Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola
The title itself should be an alert that something is
different. The authors have coined a new
word, theography. Perhaps it will become
a new genre in books, but since it is unique enough to apply to just one
person, maybe not.
The book is a long read—requiring more than an afternoon
sitting. At times it was documented well
enough to be a scholarly treatise, but at other times it was obvious that the
writers were simply story-telling for the masses. Whichever mode the authors were in, they were
challenging old paradigms of concepts concerning the Christ. While I did not find anything contrary to
scripture, they often used their imaginations to stretch our thinking about Jesus.
I must admit that the first half was an analytical time
for me weighing the various assertions, but by the time I was 2/3 through the narrative,
my mind was often contemplating the fuller meanings suggested by the text. I found it fascinating to see all the other
connections between the two testaments.
While I knew many, there were fresh ideas throughout the book.
This will be one book I will re-read, not only with a
high-liter but with a notepad. It has
launched me into new understandings of our great Savior.
