Recovering Jesus - The Witness of the New Testament

Who was the real Jesus, and why does he matter? In Recovering Jesus: The Witness of the New Testament, respected New Testament scholar Thomas Yoder Neufeld offers an accessible and thorough introduction to the life of Jesus. Yoder Neufeld starts with the Jesus revealed in the Gospels, covering his birth, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection. He builds on this account by assessing recent scholarly and popular studies, including the argument that the historical Jesus is revealed in the Gnostic gospels and other non-canonical texts. The result is a useful guide into the morass of current scholarship. In a true teaching spirit, the author provides a comprehensive approach without overwhelming the introductory reader or student. He clearly explains the nuances of complex issues without oversimplification. Recovering Jesus is thus an invaluable text for undergraduate and seminary students, as well as a helpful resource in non-academic settings for both believers and non-believers. In the end, readers will come to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and why he matters.

"Thomas Yoder Neufeld has provided readers with 'the raw material and some of the skill with which to jump into the fray' of the debates about Jesus. This highly readable book has been carefully honed through years of undergraduate teaching by a scholar who often preaches and teaches in church settings. Well informed and with enviable clarity, Neufeld presents the fruit of the best critical Jesus scholarship--hospitable for students in the pluralistic context of the university classroom. Anyone interested in the Jesus we encounter in the New Testament will turn these pages with great interest and profit."--Graham H. Twelftree, Regent University

"Tom Yoder Neufeld is an outstanding writer! An extraordinarily engaging teacher, Tom guides us with gripping vitality on an invigorating and exhilarating tour through the biblical accounts. Throughout the adventure he achieves the perfect voice--undergirding our faith even as he imparts necessary skills to sort through various scholarly debates concerning Jesus. This exceptional book is superb for both new and seasoned students of the Scriptures."--Marva J. Dawn, author of Talking the Walk

"Recovering Jesus is a difficult task in our day. Skeptical words abound on many sides. Thomas Yoder Neufeld does a good and accessible job of clearing the decks and showing the way in this introduction to Jesus and his teaching in the context of the scholarly cacophony that surrounds Jesus. Nicely done."--Darrell Bock, Dallas Theological Seminary

"Not just another Jesus book, Thomas Yoder Neufeld's Recovering Jesus integrates sound scholarship with a profound and reflective faith. Written with a wide spectrum of contemporary college students in mind, Yoder Neufeld's accessible and engaging prose will also attract thoughtful laypeople as well as busy church leaders. His centering the Jesus story in the ethic and theology of the kingdom of God is not only refreshingly true to the heart of our written Gospels but will be especially helpful for those who long to follow Jesus in life. Few scholars of Yoder Neufeld's breadth and depth write with this clarity of thought and joy in discipleship."--Mary Schertz, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary