A number of great resources are available to understand the times in first century Jerusalem. Some of the books and websites I have used for the series that would be helpful to you in greater study are:
For a forensic view of the sufferings of Christ Zugibe’s book, The Crucifixion of Jesus is a strong work on the use of crucifixion throughout the Roman Empire. While it contains a good amount of material related to the shroud of Turin and arguments for it’s authenticity as a visual image of the crucifixion of Jesus, the first section on Jesus’ suffering is very helpful. This book provides a detailed analysis on Christ’s death—from the crown of thorns to the burial tomb. Dr. Zugibe explores not only the Christ’s physical torment on the cross, but also looks at the emotional pain he experienced during the hours leading up to the actual crucifixion. Central to Dr. Zugibe’s conclusions is the severe mental anguish Christ underwent in Garden of Gethsemane, which Zugibe asserts contributed greatly to his death after only three hours on the cross.
Keller’s book answers many objections raised by the skeptic about the claims of Christianity. It is an easy read, and certainly transferable to conversation. If you want to share your faith…read this book.
Why does God allow suffering in the world?
How could a loving God send people to Hell?
Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive?
How can one religion be “right” and the others “wrong”?
Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God?
The second section is a positive look at Christianity and what it teaches. I pulled some ideas from the chapter on the resurrection. Check out their website for more.
N.T. Wright is an amazingly prolific author that seeks to evaluate the culture surrounding Jesus and His influence upon it. Wright’s manner is scholarly, but not overly skeptical, and he does not have a predispostion against the New Testament authors. I list three books from highly focused on the issues addressed in CSI:Jerusalem, to a moderate read on Jesus, to a heavy duty volume, not for the faint of heart. All three cover similar themes, but in a progressively complete manner.
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| What do history and archaeology have to say about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection? In this superb general-reader book, two of the world’s most celebrated writers on the historical Jesus share their greatest findings. Together, Craig A. Evans and N. T. Wright concisely and compellingly convey the drama and the world-shattering significance of Jesus’ final days on earth. |
Wrights three aims in the book are to
- maintain historical integrity in talking about Jesus,
- continue proper discipleship that follows from the conclusions of the previous aims, and
- reinvigorate the mission of the Church by integrating all of human life with the kingdom of God.
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This book, third in Wright’s series Christian Origins and the Question of God, sketches a map of ancient beliefs about life after death, in both the Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds. It then highlights the fact that the early Christians’ belief about the afterlife belonged firmly on the Jewish spectrum, while introducing several new mutations and sharper definitions. This, together with other features of early Christianity, forces the historian to read the Easter narratives in the gospels, not simply as late rationalizations of early Christian spirituality, but as accounts of two actual events: the empty tomb of Jesus and his “appearances.” |
A great website that I was referred to is y-jesus.com. It is clear and concise and addresses questions like:
Strobel’s The Case for Christ is a standard Apologetic work that examines the reliability of Scripture, the evidence for the resurrection, and the life of Jesus. A former atheist, Yale Law School graduate and award-winning journalist, Lee Strobel uses his experience as a reporter for the Chicago Tribune to determine if there’s credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God. He interviews a dozen scholars, with doctorates from Cambridge, Princeton, Brandeis, and other top-flight institutions, who are recognized authorities on Jesus. He cross-examines these experts with tough, point-blank questions:
Do we possess reliable documents concerning the life, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus?
Hasn’t the Bible been changed?
Is there archaeological substantiation for the historical accounts about Jesus?
Did Jesus perform miracles?
Did Jesus really claim to be God? Where?
What evidence is there that he fits God’s profile?
What does prophecy have to say about Jesus?
Popularity: 71% [?]
Having looked at the reliability of the gospels included in the New Testament, the historical accuracy of the empty tomb, and the authenticity of the eye-witness accounts to the resurrection, we turn our attention this Sunday to the message that sprung up from the resurrection accounts. We’ve alluded to this over the last few weeks, that this new belief system, centered on Jesus himself, is evidence for the resurrection. So, we ask the question…where did this come from? Judaism, Greek Philosophy, the Far East? And why is the faith revealed by Paul at times seem discontinuous with the teachings of Jesus?
