From “Jesus The Christ” and Beyond

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2 - Jesus_the_ChristMany years ago before my mission, as a teenager contemplating going, I read “The Missionary Reference Library” collection of books. Although they increased my understanding and spiritual maturity, only one among them had a concrete lasting impact as a text. That would be Jesus the Christ, a magnum opus of James E. Talmage that was published a century ago this year. I latched on to what he was doing along with what he was saying. His work forever changed the way I studied Jesus Christ and his life and teachings.

The book was more than a theological treatise, with the inclusion of historical research to help understand time and place. Most of the book uses LDS Scripture and prophetic teachings to help interpret the New Testament record. Along with them is added information about 1st Century history and culture. This helps bring Jesus into context instead of allowing for a completely decontextualized amorphous figure. A few non-Mormon sources were used, including Life and Words of Christ by John Cunningham Geikie, Life of Christ by Frederic Farrar, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim, and William Smith’s A Dictionary of the Bible with other lesser Bible commentaries. Ancient works of Josephus and the Talmud were quoted or consulted in lengthy notes at the end of chapters.

Major problems complicated Talmage’s theological and historical study. Much of the modern sources used were already outdated even during his life time. Currently none of them are consulted outside of religious devotional material. Those that he did use were of a particular viewpoint that didn’t engage in other studies (even ones that wouldn’t be harmful to his own thesis). By the time Jesus The Christ was written, what is known as the first quest for the historical Jesus had already ended as did the “quest” idea. It wouldn’t be until the 1950s that historical studies of Jesus would once again be of academic interest. Still, no other major LDS work on Jesus before or after Talmage followed his example until very recently. Even the multi-volume Bruce R. McConkie tome was a wordy re-hash more than imitation.

Despite the mostly religious devotional aspect of the book, one lesson learned is to go beyond the text of the Bible (gospels in particular) to explore other avenues of research for a better understanding of the Savior. This might sound counterintuitive to the book’s spiritual purpose, but history can enlighten some things that are obscured by time or culture. Outside of the LDS Church, there are many people who are equally interested in who Jesus was and what his life and words mean. The problem is that there are an equal number of these academics that reject the Jesus of Faith while presenting a lot of great insights. It can become frustrating to discover so many new ways of understanding the life of Christ, only to have those same writers dismiss things most dear and important to believers. Personally, I wanted to glean what I could from them and then fill in my religious understandings where they departed. Strangely enough, it is possible even if sometimes difficult.

Historical Jesus research is not universally accepted, especially among those who believe the Divine nature of Christ makes him outside of history. As an example, Catholic theologian Luke Timothy Johnson argues in his The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels that it is impossible to accept them both without harming the truth of his person. He of course believes that only the Divinity of Faith is of any value:

Christians direct their faith not to this historical figure of Jesus but to the living Lord Jesus. Yes, they assert continuity between that Jesus and this. But their faith is confirmed, not by the establishment of facts about the past, but by the reality of Christ’s power in the present. Christian faith is not directed to a human construction about the past; that would be a form of idolatry. Authentic Christian faith is a response to the living God, whom Christians declare is powerfully at work among them through the resurrected Jesus. (p. 142-43)

Despite some truth with Johnson’s critique of “Historical Jesus” researchers, there are serious issues with his final opinion on the subject. Even if Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is ultimately beyond time and history, it still has much of its roots in history. Paraphrasing Johnson, “On this view, history becomes the written record we make (selective, based on available evidence rather than an omnipotent knowledge of all past events), not the underlying events themselves.” Knowing this, all Scripture is related to history and you must understand that history in order to interpret the text as intended. Perhaps this is what Joseph Smith meant when he said he believed the Bible as written by the original authors. Not that the authentic autograph text was best, but that the intended meanings of the authors was closest to the truth. And that is tied to the cultural and historical backgrounds behind their words. Readers are often stuck with studies by doubters who have researched Jewish/Christian connections, or believers who reject the whole idea of the connection between them.

