Jesus Is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and the 3 He Answered

by Martin B. Copenhaver

Contrary to some common assumptions, Jesus is not the ultimate Answer Man, but more like the Great Questioner. In the Gospels Jesus asks many more questions than he answers. To be precise, Jesus asks 307 questions. He is asked 183 of which he only answers 3. Asking questions was central to Jesus’ life and teachings. In fact, for every question he answers directly he asks—literally—a hundred. Jesus is the Question considers the questions Jesus asks—what they tell us about Jesus and, more important, what our responses might say about what it means to follow Him. Through Jesus’ questions, he modeled the struggle, the wondering, the thinking it through that helps us draw closer to God and better understand, not just the answer, but ourselves, our process and ultimately why questions are among Jesus’ most profound gifts for a life of faith. A game-changer of a book.

Genres: Religion, Faith, Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable work on how Jesus used questions in the course of His ministry. Could serve as the core to an excellent Bible study.

[Andrew Castaneda · Rating 1 out of 5]

In order to better understand Jesus’ questions or his few-but-significant answers, it would be good to have a better understanding of Jesus. Where should we look for such insight? Scripture, of course. There is a wealth of information there that can deepen our knowledge of Jesus and, in turn, deepen our understanding of his questions. Even a quick read of Colossians 1 would provide ample material to better interpret Jesus’ words.

Unfortunately, this book rarely turns to Scripture to understand what Jesus actually meant—even in the chapter where we are asked who we think Jesus is. This probably explains why the author sometimes portrays Jesus as impatient, dull, or inept. Instead of Scripture, we are fed anecdote after anecdote as if “man cannot live on bread alone” opened the door to any sort of conversation related to Jesus.

In a textbook example of eisegesis, many questions are stripped of context to promote the author’s desired interpretation—such as Jesus’ conversation with Legion and his post-resurrection question, “Have you caught anything to eat?” For both, the author speculated on the questions as if the story ended with the question. Jesus wasn’t helping a demoniac’s self esteem but was interacting with an actual demon (as made clear in the text). He did not ask if the disciples had caught anything because he was, as the author suggests, a clueless “landlubber;” rather, he was calling back to his earliest interactions with the disciples in anticipation of another miracle.

At points, I fear the author may be losing sight of the gospel as a foundation to the biblical narrative. Jesus did not ask why God had forsaken him on the cross because, as suggested in this book, he merely felt abandoned; he asked this question because he experienced real separation from the Father in the moment of atoning for the sins of the world. We cannot understand Jesus’ questions—much less his answers—without the necessary context of his person and work as revealed throughout the Bible.

The author reveals on page 109 that on his final day as a pastor of nine years, he finally stated who Jesus was in a sermon. The fact that he was approached by a tearful congregant with the response, “Why didn’t you tell us this before,” is unsurprising after reading this book. If anyone wants to know who Jesus is or desires to know him better, this book will not help in that regard.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. It encouraged thinking and wasn't "preachy" at all. It's very deep, so not a read it once and you're done book. Definitely a re-read, maybe even a church study group book. I think I would definitely get a lot more out of this by reading it with a group of other people. Not saying I didn't get a lot out of it already, but reading this book from a different perspective couldn't hurt and would most likely help in my understanding of the material.

There were a few statements that I didn't quite get and you can tell the author is/was a minister, as he does tend to repeat things, but the repetition isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you missed it once, don't worry, you'll hear it again!

I enjoyed the personal stories he included that helped to draw the reader into the book . Sometimes when an author includes personal stories, it can seem like too much and almost like an autobiography, rather than a non-biographical work, but that doesn't happen here. He tells enough to give the reader a sense of the author and to connect it to the book. The stories relate to the material being discussed and are interesting. I particularly enjoyed his story about going to Sing Sing to meet with a group of prisoners who were taking a graduate course in ministry. It was in the chapter regarding compassion. Jesus' question, "Do you see this woman?", translated into "Do you see these men?"

Very good book. Highly recommended for those who want to dive a bit deeper into their understanding of Jesus. 4.5 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Abingdon Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Nathan Chud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the concept more than the execution itself, it was a provoking read with an original idea. My belief is that Christians' beliefs should be subject to the same question to answer ratio found in Jesus' example. As a teacher, this approach makes a lot of sense to me as well. At times, Copenhaver's tone lacked humility, but he has clearly meditated on this content for some time, so he's earned a bit of his swagger.

