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What the Gospels Meant

by: Garry Wills
en

0670018716  9780670018710 



What the Gospels Meant
By Garry Wills




Product Description:

New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Wills interprets the four Gospels

Garry Wills’s recent New York Times bestselling books What Jesus Meant and What Paul Meant were tour-de-force interpretations of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostle Paul. Now Wills turns his remarkable gift for biblical analysis to the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Wills brilliantly examines the goals, methods, and styles of the evangelists and how these shaped the gospels’ messages. The earliest book, Mark, emphasizes Jesus the sufferer; in Matthew, Jesus the teacher; in Luke, Jesus the reconciler; and in John, Jesus the mystic. Hailed as “one of the most intellectually interesting and doctrinally heterodox Christians writing today” (The New York Times Book Review), Wills guides readers through the maze of meanings that have accrued around these foundational texts, revealing their essential Christian truths. What the Gospels Meant will prove to be a valuable source of wisdom and inspiration for all.




Summary: What the Gospels Meant by Gary Wills
Rating: 5


An insightful and excellent read. A must read for those interested in christianity, theology, and religious history.



Summary: A Wills Fan
Rating: 5

If you have read any of Mr. Wills' books and have been enlightened and grown spiritually, you will not be disappointed with his latest installment of biblical critique. I recommend this book to all Catholics, and non Catholics who are on their own path of awakening or resurgence in their faith.



Summary: Worth consuming, because Garry is always interesting...
Rating: 4

While I liked "What Jesus Meant" better than this effort, Mr. Wills is a fine writer and thinker, and his opinions on the varied purposes of each of the four Gospels are well-considered. He makes points about the intended audience for each, and the possibly varied authorships, and speculates as to why Mark, Matthew, Luke and John each omit some tales about the Life of Jesus while being the sole surviving source of others. If how the Gospels came to be is one of your unsatisfyingly answered questions about early Christianity, this is a good conversation starter.



Summary: Biased to the point of misquoting scriptures
Rating: 1

Inaccurate even on obvious scripture quotations

I have a degree in theology and know Hebrew and Greek. Luke 2:22 "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him [Jesus]to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;" This narrative captures all that this family would accomplish at the temple. The text is not saying Joseph has to be made clean. This was a very common practice and would also be common knowledge among the Jews; it happened at every birth.

The Greek word can be translated to mean the individual as she or them as in all women. Orignal Greek manuscripts were all written in capital letters with no punctuation. The English translators not only had to interpret for an English translation but eventually add punctuation, chapter and verse to make sense. Willis said: "...he [Luke] does not really understand Jewish law--he says that Joseph as well as Mary had to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to be purified after childbirth, which was not the case." Luke does NOT say Joseph had to be made clean.



Summary: Meaning within meaning
Rating: 5

One of our ranking intellectuals beyond a doubt, Garry Wills has produced a concise, pithy book providing us with insights into how to read and understand the Gospels. He discusses origins, accuracy, contradictions, validity, and multiple sources. Moreover, since he is often personally translating from the original Greek, his book is not derivative, and he is clear about the other authors he does rely on. I found that the book is of tremendous help in understanding the timing, differing views, and significant agreement about events which have only been recorded through oral tradition prior to these four writers. It helped me to understand the profound impact of Jesus during his lifetime on earth much better, and to understand the Gospels within the framework of the times and the authors' lives.