With some hope, it is possible to find small lists of scholars in the LDS community taking both historical and devotional positions seriously. There are a select few authors now introducing years of worthwhile reading to Scripture study not caught up in the so-called dichotomy of faith and history as inseparable. Rather, they find it more illuminating than scandalous. The work of Talmage is starting to come full circle once again; returning and even going beyond what his classic book started. Some of the examples include Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament with multiple editors, Between the Testaments: Between Malachi and Matthew by S. Kent Brown and Richard N. Holzapfel, and the three volume The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ collection of essays. There is still a long way to go before these are more than anomalies in discourse, but they are helpful.

A few non-Mormon works might be of interest to those who would like to learn more about the historical and cultural background of Jesus, but don’t know where to start. One of the best and most renowned researchers is the retired Anglican Bishop N.T. Wright who who doesn’t ignore or reject the religious implications of Jesus as Christ. His best works are The Challenge of Jesus, and the three volume Christian Origins and the Question of God series. Catholic Fr. Raymond E. Brown’s The Birth of the Messiah and The Death of the Messiah have become classics on the subjects they cover. For something more concrete there is Archaeology and the New Testament by John McCray that looks at the material information available. The simply titled Jesus by David Flusser is a smaller work with a lot to say about Jewish historical background.

There is still, however, a concern the history will take over the theology. At least one reviewer of a recent LDS book seemed happy there were less quotes from General Authorities (can’t remember where I found it). Going that direction would be a disaster and make any positive steps rather pointless. Of all the Christian denominations, Mormonism is most able to accept the possibility that history and faith in Jesus as the Savior can work together. Questions of faith and history are fundamental to Mormon theology and beliefs.

18 thoughts on “From “Jesus The Christ” and Beyond”

  1. As far as non-Mormon Bible sources go, I’ve gotten a great deal of value out of my NIV Archaeological Study Bible. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this NT Wright; I need to check him out.

    As for Talmage’s book, I also got a lot of benefit out of it, but in your mild criticisms you glossed over a necessary big one: the chapters towards the end about the Lord’s Book of Mormon ministry are just awful–completely obsolete and almost totally wrong.

    The truth is, we badly need a new, comprehensive, one-volume biography of Christ. Has there been anything recently that fits the bill?

  2. It has been years since I have read it in full, so I am not able to criticize sections or chapters. I will take your word for it Huston despite my not knowing what you are talking about with the need to go back to have an opinion. Sadly, there has not been anything recently that has fit the bill for a comprehensive one-volume LDS treatment. I thought of doing one about 9 years ago, but time and my non-historian background put it indefinitely on my bucket list.

    For those who might be curious, here is my slightly out of date reference notes:

    Historical Sources for the Life of Christ:
    New Testament and Apocrypha (particularly “I&II Maccabees”)
    Old Testament and Apocrypha
    Josephus’ Complete Works
    History of the Church by Eusebius
    The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls ed. By Geza Vermes
    The Mishna ed. By Herbert Danby
    Babylonian Talmud ed. By Michael Rodkinson
    Works of Philo of Alexandria ed. By Colson and Witaker
    A Midrash Reader By Jacob Neusner
    The Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg

    Major significant Biographies for the Life of Christ:
    Jesus The Christ by James E. Talmage
    The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edershiem
    The Life of Christ by Fredric W. Farrar
    The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant by J.D. Crossan
    Jesus by David Flusser
    Jesus: A Marginal Jew by John P. Meir
    Jesus of Nazareth by Joseph Klausner
    Jesus Christ: His Life, His Teachings, and His Work by Ferdinand Prat, S.J.

