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Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels Hardcover – April 10, 2007

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 449 ratings

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To Christians worldwide, the man Jesus of Nazareth is the centerpiece of history, the object of faith, hope, and worship. Even those who do not follow him admit the vast influence of his life. For anyone interested in knowing more about Jesus, study of the four biblical Gospels is essential. Four Portraits, One Jesus is a thorough yet accessible introduction to these documents and their subject, the life and person of Jesus. Like different artists rendering the same subject using different styles and points of view, the Gospels paint four highly distinctive portraits of the same remarkable Jesus. With clarity and insight, Mark Strauss illuminates these four books, first addressing their nature, origin, methods for study, and historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds. He then moves on to closer study of each narrative and its contribution to our understanding of Jesus, investigating things such as plot, characters, and theme. Finally, he pulls it all together with a detailed examination of what the Gospels teach about Jesus’ ministry, message, death, and resurrection, with excursions into the quest for the historical Jesus and the historical reliability of the Gospels.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Strauss guides the nonspecialist gently through the maze of academic jargon and esoteric debate. The treatment is fair and responsible, based on sound scholarship but not over burdened with footnotes.' -- R.T. France, Principal Emeritus -- R.T. France

From the Back Cover

To Christians worldwide, the man Jesus of Nazareth is the centerpiece of history, the object of faith, hope, and worship. Even those who do not follow him admit the vast influence of his life. For anyone interested in knowing more about Jesus, study of the four biblical Gospels is essential.Four Portraits, One Jesus is a thorough yet accessible introduction to these documents and their subject, the life and person of Jesus. Like different artists rendering the same subject using different styles and points of view, the Gospels paint four highly distinctive portraits of the same remarkable Jesus.With clarity and insight, Mark Strauss illuminates these four books, first addressing their nature, origin, methods for study, and historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds. He then moves on to closer study of each narrative and its contribution to our understanding of Jesus, investigating things such as plot, characters, and theme. Finally, he pulls it all together with a detailed examination of what the Gospels teach about Jesus' ministry, message, death, and resurrection, with excursions into the quest for the historical Jesus and the historical reliability of the Gospels.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zondervan Academic (April 10, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 560 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031022697X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0310226970
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.5 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.63 x 1.5 x 9.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 449 ratings

About the author

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Mark L. Strauss
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Mark L. Strauss (Ph.D., Aberdeen) is University Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego, where he has served since 1993. He is the author of various books and articles including commentaries on Mark’s Gospel in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Series (2014) and Expositors Bible Commentary (2010); and a commentary on Luke in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary (Zondervan, 2002). He is also author of Jesus Behaving Badly: The Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee (2015); How to Read the Bible in Changing Times (2011); Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels (Zondervan, 2007); How to Choose a Translation for All It's Worth (with Gordon D. Fee; 2007); The Essential Bible Companion (with John Walton; 2006); Truth and Error in the Da Vinci Code (2006); Distorting Scripture? The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy (InterVarsity, 1998); and The Davidic Messiah in Luke-Acts (Sheffield Press, 1996). He was co-editor and contributor to The Challenge of Bible Translation. Communicating God's Word to the World (Zondervan, 2003), New Testament Editor of the Teach the Text Commentary Series, and Contributing Scholar for the Expanded Bible (Thomas Nelson, 2011). He serves as Vice-Chair on the Committee for Bible Translation for the New International Version and as an associate editor for the NIV Study Bible. Profession memberships include the Society of Biblical Literature, the Institute for Biblical Research and the Evangelical Theological Society.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
449 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a detailed overview of the four Gospels. They find the content informative and well-researched, consistent with scripture and accurate with world history. The visual quality is described as beautiful, colorful, and well-presented. There are four portraits that cover important issues. Overall, customers find the book engaging and interesting, providing good value for money.

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52 customers mention "Information quality"48 positive4 negative

Customers find this book helpful for Bible study. It provides a detailed overview of the four Gospels, including their purpose, audience, and when they were written. The information is conveyed clearly with pictures and photographs. Readers appreciate the analysis and comparison of each Gospel. Overall, it's an excellent introduction to the Gospels that helps with Bible studies.

