The Death of the Messiah, From Gethsemane to the Grave, Volume 1: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four Gospels

The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library

by Raymond E. Brown

Since its original publication in 1994 as a two-volume hardcover boxed set, The Death of the Messiah has lived up to early expectations and become the benchmark by which any future study of the Passion narratives will be measured. Now available in paperback, Raymond E. Brown's masterful study examines every detail of the four Gospel stories of the final agonizing days of Jesus' life. Where others simply describe the accounts of the death of the Messiah as if they were one seamless whole, Father Brown reads and explains each Gospel on its own terms and elucidates the themes that make each one unique. "The Death of the Messiah" is the ideal complement to Brown's Birth of the Messiah, as thorough and expert in its handling of the Passion narratives as his book on the infancy narratives of the Gospels.

Genres: Religion, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction, Faith, Reference

877 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 1998

About the author

Roman Catholic priest, member of Society of Saint-Sulpice and a prominent biblical scholar, esteemed by not only his colleagues of the same confession. One of the first Roman Catholic scholars to apply historical-critical analysis to the Bible.

Reviews

[David Szatkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raymond Brown is one of the most important Biblical scholars of the 20th cent. His books, which are all easily readable, I would recommend to anyone who wants to understand the Bible better, particularly to understand the world the Bible was written in (and once you know that world and its style better, your understanding of the Bible will be much more accurate and based in history, theology, and facts about language, theology, etc). This book focuses on all four canonical gospel's account of Jesus' passion from his prayer and arrest in the garden at the Mount of Olives through his trial before Pilate. It is a long (and serious) read, but also one that will help open up the world of the 1st cent to you.

[Rick Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and magisterial examination of the Passion Narratives of the four canonical gospels, by one of the finest New Testament scholars of our time, the late Roman Catholic, Raymond E. Brown. This book should be read by all pastors, and teachers who wish to examine the events of Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death at a scholarly level. As with all of Brown's works, the text is laid out logically and pursued in a way that builds and enhances the author's theses and conclusions. A must for every pastoral and church library.

[Cynthia Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very technical, very learned study of the Passion Narratives. It is not for the faint hearted. A more than passing knowledge of the New Testament and theology is needed. Part 1 is over 700 pages long.

[Paul Parkinson]

Really good. Looks at each gospel's specific treatment and then details the research done over the years about that part. Hoping the library gets Vol 2 soon

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough treatment. More for scholars than for the average reader.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is surely the most comprehensive study of the Passion narratives that has ever been done. Brown's work is solid, thorough and thoughtful. He makes his case, documents his rationale, and includes those who would disagree and why.

I completed Volume I during Lent this year, and will work through the second and final volume during Lent 2015. I'll also plan to work through his "Birth of the Messiah" in Advent this year, completing a set of books that have been on my bucket list for many years.

Highly recommended!

[GrandpaBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished Volume 1...an exhaustive and exhausting work of scholarship by one of the great biblical scholars Raymond E. Brown. A must read for anyone interested in the historical Jesus and the understanding, creation and writing of the Passion narratives of Christianity. Volume 1 covers the period of Jesus' arrest at Gethsemane through Jesus before Pilate.

[Carol Wunderlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

880 pages of amazing, thorough, insightful scholarship and reflection on the passion narratives.... and Jesus isn't even on the cross yet. Need to get volume 2. Brown is, in my opinion, the most distinguished New Testament scholar!

[Greg Fanoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, informative, and certainly appropriate for Lent, but just way too detailed for a casual reader like myself. I tend to give informative but really boring books 3 stars, so that's where I sit here.

[Mike]

available through Marina

[Attillio Zarrella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author has a way of bringing theology down to ground level!:)

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read every page of this multiple times, and yes, I mention it because it is a feat! One of the best books ever.