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Customer Reviews for IVP Academic Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels

IVP Academic Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels

Making use of early Syriac and Arabic Christian literature on the Gospels, Middle Eastern culture specialist Kenneth Bailey explores examines the life and ministry of Jesus with attention to the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, Jesus' relationship to women and especially Jesus' parables.

Bailey offers a deeper understanding of the person and significance of Jesus, and lifts away the blurring modern Western interpretation to reveal a historically and culturally clear Jesus. Biblical quotations are from Bailey's own translations, as he seeks to contribute new perspectives from the Eastern Tradition to the knowledge of the person of Jesus Christ.

Kenneth E. Bailey is an author and lecturer in Middle Eastern New Testament studies. An ordained Presbyterian minister, he also serves as Canon Theologian of the Diocese of Pittsburgh of the Episcopal Church, USA. He holds graduate degrees in Arabic language and literature, and in systematic theology; his Th.D. is in New Testament. He spent forty years living and teaching New Testament in Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Cyprus, still holding the title of research professor (emeritus) of Middle Eastern New Testament studies at the Ecumenical Institute (Tantur), Jerusalem. Bailey has written many books in English and in Arabic, including The Cross and the Prodigal, Poet & Peasant, Through Peasant Eyes, Jacob & the Prodigal and Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15. He has also published many articles in The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, The Presbyterian Outlook, Asia Journal of Theology, Christianity Today, Expository Studies, Irish Biblical Studies, Novem Momentum, Theology Review and Temelios.

Average Customer Rating:
4.875 out of 5
4.9
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(8 Reviews) 8
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2 out of 2100%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Review 1 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Date:March 30, 2012
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Mutti
Location:El Paso, TX
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Quality: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Meets Expectations: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
This is an excellent book which answers many questions about scriptures that were puzzling to me before. The author is extremely gifted. Though being highly educated, he writes and uses diagrams that make the scriptures so clear to the average individual.
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Review 2 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Good cultural backround material

Date:April 1, 2011
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Wayne Pettingill
Location:New Ulm, MN
Age:55-65
Gender:male
Quality: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Meets Expectations: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
I believe every Bible translator should have this book. Dr. Bailey is not afraid to differ with standard translations if early Syriac and Arabic translations sided with a less favorite trans-
lation of a Greek word due to closeness in language and culture of the Aramaic speaking people of Israel.
The cultural material will greatly help a pastor to interpret the Word of God to his people.
The material is heavy at times, but Dr. Bailey uses 21st Western humor to lighten the atmosphere and to further the meaning.
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Review 3 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5

Date:June 27, 2009
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Wayne Wright
Bailey puts our Western cultural understanding of Bible accounts in new refreshing light with accuracy to the culture in which they occured. Great reading for the serious Bible student.
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Review 4 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Date:January 10, 2009
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R. HAXTON
This is the book I have been looking for for many years. Dr. Bailey shows Jesus in His culture not in ours. Yet Jesus teachings have a stronger meaning when we realize what He was teaching to the Jewish people in early first century A.D. Palestine. I found this book added not only to my knowledge but most important to my faith. There is much material here that every Christian needs to study, enjoy and learn.
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Review 5 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Date:August 7, 2008
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Martha Curzon
It is interesting and challenges the average readers traditional views of parables etc. from the Bible.
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Review 6 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Date:July 21, 2008
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Claudia Williams
I truly enjoyed thıs book both from ıts scholarshıp and from Mr. Bailey's insight into typical middle eastern. We often read the gospels with a western point of view, and Jesus grew up in the middle east. I lived for many years in Turkey, so I could envision the interpretations Mr. Bailey revealed in the book. I have seen some of the same attitudes in my Turkish friends. I highly recommend this book to anyone who really wants to understand the world in which Jesus walked as a human being on the earth.
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Review 7 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Date:July 11, 2008
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Kim Vidler
An incredible eye opener! Every woman alive should read the chapter on Jesus and women. It will absolutely change your life in that your self esteem will never be the same! Your view of Jesus will be expanded beyond your wildest dreams and you will truly get a glimpse into the love of God for us!
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Review 8 for Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5

Date:March 10, 2008
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Diane Stout
This book makes the gospels come alive! There is so much we miss out on by not understanding the culture of Biblical times, and the impact that the teachings of Jesus had on it. At the same time, this will impact the reader with what it really means to be a follower of Jesus. I highly recommend this book.
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