"...In addition, it is apparent that Dr. Strauss is a good educator, as he uses educational tools to make sure the reader understands each chapter...." Read more

"...The book covers all of the aspects you would expect; historical-critical analysis, cultural setting, language differences, important themes, and..." Read more

"...The book is well illustrated and Strauss does a great job explain the pros and cons of the understanding how the gospels were developed...." Read more

"...from each chapter, laying out, piece by piece, the historical setting of the first century (including many photographs and illustrations) helping to..." Read more

46 customers mention "Study material"44 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's study material. They find it consistent with scripture and accurate with world history. The book is a great resource and interesting to read both in class and on their own. Readers mention it's a must-read for students of Gospel narratives.

"...finally, I conclude by saying that Dr. Strauss should continue his good work and produce a similar book on the rest of the New Testament, because..." Read more

"...In the end, This is one of the best books that provide a layman’s approach to the gospels." Read more

"...An excellent companion to this book would be the second half of "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" by Norman Geisler and Frank..." Read more

"...Didn’t agree with everything written but still very good." Read more

6 customers mention "Visual quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual quality. They find the pictures attractive and well-presented. The book makes learning more colorful and engaging, with bold terms and thoughtful execution.

"...the reader is that this is a user-friendly book; it has plenty of fascinating pictures, charts, and short blurbs that will help keep the interest of..." Read more

"...me wrong, this is a college level book, but it is an incredibly beautiful college level book...." Read more

"...charts help to make the process of gaining knowledge easier and more colorful...." Read more

"...Plus there are a lot of cool pictures!" Read more

5 customers mention "Portrait quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the portraits. They find the four portraits in the book helpful and say the author does an excellent job covering important issues.

"...Mark Strauss does an excellent job in Four Portraits, covering the important issues related to the Gospels...." Read more

"Comparative portraits..." Read more

"Four portraits, One Jesus..." Read more

"Four Portraits, One Jesus..." Read more

4 customers mention "Interest"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting with engaging pictures and summaries of each chapter. They appreciate the perspectives, content, and easy-to-use format.

"...Excellent perspectives, content and interests. I recommend for the mature Christian who is established in scripture and serious about their faith." Read more

"This book is really good. I love learning about Jesus – his life was so interesting!..." Read more

"As a teacher, I found this to be easy to use, thorough, and interesting. Just waiting for it to be printed in Spanish!" Read more

"...read, excellent textbook-style with great summaries of each chapter, engaging and informational pictures, a great introduction to the four Gospels!" Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth the money. They say the download is cheaper and comes with decent highlight options.

"...Other than that, the download came out cheaper, with some decent highlight options. The Student" Read more

"Worth Every Penny. Absolutely Beautiful!..." Read more

"It is worth y..." Read more

"Great deal...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2007
    Having personally taught the Gospels at the Christian college level, I obviously have had to look over a number of appropriate texts before choosing only one to assign my students. Well, starting with the next time I teach the Gospels, I now have a new book to assign. Mark Strauss does an excellent job in Four Portraits, covering the important issues related to the Gospels. His writing style is smooth, lacking an "Ivory Tower" feel that could easily alienate potential learners, yet it is obvious throughout that Dr. Strauss is no academic slouch. Definitions are readily provided to new terms that are bold-faced, as he assumes nothing when it comes to the language of the New Testament. Even lay-learners outside the classroom setting would benefit greatly from this book--of course, an educational institution is not a requirement for reading and learning!

    One thing that will be enjoyable for the reader is that this is a user-friendly book; it has plenty of fascinating pictures, charts, and short blurbs that will help keep the interest of even the most disinterested person. His charts (labeled "figures" in the book) are outstanding; he and the publisher worked very well together to produce some visual-learner tools that will be meaningful, even when the text hasn't been fully read or comprehended.

    While Strauss obviously comes from an Evangelical position and shares his opinions throughout, there is not a feel that he is being overly dogmatic. He presents all sides of the issues in a very objective way. Several times I would have liked him to have been more opinionated. (For instance, he declines to give his final opinion for the dating of the individual gospels.) But perhaps this aspect should be considered a strength. Too often writers of overview books share too much of their opinions and end up creating straw men fallacies and biased information when they explain the viewpoints contrary to their own.

