What was the World of Jesus: A Journey for Curious Pilgrims

SYNOPSIS In some ways the Gospels are like the text of a drama. If you’ve read the script of a play and then seen it performed you realize how different a text can be understood when it is transferred from page to stage. The Gospels were all originally read aloud to an audience that was intimately familiar with the background that gave the words immediacy, meaning, and vibrancy. In our cultural situation we’re no longer privy to that “scenery.” This book is designed to provide the scenery so that the Gospels can again be heard in a way that is something close to the experience of that original audience. I’ve written this book in the form of a journey, or pilgrimage, to lead you on an adventure into a world that is very different from ours. On this journey you will encounter the story behind the story. The reader will discover the background that opens up a new and fresh experience of the Gospels and the words and actions of Jesus.