Questions of Longing: who are you looking for?
- Depressed rabbi to solder: I will pay you an equal sum of your salary if you ask me those same two questions every day - who are you and what are you doing here?
- Quakers clearness committee
- There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it. (Oscar Wilde)

Questions of Compassion: do you see this woman?

A Question About Identity: what is your name?

Questions About Faith and Doubt: where is your faith?
- Jesus is exasperat4ed because his disciples' lack of faith is a denigration of his relationship with them... if you have exhibited trustworthiness over tie, it can hurt to realize that you are still not fully trusted... Jesus is not frustrated with his disciples' lack of faith. He is hurt by it.
- Faith isn't believing without proof - it's trusting without reservation.
- English language confusion about the word faith - we either have to say "I believe," which makes an unhelpful distinction between faith and belief, or we have to use faith as a noun ("I have faith"). Faith, properly understood, is a verb - it is something we do. ("I faith sometimes. I wish I could faith more often. In fact, I'm working toward faithing in God in all that I do.")

Questions About Worry: why do you worry?
- It is teling that Jesus' longest discourse on human emotion is about worry.
- If you dig down to the root of the word worry, the literal meaning is "to strangle."
- Rhetorical questions are not like other questions. In fact, for a time printers used a different form of punctuation for rhetorical questions.

Questions About the Reach of Love: Who is your neighbor?
- A parable functions like the Trojan horse

Questions About Healing: Do you want to get well? What do you want me to do for you?
- By asking "Do you want to get well?" Jesus is inviting the man to bring himself into a healing partnership with Jesus.

A Question About Abundance: How much bread do you have?

The Questions Jesus Answers
- Jesus is asked more than forty times more likely to ask a question than to answer one directly.

Questions About Who Jesus Is: Who do people say that I am vs who do YOU say that I am?
- There is no escape into the comforts of objectivity

A Question From the Cross: why have you forsaken me?
- Lament follows a particular pattern:
1. Expression of Grief (God, you are not doing your job)
2. Pleas for God's help (God, you need to do your job)
3. An expression of affirmation and trust (God, I'm confident you will do your job because you have in the past)

Questions From the Risen Christ: Do you have anything to eat?

All Those Questions
- Sometimes our lives depend on finding the right question, and that is certainly the case in the life of faith. After all, there is no such thing as a right answer to the wrong question.

[Michele Rearden · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a classical educator, I appreciate the value in asking good questions in order to teach your students. Jesus was certainly the ultimate question asker. I appreciated the idea behind the book and was looking forward to taking an in depth look into the questions Jesus asked. The author did a nice job of using some real life examples to help the reader understand their point. However, it was not as theologically rich as I would have liked the book to have been. What bothered me most though was the sarcasm the author imputed upon Jesus. Too many times I read lines like, "Imagine Jesus rolling his eyes at his disciples as he answered them..." These types of assumptions ruined the book for me.

Were there some stories that challenged me and made me think? Yes.

[Chola Mukanga · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has some interesting parts in it. The idea of looking at the questions Jesus asked is definitely helpful. But not only does the book lack genuine depth, it also paints a rather unbiblical Jesus in certain parts.

[Steven May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus demonstrates interest in people with questions. He also uses questions to divert attacks from those who want to bring him down. The book reminds me the importance of seeking truth and understanding over the pleasure of sharing our perspective.

[KentValerie Laws · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of the book and there are parts that were 5 stars for me. However, a lot of the book was 3 stars. Some of the content felt like filler. I would recommend the book but would suggest that the reader not have too high of an expectation.

[Hailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking.

[Magrey Devega · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and compelling survey of the questions Jesus asked. Suitable for small group study.

[Paul Triller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible...laid out in terms anyone can understand...and as it should be, considering the topic....thought-provoking.

[Bren L Feutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging and helpful as we journey and seek out, "Who do you say I Am"!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summary of the over 300 questions that Jesus asked.
He is asked less than 200 and of those he only answers eight!
Fascinating.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Bible, Jesus asked a lot more questions than he directly answered. This book explores the purposes and meanings related to that. Each chapter dives into a particular question or set of questions that Jesus asked, including some anecdotes and experiences of the author who is established as a clergyman and theologian. Some thoughtful ideas and good food for thought for anyone curious about the relationship between faith and the human nature to question things.

[Karl Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As a facilitator of non-formal and graduate level courses on leadership I am always looking for ways to increase in effectiveness in the way I teach. The forward by Lauren F. Wilmer and her discussion on the role of questions in teaching was an excellent reminder to me. I'm known as someone who asks a lot of questions as I teach - but this forward inspired me to be even more focused on asking the right questions rather than trying to provide the right answers.