    Archeological and Historical studies for the Life of Christ:
    The Original Jesus: The Life and Vision of a Revolutionary by N.T. Wright and Tom Wright.
    Jesus and the Victory of God by N. T. Wright
    The New Testament and the Victory of God by N. T. Wright
    The Resurrection of the Son of God by N. T. Wright
    The Bible as History by Werner Keller
    Jerusalem at the time of Jesus by Joachim Jeramiahs
    The Jews in the Time of Jesus: An Introduction by Stephen M. Wylen
    The Jewish World in the Time of Jesus by Charles Guignebert
    The New Testament: Its Background and Message by Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black
    Palestine in the Time of Jesus: Social Structures and Social Conflicts by by K. C. Hanson
    The Method and Message of Jesus’ Teachings by Robert H. Stein
    Jewish Sources in Early Christianity by David Flusser
    Judaism and the Origins of Christianity by David Flusser
    Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels by Craig A. Evans (Editor), Stanley E. Porter (Editor)
    A History of the Jewish People in the Times of Jesus by Emil Schurer
    Archeology . . . The life of Jesus and the Beginnings of the Early Church by Jack Finegan
    Archeology and the New Testament by Merril Unger
    Excavating Jesus by J.D. Crossan and Johnathan Reed
    Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: A Re-Examination of the Evidence by Jonathan L. Reed
    The Bible and Archeology by J. A. Thompson
    Archeology and the Bible: Best of Bar vol. 2 by the BAR et. al.
    Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity by Frances Legge
    Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs by Richard A. Horsley and John S. Hansen
    Jesus and Judaism by E. P. Sanders
    Birth of the Messiah by Raymond E. Brown
    Death of the Messiah, Volume 1 and 2 by Raymond E. Brown

    Anchor Bible series:
    Matthew (Anchor Bible) by William Foxwell Albright and C.S. Mann
    Mark: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (The Anchor Bible) by by C.S. Mann
    The Gospel According to Luke I-IX and X-XXIV (Anchor Bible) by Joseph A. Fitzmyer
    The Gospel According to John I-XII and XIII-XXI (Anchor Bible) Raymond E. Brown

    LDS books on Jesus:
    Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage
    The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, Vol. 1: From Bethlehem through the Sermon on the Mount by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel (Editor) and Thomas A. Wayment (Editor)
    The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, Vol. 2: From the Transfiguration through the Triumphal Entry by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel (Editor) and Thomas A. Wayment (Editor)
    The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ, Vol. 3: From the Last Supper through the Resurrection — The Savior’s Final Hours by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel (Editor) and Thomas A. Wayment (Editor)
    Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament: An LDS Perspectiive by Thomas A. Wayment
    New Testament Supplemental Study by Daniel Rona
    Charting the New Testament: Visual Aids for Personal Study by John W. Welch and John F. Hall
    Jesus of Nazareth, Vols. 1-4 by Truman G. Madsen
    Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior by (editors) Paul H. Peterson, Gary L. Hatch and Laura D. Card
    Verse by Verse: The Four Gospels by D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner
    Verse by Verse: Acts through Revelation by D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner
    New Testament Witnesses of Christ: Peter, John, James, and Paul by John F. Hall
    The Sermons of Jesus the Messiah by E. Keith Howick
    The Parables of Jesus the Messiah by E. Keith Howick
    Understanding the Parables of Jesus Christ by Jay A. Parry and Donald W. Parry
    The Mission of Jesus the Messiah by E. Keith Howick
    The Miracles of Jesus the Messiah by E. Keith Howick
    Masada and the New Testament by John Welsh et. al.
    The Lost 500 Years: What Happened Between the Old and New Testaments by S. Kent Brown and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

    Yes, I really was going to do one. No, I have not read more than a fraction of the above list.

  3. A little over twenty years ago, I received a copy of McConkie’s volumes on Christ. I plunged in with some enthusiasm, knowing I would need to filter but expecting there would nonetheless be significant devotional value.

    Your description of it as a wordy rehash of Talmage is almost too kind. I concluded that, however valuable the McConkie of conference talks and Church leadership might be, the McConkie of these volumes couldn’t write his way out of a paper bag. I quit after half a page (and skimming ahead to see if there was any hope it would get better) and gave my volumes away.

    We do need something more up to date directed at believing Mormon audiences. Given how out of date Talmage’s sources are, one might make the mistake of thinking it would be easy to produce something better. I’ve got a gut hunch it will be a whole lot harder than it looks. But the effort needs to be made.

  5. JMS, thank-you very much for that heads-up.

    I’ve always thought that Talmage’s Jesus the Christ was written for a very scholarly reader, and not the average person. I attempted to read it when I was in my 20’s, but it kept sending me to the dictionary too often. Perhaps most literate people had a much wider vocabulary back then. But maybe he was indeed aiming for a scholarly non-LDS audience rather than the average literate LDS.