    In addition, it is apparent that Dr. Strauss is a good educator, as he uses educational tools to make sure the reader understands each chapter. There are overviews and objectives at the beginning of each chapter, and he concludes with summary bullet points, key terms (maybe definitions for these terms could be included in future editions?--though I can see value in assigning students to write out the definitions themselves), and discussion and study questions. (The questions would make for an easy-to-assign task, especially if the professor is assigning two chapters a week for a quarter, as there are 20 total chapters--very convenient!) Each chapter also includes a bibliography of layperson's sources as well as more scholarly sources.

    Whether a reader is liberal or conservative, there would be great benefit in using this book to overview the gospels. I encourage college and seminary professors to consider using this text for their classrooms, as I believe the students will learn to love this text. And, finally, I conclude by saying that Dr. Strauss should continue his good work and produce a similar book on the rest of the New Testament, because what he has done here will be useful for many years to come!
    68 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2015
    I always wondered how the gospel writers could remember as many details they actually wrote their gospels after 20 years. I should have gotten a clue from the Gospel of Luke. Luke started his gospel by addressing his patron, Theophilus. He begins his gospel addressing Theophilus, explaining to him what he did to prepare his text. "Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1–4, NASB95) Luke looked at others' notes and oral accounts of what happened during the ministry of Jesus. I always assumed the New Testament writers were guided by the Holy Spirit who reminded them of events and sayings of Jesus.

    Mark Strauss explains in many satisfying details how the gospels were probably written. For example, Luke clearly explains that he used many eyewitness sources to compile his gospel in an orderly manner. Luke also wrote Acts, which is a continuation of what he had written in his gospel. The book is well illustrated and Strauss does a great job explain the pros and cons of the understanding how the gospels were developed. One chapter is devoted to explaining what liberal theologians have done in the Jesus Seminar, and earlier quests to discover the historical Jesus. It's hard to distinguish liberal theologians from skeptics, since they reject the possibility of miracles, and some seem to be atheists.

    Strauss compares the synoptic gospels and then examines the gospel of John. Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain similar material, and sometimes the same phrases, while John diverges in many ways. Mark is accepted by some scholars as the first written gospel, and Matthew and Luke borrowed from Mark. Matthew tended to write shorter versions of Mark's description of events even though Matthew's gospel is much larger than Mark's.

    Here's an excerpt from the book that explains what I meant by the gospels recording the words of Jesus:

    "New Testament scholars have long recognized that in most cases we have not the exact words (ipsissima verba) of Jesus but rather his authentic voice (ipsissima vox). The essential meaning is communicated using different words. In one sense this is obvious, since Jesus normally spoke Aramaic but the Gospels are in Greek. Almost all of his words are translations, hence interpretations. (All translation involves interpretation, since a translator must determine what the Aramaic means in order to provide an equivalent word or phrase in Greek.) Many differences in wording or idiom may be attributed to differences in translation and style."

    Strauss, Mark L. (2011-03-01). Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels (Kindle Locations 8982-8987). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

    We used this book for a class in our congregation's Bible Training Center, which is geared to teach people interested in pastoring and mission work. Whether or not the student decides to go further, this book has a great deal to offer to anyone interested in the development of the gospels and how they compare to one another.

    An excellent companion to this book would be the second half of "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. They take on the criticisms of biblical skeptics and answer them thoroughly. Strauss' book is not an apologetic. Rather it lays a sweeping foundations that gives the reader a broad view of the gospels' dynamics.
    23 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Fernanda S
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
    Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2023
    Great text! Really deepened my understanding of the New Testament, pov of authors and the people around them, their styles and relationships with Jesus.
  • Mahesh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important
    Reviewed in India on October 15, 2024
    Good book with treasure useful and knowledgeable guide
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    Mahesh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important
    Reviewed in India on October 15, 2024
    Good book with treasure useful and knowledgeable guide
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2018
    Great read. Ties all the gospels together while not neglecting the differences.
  • Gerry Potter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 7, 2017
    A clear, well organized overview of the Gospels in terms of historical context and faith development. I throughly enjoyed reading the book as it served to deepen my love for Christ and His Mission.
  • Manish Joshua
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy book!
    Reviewed in India on July 1, 2017
    Want to understand the gospel, go for it. My teacher in seminary taught us using this. I borrowed it from him. Then finally I've it now.