The Passion of Our Lord

The concept of the book is quite simple: give the reader a fuller understanding of the details Jesus' passion and death. To this end, Kiehl introduces aspects of Jewish history and culture, the geography of Jerusalem, Jewish/Roman law and relations, and (most interesting to me) medical science. I had read this book at the beginning of Lent and it helped me to understand the Passion accounts read in church. Because of this book, Palm Sunday had more meaning for me; I understood the institution of the Lord's Supper in a new way; and I realize that there is medical explanations for Jesus sweating blood (even though the text is ambiguous he might have sweat huge drops of sweat like blood) and for both blood and water coming out of Jesus pierced side. This is an excellent book for Christians to read.

Like the other reviewer, I am soory that this has been OOP for so long. It is a treasure house of useful exegesis with great attention to modern scholarship, archaeology and the physiology of crucifixion. His analysis of Jewish messianic expectations is needed as well, setting the stage for the narrative.I would urge you to look for the works of Martin Hengel if you have any interest in the Passion, crucufixion, etc. He has one OOP book entitled "THe Cross of the Son of God" which is actually three of his former books in one. It is really the best book on the subject and I turn to it over and over again in my own research. All of his works are very detailed and defend a sound orthodoxy against the trends that seek to find "the real Jesus" a la the Jesus Seminar instead of the Tradition. ANother detailed and sound author is Skarsaune. His "In the Shadow of the TEmple" and "Incarnation- Myth or Fact?" are great books on messianisc studies, answering in the affirmative that the ealry church got it right about Jesus being the Christ and the implications for how we understand the nature of God as Trinity.Not to be forgotten are the works of N. T. Wright. THey are all fantastic and worth the time.Enjoy!

Serious scholar investigates the passion of Christ meticulously and writes this detailed, organized work on crucial theology.His compilation beginning with the false Messianic expectations to the very end, are major benefit of compiling and sorting out from all the various inputs the kernel of truth that makes Good Friday and Easter Sunday so meaningful. The inclusion of the medical analysis of crucifixion is so useful.Maybe Baker will reprint this.