The remainder of the book focuses on some of the 307 questions Jesus asks in the Gospels. By the way, Copenhaver suggests that Jesus is only asked around 180 and actually answers less than 10 of the questions he is asked. It is interesting to be reminded of the fact that when Jesus is asked a question or when he is "teaching" - he often responds by asking another question - or by telling a story (a parable). He is rarely direct in His answers - even to questions that would seem to warrant a direct answer. In today's world where we are tempted to provide the right answers to every question we are asked, Jesus is a real role model in how to respond even to those we disagree with.

Overall, this book is really more of a devotional book. Copenhaver challenges us to personally respond to the questions Jesus asks. He challenges us in our walk with God. I think Copenhaver also has a lot to say about "evangelism" or the way we dialogue with those we disagree with. There are a lot of lessons to learn and apply from this short, easy-to-read book. It is a book that is very applicable to our times as those of us who follow Jesus build relationships with other believers and with those who don't follow Jesus, or who we disagree with. Read this book!

[Rama Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Jesus the Answer Man?

Contrary to the common beliefs in Cristian faith, Jesus is not the ultimate Answer Man, but he was more like questioner. We are familiar with Jesus’s parables and aphorisms stated in the canonical gospels of the New Testament. Through this, it becomes clear that Jesus answers questions indirectly through parables rather than provide a direct answer. It is up to the questioner/inquisitive to find answers in his aphorisms. The fact that Jesus did not write anything complicated the matter even further, and in this book, author Martin Copenhaver of Andover Newton Theological School, and former pastor of Wellesley Congregational church in Massachusetts describes Jesus from a different perspective, that is, through his questions. In the Gospels, Jesus asks 307 questions; but his followers ask him 183 questions and only three of those questions get a response. Jesus modeled the struggle; finding personal connection with god is by understanding ourselves and our role in god’s creation. An answer to a question may be short lived or it may be followed up with a series of question which could become endless.

There are more than 50 gospels in Christian Apocrypha that narrate the life and works of Jesus, and only four of them were canonized and made their way into New Testament. Gnostic gospels like the gospel of Mary Magdalene, gospel of Judas, gospel of Thomas, gospel of Philip, gospel of Truth, and gospel of James are not incorporated into the Bible, but they are relevant. In fact, gospel of Mary Magdalene is one of the most important gospels since she was the closest disciple of Jesus and knew him better than the other apostles. Gospel of Thomas is also one of the most important apostolic works.

The book is written well and the chapters are divided into the nature of questions as it pertains to compassion, about identity, faith, love, healing, etc. Chapter 13, the last chapter gives a summary of Jesus’s questions and reflects upon his life. I recommend this book to readers interested in the historical aspects of Jesus and Biblical Apocrypha.

[Dan Curnutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting concept for a book. I had not thought before about the fact that Jesus is asked many questions and in return He asks a bundle of questions. But it was surprising for me to read that he only truly answered a handful of the questions put to him. Typically in response to a question being asked he would in turn ask a question of the person posing the question.

In true Socratic form he was use to asking open ended questions that would cause His listeners to have to think, process and then come to a conclusion on their own. Sometimes in answer to a question he would tell a parable. Such as the question, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus did not directly answer the question but responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In a way he answers the question but causing the listeners to listen and interpret the parable and thus come to a conclusion on their own.

While the book is intriguing I found that it really ends up being mini sermons based on the questions that Jesus asked. That is not a bad thing, I just had thought it would be something else. I was looking at this as a guidebook for a small group to use to go through the many questions that Jesus asked. It can do that although it is a bit more direct than what I would have liked.

There is a readers guide in the back, starting on page 145 that is very good and will give you a summary of each chapter and will be very useful in a small group.

Also Chapter 13, "All Those Questions" is more of what I thought I would find. It gives a chronicle of all the questions that Jesus asked broken down by some topical headings. This is a great tool and would be highly useful to the Bible Teacher looking for a collection of Jesus's questions that will give them a jumping off point in their teaching.

Enjoy!

[Scott Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to the title, Copenhaver asks questions of the reader to come to a deeper undertaken of who Jesus is to us and who we are to be for him.

Each of the 8 chapters on the questions of Jesus is filed with anecdote anger story after parable all towards the goal of asking the questions in just the right way to get the response Jesus was going for originally. Starting with “what are you looking for?” and moving through topics dealing with compassion, identity, faith and doubt, worry, love, heading and abundance.

