Books

Christ’s Story

A top-notch scholar drops academic language for a basic retelling of Jesus’

Scot McKnight has published commentaries, dictionaries, a survey of scholarship, and technical theological works. But it is rare to find a scholar of his caliber willing to write for the practical needs of the church.

THE STORY OF THE CHRIST by Scot McKnight and Philip Law Continuum International 186 pp.; $15.95

The Story of the Christ is a simplified explanation of the gospel story broken into two main parts. In the first 60 pages, McKnight provides basic background for the gospels, their historical character, and the cultural context of Jesus’ life. He then summarizes the chief themes of Jesus’ teaching.

The second part (120 pages) retells the story of Jesus’ life, but in an unexpected way. Philip Law, a colleague, has abridged the gospels and compiled the stories that can be organized chronologically. Chapter and verse references are absent, and the reader can see the story unfold in one narrative.

Of course, a problem is that one does not “hear,” say, the Gospel of Mark as Mark intended it. This is the story of Jesus as a modern editor has built it. But for the beginner, the effort works with great success.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Young, Restless, Reformed

'Divine Conspirator' Dallas Willard Dies at 77

It's All About God

Inside C.S. Lewis's Toolbox

Embrace Your Inner Pentecostal

China's New Legal Eagles

Spiritual Classics

Class Warfare

What Happened to Religion in Canada?

Despair Not

The Call of Samuel

Logic Left Behind

The Whole Word for the Whole World

Jeffrey Dahmer's Story of Faith

For Shame?

Postcard from Africa

Editorial

God's Will in the Public Square

The Truth Is Somewhere

Wrongful Love

Theology for an Age of Terror

News

Quotation Marks

The New Missions Generation

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Go Figure

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<em>Christianity Today</em> News Briefs

News

Passages

Excerpt

A Call to an Ancient Evangelical Future

Together in the Jesus Story

Nicholas Kristof on Evangelicals, China, and Human Rights

'Volcanic' Response

We're Not Spectators

Bygone Protests

Two Degrees of Separation

News

Scrubbing CleanFlicks

Thinking Straight

Echoes and Voices from Beyond

How to Create Cynics

Sermons of Frederick Buechner

Estranged Bedfellows

The Problem with Prophets

Sit Down, Sit Down for Jesus?

Pluralist Impotence

Dr. Willard's Diagnosis

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