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Post-Traumatic Jesus: Reading the Gospel with the Wounded
After twenty years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, a global pandemic, protests against racial violence, and frequent shootings, more Americans than ever are living with the effects of trauma. The good news is that Jesus was born and died in a traumatized world, and his story speaks forever to wounded people worldwide. Army veteran and Episcopal priest David Peters explores Jesus’ life story through the post-traumatic lens with which the Gospel writers first wrote it—as people who had seen their leader executed by the same oppressive government that had already shrouded their whole lives in anxiety and fear. Meeting the post-traumatic Jesus—the only Jesus the world has ever known—can be a balm to the wounds of modern Christians and spiritual seekers.
- GenresChurch
160 pages, Paperback
Published February 21, 2023
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123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 24, 2025
A few theological quibbles, but this was amazing. Would recommend to anyone dealing with PTSD or C-PTSD.
July 5, 2023
A Fresh Resource for Caring Congregations Coping with Trauma
As a journalist, I have been covering religious and cultural diversity for half a century and, now more than ever, I am finding a growing number of congregations focusing on the need to help folks with trauma find reassurance, resilience and hope.
Over time, according to the National Center for PTSD, many people can reach a point at which the effects of trauma are no longer a problem in their daily lives. At present, though, according to that National Center’s data, about 13 million Americans are suffering from PTSD, which means that most congregations have some members who are coping with this challenge.
In recent years, I have used my own reporting in various media to highlight the complex issue of trauma, among the other urgent challenges we face as communities in these turbulent times. That’s why I am recommending David W. Peters’ new book Post-Traumatic Jesus to pastors, small-group leaders, chaplains and anyone who cares about the lives within their local congregations and surrounding communities. There are 350,000 congregations in the U.S. alone, which means there are millions of readers who could benefit from Peters’ book.
The first thing to highlight about this book is its authenticity. Peters was an enlisted Marine and an Army chaplain. He's now the vicar of St. Joan of Arc Episcopal Church in Texas, where the congregation focuses on welcoming survivors of trauma. In the 150 pages of Post-Traumatic Jesus, this expert in PTSD explains how the Gospel stories of Jesus relate to men and women who have suffered trauma.
I am not alone in trusting Peters’ wisdom. Coping with PTSD also is a central theme in Greg Garrett's new novel Bastille Day, which I reviewed earlier in Goodreads. The central character in that novel is a repeatedly traumatized TV war correspondent, Calvin Jones. While writing that novel, Greg researched all of his fictional characters’ lives, including talking to his friend David W. Peters about PTSD. Peters’ own experiences as a Marine and Army Chaplain are mirrored in some of Calvin Jones’ hard-earned wisdom in the novel.
Much like John Dominic Crossan and other leading Jesus scholars, Peters explains that the original context of the four Gospels was Roman oppression and the traumas of subjected peoples. Peters lays out that idea in the first line of his book: "The post-traumatic Jesus is the only Jesus Christianity has ever known." That certainly was true for the earliest churches and is a central spiritual theme today for a wide swath of Christianity in the Southern Hemisphere. The Gospels are filled with stories of traumatized people seeking Jesus' help and the Gospels end with Jesus's own trauma and resurrection.
Peters starts his walk through the Gospels with the story of the Annunciation from the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. Peters explains the relevance this way:
“The world was brutal before Rome, but Rome industrialized brutality, incentivizing the rapacious and greedy to take more and more. For all those in Jesus' day who were helpless in the face of their violations, the story of the Annunciation is a story where the God of power and might waits patiently for the answer of a young woman in an obscure town called Nazareth. Like the ER doctor, God offers a relationship of participation to Mary, and to us as well.”
In 30 short chapters, Peters takes us through some of Jesus' parables, Jesus' encounters with people seeking his help, Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
Reclaiming that core message can be as powerful today in helping people find hope and resilience as it was 2,000 years ago, Peters tells us—and I agree.
