Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes,
Cultural Studies in the Gospels
By Kenneth E. Bailey,
SPCK, 443 pages, £12.99
Kenneth Bailey lived and worked in the Middle East for 60 years. From his childhood in Egypt to his time teaching New Testament in seminaries in Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem and Cyprus his main academic efforts have focused on trying to understand more adequately the stories of the Gospels in the light of Middle Eastern culture
.
Was Jesus really born in a stable? Was there really no room at the inn? What is surprising about the genealogy found in Matthew 1:1-21? These and numerous other questions are examined in this highly stimulating book in which Kenneth Bailey takes us on a wide-ranging study of Jesus as told in the four Gospels.
In the first chapter he questions the accuracy of our popular understanding of the birth narratives. Later sections deal with the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, Jesus' relationship with women, and especially his parables. Using his deep understanding of Middle Eastern culture the author gives us a deeper understanding of the person and significance of Jesus, removing layers of modern Western interpretation to reveal him in the light of his actual historical and cultural setting.
Each of the 32 chapters is self contained and short enough to be read in a few minutes while, at the same time, providing interesting material for reflection.
Jim Calderwood