Historical Dictionary of Jesus

December 15, 2010
Jesus of Nazareth has had an enormous impact on human history. Yet just about all the information we have about him is contained in documents that were written some time after his death by authors who regarded him as more than a Jewish peasant turned religious teacher. Harrington, a noted biblical scholar, takes on the daunting task of reconstructing the life and teachings of Jesus in some 400 brief entries. The people, places, and events in Jesus life are covered in entries such as Galilee, Mary Magdalene, and Trial of Jesus. Some scholars view the parables of Jesus as presenting his actual teachings and possibly his very own words, so many (e.g., Good Samaritan, parable of the) are included. Such topics as Humor, Money, and Table fellowship further describe Jesus teachings and the manner in which he taught. Although the dictionary is not intended as an apologetic work, theological topics such as Incarnation, Logos, and Son of Man are mentioned in the source documents so therefore merit inclusion. One of the most interesting entries and also one of the longest is Jewish interpretations of Jesus, wherein Jewish perspectives over the centuries are introduced. A concise introductory essay gives an overview of the major topics pertaining to Jesus as a historical figure, and the dictionary concludes with a bibliography of recommended works. Although the Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus (Routledge, 2008) covers much of the same ground in far greater depth, it is geared to a more advanced audience. Historical Dictionary of Jesus is a fine place to start for accessible and authoritative information. Recommended for theological, research, and large public libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)