Training of the Twelve - New Century Edition with DirectLink Technology

by Alexander Balmain Bruce

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Genres: Christian, Discipleship, Leadership, Theology, Religion, Teaching, Faith

583 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Alexander Balmain Bruce (January 31, 1831 – August 7, 1899) was a Scottish churchman and theologian. He was a minister of the Free Church of Scotland.

Reviews

[Paul Dubuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a classic study of Jesus' teaching and training of his disciples (first published in 1871). When I first read it, I was fascinated by the light it shed on my reading of the Gospels. It is a very valuable study for any Christian who serves in any form of leadership capacity or anyone seeking to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The book's 31 chapters give an absorbing commentary on selected passages of the four Gospels, following in chronological order Jesus ministry and teaching among his disciples. The writing style will take a bit of getting used to for the average modern reader, but it's well worth the effort. There is also a table of Scripture references discussed in the book that make it useful reference work. Read it cover to cover first.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to critique. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to understand the Bible better.

[Geoff Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow 6/5 stars

[Matt Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book that creates fresh insights into the gospel accounts. Well worth the read. Can be a little tedious at times. But push through and you'll be rewarded.

[Jim George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This classic was first published in 1871 and revised in 1899. It is a study of the training of the 12 disciples by Jesus. It is a must-read for the Bible student who wants a detailed study of Jesus’ discipleship strategy.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Classic on what it means to be a follower of Christ and a leader. It doesn't go into politics but just lays out the principles that Christian leaders are supposed to follow.

I recommend this book for all Christian Leaders wanting to get back to the basics.

[Alan Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a long time for me to get through this book--more than 40 years in fact. But I did read the whole thing. It's clever in its reading of the New Testament. In fact it's almost a desultory novel in the way that the author speculates on what everyone was thinking or even doing in all the aporias of the story. Bruce has woven all four gospels + Acts into a quasi-novel about how Jesus instructed the disciples from day one until his ascension. The speculation is worth reading, though not particularly compelling. The strangest moment may be the one in which he determines that between the ascension and Pentecost the disciples were locked in the upper room reading scriptures. Where would they have gotten a portable Bible? But that doesn't detract too much. For me the value of the book is not in what it teaches about Christianity but in the insight it provides into the mind of those people for whom THIS is what Christianity is, into that branch of the Christianity that has dominated so much of Western culture up to now--dominated and yet, still, on the fringe. It's the brand of the faith that runs all the protestant theological seminaries, that produces all the clergy for the churches who--in the most mind boggling misplacement of true Christian faith--support dangerous assholes like DJ Trump. Would Bruce have encouraged this? I can't tell from the text. He seems like a thoughtful, reasonable, intelligent, if extraordinarily narrow-visioned man. I can feel him holding back himself for the sake of his thesis, not engaging deeply in the controversies he has deep opinions on. I've read worse books.

[Alexander Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful and foundational study of Jesus' example of discipleship and His intent that fruit bearing discipleship, mutual love and His gospel would be the motivating force of His church.

A warning that this book falls into antisemitism that is too common in the church, failing to remember the lesson of Romans 11:28 and God's ongoing love for the people he betrothed at Sinai. God's people at the time of Christ and the Apostles were no more a monolith than they are today, and the almost monstrous character ascribed to them in certain chapters of this book is dangerous.

[Mary Bader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profound treaty of the minds and hearts of the disciples with many lessons to be learned by all of us.

By far the most enlightening and thought provoking treaty of the minds and hearts of the disciples as they are trained. It gives each of us many lessons and revelations of how we are to act as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ A book to be cherished and shared with profound insight and impact. Highly recommended for all.

[Wendell Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read. It helps tie together multiple events in the gospel accounts of how Jesus was training the disciples. A teaching often led to an example that led to an action, or in another order. Very insightful! Again, it reminds us that Jesus is the Master and Rabbi.

[Joshua Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider this required reading if you desire to better understand the methods of Jesus' teaching and training of the 12 apostles. Disciples of Christ will find a wealth of wisdom which will inform their personal discipleship.

[Justin Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter taught me something new.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diving into the personalities assumed of the disciples and Jesus’ work in growing them into the apostles of the Good News.

[Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um livro maravilhoso sobre liderança!

[Moddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book on my train ride to NYC each morning and on my return trip back home. I don't remember the train rides much at all. All I can say is that I met all 12 men this way. When I got to the last page of the book, I didn't want to put it down... so I closed my book with one page left so that the next day I could feel the experience one more time. I told all my Christian friends about the book, but the only one who took my advice was my husband actually, and he thanked me for suggesting that he stay with it and experience the blessing of walking with Christ for a while through history.

[Jeff Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It only took me 4 years to finish this book? Not surprised, it was very long, and not an easy read but Bruce's exposition of the life of Christ is really good. Not sure I agree with all his observations and applications but this is a worthwhile read. Too many long quotes to put in this review, but if you plan to read it don't plan to skim. It may take a while just to finish a chapter; I had to read some sentences three or four times to understand what he had written.

[Michael Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, I got a lot out of this. It was a good book meeting with Pastor Tom Freitas and John Ower. To discuss and point out specific points it was very interesting and awesome how Jesus trained His twelve disciples, and how we like to think they were perfect even at the end. But knowing truthfully they are far from it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long read, good read. Don't know if I would have finished it had it not been for Mike Newton and Tom Freitas. We went through it as a group. I appreciated the conversation that this book stimulated.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this with my small group and I highly recommend it! it is full of challenging and thought provoking information.

[Trevor Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I've learned that there's a lot I don't know about Jesus and the disciples!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and insightful classic. I particularly appreciated the way Bruce showed the spiritual growth of the disciples especially Peter and John.

[Elena Forsythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce walks through what it means to be both a disciple and a discipler by looking at Jesus and the disciples. Good break down of the Gospels.

[Robert Broom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and inforative.