Jesus before Christianity

• Author: Albert Nolan
• ISBN: 9788171098224
  
• Pages: 232
• Format: Paperback
• Dimensions: 21.5 × 13.5 × 2 cm
• Weight: 0.275 kg

Purpose of the Book:

• Exploring Jesus in His Historical Context: Nolan’s primary goal is to examine the life and teachings of Jesus within the context of the time He lived, exploring His experiences and responses to the socio-political, religious, and cultural issues of His day.
• Focus on Jesus as a Man: The book is an exploration of Jesus as a human being, not primarily as the divine figure that Christian theology emphasizes. Nolan presents Jesus as someone who wrestled with real-world problems and addressed issues like injustice, poverty, and oppression in ways that resonate with contemporary struggles.
• Relevance to Today’s World: By focusing on the historical Jesus, Nolan underscores that the challenges Jesus faced and His responses to them are still pertinent today. This approach aims to make Jesus' message more accessible and relatable to modern readers by emphasizing the human dimension of His life and teachings.
• Avoiding Theological Presuppositions: Nolan explicitly states that he is not concerned with Christian dogma or theology but with the historical figure of Jesus. His aim is to present Jesus as He was, unencumbered by later doctrinal developments.

Features:

• Historical and Sociological Context: The book takes into account the social, political, and religious context of first-century Palestine, examining how Jesus’ actions and teachings were shaped by His surroundings.
• Focus on the Real Problems of Jesus' Time: Nolan shows how the issues Jesus addressed, such as the oppression of the poor, the injustice of the ruling authorities, and the spiritual malaise of His people, remain deeply relevant today.
• Accessible and Engaging: While addressing scholarly questions, the book is written in a way that is accessible to a wide audience, including those who may not have a deep background in theology or biblical studies.
• New Preface by the Author: The new preface provides additional insights and reflections from Nolan on the ongoing significance of understanding Jesus in this manner.

Jesus Before Christianity offers a fresh perspective on the life of Jesus, providing a deeper understanding of Him as a man deeply involved in the issues of His time. By focusing on His humanity and the real-world challenges He faced, the book invites readers to rediscover the relevance of Jesus' message in addressing the pressing problems of today's world. It is a thought-provoking and insightful read for anyone seeking to explore the historical Jesus beyond doctrinal boundaries.