Jesus the Jew

"Jesus the Jew:" "A historian's reading of the Gospels" (1973) is a book by Geza Vermes, who was a Reader in Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford when it was written. It was originally published by Collins in London.

Review citations and excerpts

*Review: "Publishers Weekly," Sept 13 1993, volume 240, issue 37, page 36
*Review: "The Christian Century," Sept 16 1981, volume 98, page 916

"Fortress picked this book up from the dying Collins firm; it has a 1973 publication date in England. The author has written on the Dead Sea Scrolls, but in this book his main interest is to give a Jewish Portrait of Jesus in his environment. Elaborate reference materials at the back of the book reinforce his arguments and lead readers beyond his significant beginnings. His Jesus is a very recognizable zaddik, a just man, a teacher, an exemplar."

*Review: "CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries" May 1979, page 406
*Reveiw: "CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries" October 1974, page 1157
*Review: "Library Journal," January 1 1979, volume 104, page 116
*Review: "Library Journal", July 1974, page 1832
*Review: "Interpretation" April 1976, page 206
*Review: "The Journal of Religion" January 1976, page 134
*Reveiw: "Commonweal", December 6 1974, page 244
*Review: "America", July 27 1974, page 38
*Review: "The Christian Century" June 5 1974, page 620

"Already regarded as a turn-in-the-road book, this historical study eschews most theological elements and jolts Christian readers into relocating Jesus in his original Jewish environment. Positive thinking about an often forgotten context; readable by nonspecialists."

*Review: "Encounter" March 1974, page 64
*Review: Times Literary Supplement December 7 1973 page 1516