Starting with chapter 9, the author takes us through the very important, eternity impacting questions for us that Jesus answered: who Jesus is, what happened on the cross and what the resurrection. The book ends with nearly 10 full pages of all of Jesus’ questions listed out then some study questions.

A worthy read that should prompt growth and understanding.

This book wa sprovided by the publisher for review via Amazon Vine.

[Gary · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea behind this book is that Jesus asks more questions than he answers, so we should take a look at what those questions are and get a better understanding of Jesus and what he taught as well as how he taught. Along the way, you get to understand the power of forcing people to answer questions and getting them to think.

Does Copenhaver accomplish what he sets out to do? Yes in that at the Introduction he shows us how Jesus taught. But then afterwards he falls into the role of a Bible teacher rather than letting the questions of Jesus talk for Him. That is until the last chapter where he lets the questions roll and you get the flood of the effect of His questions.Each chapter between break down the questions into categories which Copenhaver then talks about what Jesus is trying to get across. So to me, it would have been a more effective book to be asking questions about Jesus questions than trying to answer them for us.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

WWJA? What would Jesus ask? Read this book for the answers...er, for the questions. Then consider the many ways it might create meaningful reflection, understanding and interaction in your congregation. Martin Copenhaver, pastor and scholar, applies broad scriptural knowledge and pastoral experience in this thoughtful examination of the many (307!) questions Jesus asks in the canonical Gospels. It's an excellent starter for sermons; I'll be using three of the major theme questions for a series this month and anticipate using much of the rest sporadically. The style is grounded and accessible, offering possibilities for faith formation in various formats. A brief readers guide is included to facilitate personal or group study. There's also an quirky 'for further reading' list offering, as Copenhaver states, "new ways to ask the important questions." I encourage you to join the quest for the questioning Jesus as you ponder the insights shared here.

[Ariadne Cares · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is outstanding! One of the best books I've read in a long time, and I rarely read non-fiction. Copenhaver has an engaging style and tells fascinating stories about prisoners in Sing Sing and kidnapped missionaries. The depth of his analysis is just right: it never gets dry or esoteric, but remains practical and thoughtful in every chapter. I learned so much about Jesus and the questions He asked in the Word, which was really exciting, because I know the Bible quite well, so I'm always thrilled to find an engaging author who says really meaningful things to help me understand Scripture better. This book would be a great read both for people who are very familiar and also for those very unfamiliar with the gospels. I was fascinated to see how Jesus used questions to teach, encourage, and handle conflict and confrontation.

[Andree Sanborn]

Something I have never thought of before: the number of questions Jesus asks us in the Bible. Why did he use questions to teach? This is an excellent book to begin a study on this. The author is a noted United Church of Christ pastor and author. This is a short read that requires many hours of reflection in your own life. The last two chapters were, in my opinion, the most powerful: Jesus's heartbreaking question on the cross and his questions after resurrection. At the end of the book is a comprehensive list of all of the questions for further reflection. I'll be copying out the list and keeping it near.

[Mark Geisthardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As opposed to so many other Christian authors who speak of Jesus as the answer Copenhaver takes the opposite tact as told by the title, rather than being the answer, Jesus is the question. And he does a really nice job doing it using some of the most significant of the 307 questions Jesus asked as recorded in the Gospels to guide his writing. A very good and quick read.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are you looking for? Do you love me? This book was amazing. It opened my eyes to a uniquely human Jesus that I had never considered before. Jesus needs love just like we do, but He wants us to come about our loved for Him naturally - so he asks questions until our truth comes out.

[Rev. Karyl J. Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking

I love thinking about Jesus asking many more questions than he answered, at least according to the Gospel records. It was a very wise way to teach and to elicit relationship, as Copenhaver points out. Lots to learn from here and lots to respond to.

[Ryan L Ashlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copenhaver is an engaging writer. The first chapter was amazing. Later chapters were good, but began to feel repetitive. I found myself wishing Copenhaver went a bit deeper and was more biblical (i.e. got into the meaning of the text), but that's just me.

[Paula McCosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformed my thinking as a follower and a leader.

Profound thoughts in easy to read narrative. Teaching from this work as a challenge to my congregation to sit with and to ask better questions and to embrace the mystery of that for which we yet have answers.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy read but still meaningful and inspirational. Instead of preaching at people Jesus much more often asked questions and expected people to think for themselves.

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for individual study or as a group study.
You can read my full review here-
http://teaandtheology.com/book-review...

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads easily and very provocative. Like the list of all the questions Jesus asked in the Gospels at the end.