    It also has a very formal tone, kind of “high fallutin’,” which made it uncomfortable for me to read. But I’ve since come to understand that that was just the way in which serious or scholarly authors wrote back then.

    I can readily see how a _study guide_ for the book can make it more understandable and palatable to a wider audience.

    A friend gave me the Spanish translation after I got a call to a Spanish speaking mission, saying it was much easier to read than the English, and it was. I was able to finish it on my mission. The translator, Eduardo Balderas, was able to tone down the formality and use a simpler vocabulary. I still had to go to the Spanish/English dictionary sometimes, but less often than the original English edition sent me to Webster’s.

  6. OP Even the multi-volume Bruce R. McConkie tome was a wordy re-hash more than imitation.

    I’d disagree with that. While as a careful exegesis of the NT it often isn’t that great, as a theological tome using the NT as a springboard it’s amazing. Some of McConkie’s most profound thoughts are found in those volumes. I still think some of the things on the deeper ordinances of the gospel are found better there than anywhere else.

    While there are many reasons to find McConkie’s exegesis somewhat flawed, I just don’t think we can call it imitative in the least.

  7. Bookslinger I’ve always thought that Talmage’s Jesus the Christ was written for a very scholarly reader, and not the average person.

    Most works at that time were written at a higher level both in terms of vocabulary but also assumptions about how one thinks through it. The priesthood manuals of the era in particular often are deep and complex even if dated in many ways by todays standards. Consider for instance B. H. Robert’s Seventy’s Course in Theology or other similar books from the era. Ardis over at Keepapitchinin has put up quite a few including this one.

    I often wish more of these manuals from before the 90’s were available online as scanned images. I’m not sure pedagogically the topics or the level at which they were discussed were necessarily helpful. I’m sure they went over the heads of many. But it was the tradition of the era.

  9. Bookslinger, I am a bit surprised you said it was hard to read. For me it was just long and took me a while to finish. On the other hand, I have been a good reader since grade school with my father a history teacher that had equally “complicated” reading material around to pick up. Like I said, my problem is how outdated it is with 100 years of research and new discoveries.

    Clark, it might be great that he has a lot of good theology, but I can’t get past his wordy prose that says so little with so much. Will have to agree to disagree on this one. The book “Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament” is a great basic source for current information, but doesn’t come close to a “Jesus the Christ” type of treatment. I would highly recommend “Between the Testaments: Between Malachi and Matthew” by S. Kent Brown and Richard N. Holzapfel, and the three volume “The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ” collection of essays I mentioned above along with it. I listed in the comments above a whole “boatload” of possible Mormon and non-Mormon reads for those who really want to get into the subject.

  10. Jett, the need for me to refer to a dictionary made it bothersome to read, and that of course was my own shortcoming for not having a more scholarly vocabulary. So not only was it more time consuming, reducing pages read per hour, it de-railed my train of thought, and required me to back up to get going again. My undiagnosed Asperger’s probably played a part in that aspect, bristling at taking extra time to recover from an interruption.

    The other factor, the author’s tone, made it feel like he considered his readers to be his adversaries. That air of assuming the reader opposed him, contributed to my discomfort as much as my relative lack of vocabulary.

    That latter could also be due to my Asperger’s.

  11. I think it’s more that style and expectations have just changed quite a bit. Read almost anything prewar (i.e. 1850’s though 1930’s) and the style is jarring.

  12. Reading “Jesus the Christ” in the months before my mission was a deeply moving experience. I loved it very much. However, I have to agree that the vocabulary and style were sometimes foreign. I’d love to read a modern remake similar to what Jettboy suggests.

  13. Highly recommend anything by Tom Wright. His scholarship is Deep and his faith is strong. I know Bro Holzapfel is a fan of his.
    I just started his Kingdom Translation of the NT and the last thing I read was his masterwork “Paul and the Faithfulness of God”

    The first thing I read is his ‘How God Became King’ which completely changed my understanding of the Gospels.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0CgEESdr2Q

    (Note NT Wright and Tom Wright are the same person)
    Official Youtube Chanel
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrDXscKIS58AzlQg0Qm8tnA

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