open to other views and honest reflection in addition to the ability to attempt to accept the reality of the times in which Jesus lived. This is Robinson's approach. If you are of the ilk where you consider anything other than the gospel accounts as beyond the pale or the New Testament without any flaw or agenda from its authors, then this may be a book difficult for your views...I believe this is borne out in at least one other reviewer's review. However, if you can accept to see Jesus in his historical context and accept the reality of his human side as well as the Gospels writers intentions and attitudes for writing their particular Gospels, then you will enjoy this book. Robininson, in a very readable manner, provides background and a scholarly approach to Jesus in context without getting bogged down in "high-brow" academic writings. Be warned however, that he is honest in his approach to his subject matter as a historian and not as a theologian. If an academic and historical context in which to view the gospels (as well as the elusive "Q Gospel") is to your interest, then you have a book that will suit you fine. If you are the type where anyone attempting to present the humanity of Jesus as a first century Jew without the trappings of theology, then this may not be the book for you.

What Robinson does in this very accessible book is to boil down a great deal of scholarship into a readable, powerful and fascinating book that will challenge you and change your view of what Jesus really meant when he called people to follow him. Robinson challenges the easy-believism so prominent in Evangelicalism and reveals why following Jesus involves MUCH MORE that just believing things *about* him or "trusting" in him. Excellent!

Robinson has given the world a great gift, the gift of truth. This is one book I would rate as "Must Read". Whether you are a Christian or not, read this book. If you are a fundamentalist, please read this book. You owe it to yourself and the rest of us who are conversant with church history.