Jesus of Nazareth (English)

In JESUS OF NAZARETH, Pope Benedict XVI tells us that his study of Jesus has had a "long gestation," and that he is publishing the first part of it because he is concerned that the many representations and misrepresentations of Jesus' life stand in the way of our truly understanding him. (It is translated from German.) Writing as both a scholar and a pastor to his loyal flock, Benedict searches for the true Jesus in the many writings about him. He says that historical-critical scholarship has value but is flawed, giving us too many images that reflect what the scholars want to see. One must, says Benedict, read "all the biblical writings as a corpus," and take into consideration "the proper interplay of Old and New Testaments." Benedict's ultimate purpose for studying the life of Jesus is that brings us closer to God. One of the best sections of JESUS OF NAZARETH is Benedict's phrase-by-phrase explication of "The Lord's Prayer." Benedict goes on to explain the many stories of Jesus in the writings of his disciples, and he is a good guide to things we may have missed. In these chapters, Benedict is like a priest speaking to his congregation, as he illuminates the vision of God revealed in the mystery that is Jesus. minimize