Geza Vermes (Early Christian Beginnings) Your opinion?

[Miguel25]

Shoul I read this book?

 

[angel12]

From the description on amazon.com, I would say no. It sounds like this is another one about how the Christ of our church isn’t anything like the Jesus of the first century.

 

[BartholomewB]

I only ever read one of Vermes’ books, which was The Passion. I found it very short – much too short, in fact – superficial, and even trite in places, which seems an odd thing to say about a book by a world-renowned academic. Have a look at his obituary in The Economist (link below), particularly the last paragraph but one, beginning with the words, “He could brilliantly link texts …”

Geza Vermes

 

[Hereiam]

It could be said, if your faith is weak, to avoid any number of books from Vermes, to Harry Potter. If you are well catechized and firm in your faith, and you want to read it, go ahead…If staying away from books that question conventional Christian or even Catholic teachings was a requirement, we would have been cheated out of some great Church theologians, because theology requires an examination of many different viewpoints…Augustine and Aquinas would never have been able to publish some great theological books and treatises if they could not read opposing thought.