Among the recent books about caring spiritual responses to trauma, this one has a fairly simple focus: Retelling the Gospel stories through the lens of trauma. Whatever your faith may be, that’s a fascinating and potentially helpful story to rediscover today.
As a journalist, I have been covering religious and cultural diversity for half a century and, now more than ever, I am finding a growing number of congregations focusing on the need to help folks with trauma find reassurance, resilience and hope.
Over time, according to the National Center for PTSD, many people can reach a point at which the effects of trauma are no longer a problem in their daily lives. At present, though, according to that National Center’s data, about 13 million Americans are suffering from PTSD, which means that most congregations have some members who are coping with this challenge.
In recent years, I have used my own reporting in various media to highlight the complex issue of trauma, among the other urgent challenges we face as communities in these turbulent times. That’s why I am recommending David W. Peters’ new book Post-Traumatic Jesus to pastors, small-group leaders, chaplains and anyone who cares about the lives within their local congregations and surrounding communities. There are 350,000 congregations in the U.S. alone, which means there are millions of readers who could benefit from Peters’ book.
The first thing to highlight about this book is its authenticity. Peters was an enlisted Marine and an Army chaplain. He's now the vicar of St. Joan of Arc Episcopal Church in Texas, where the congregation focuses on welcoming survivors of trauma. In the 150 pages of Post-Traumatic Jesus, this expert in PTSD explains how the Gospel stories of Jesus relate to men and women who have suffered trauma.
I am not alone in trusting Peters’ wisdom. Coping with PTSD also is a central theme in Greg Garrett's new novel Bastille Day, which I reviewed earlier in Goodreads. The central character in that novel is a repeatedly traumatized TV war correspondent, Calvin Jones. While writing that novel, Greg researched all of his fictional characters’ lives, including talking to his friend David W. Peters about PTSD. Peters’ own experiences as a Marine and Army Chaplain are mirrored in some of Calvin Jones’ hard-earned wisdom in the novel.
Much like John Dominic Crossan and other leading Jesus scholars, Peters explains that the original context of the four Gospels was Roman oppression and the traumas of subjected peoples. Peters lays out that idea in the first line of his book: "The post-traumatic Jesus is the only Jesus Christianity has ever known." That certainly was true for the earliest churches and is a central spiritual theme today for a wide swath of Christianity in the Southern Hemisphere. The Gospels are filled with stories of traumatized people seeking Jesus' help and the Gospels end with Jesus's own trauma and resurrection.
Peters starts his walk through the Gospels with the story of the Annunciation from the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. Peters explains the relevance this way:
“The world was brutal before Rome, but Rome industrialized brutality, incentivizing the rapacious and greedy to take more and more. For all those in Jesus' day who were helpless in the face of their violations, the story of the Annunciation is a story where the God of power and might waits patiently for the answer of a young woman in an obscure town called Nazareth. Like the ER doctor, God offers a relationship of participation to Mary, and to us as well.”
In 30 short chapters, Peters takes us through some of Jesus' parables, Jesus' encounters with people seeking his help, Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
Reclaiming that core message can be as powerful today in helping people find hope and resilience as it was 2,000 years ago, Peters tells us—and I agree.
Among the recent books about caring spiritual responses to trauma, this one has a fairly simple focus: Retelling the Gospel stories through the lens of trauma. Whatever your faith may be, that’s a fascinating and potentially helpful story to rediscover today.
December 4, 2022
This is a terrific book. Peter’s makes connections between the trauma of Jesus’ contemporaries under a brutal Roman Empire—describes how Jesus speaks into the lives of the traumatized—and the modern traumas many of us endure. I don’t consider myself someone who has experienced much trauma, but reading this I saw some qualities of the way I relate to the world that seem rooted in the pandemic, so it gave me a lot to think about! Helpful for preachers and lay people. It’s very accessible.
March 20, 2023
That Jesus is fully God has never been difficult to accept, but often, his humanity gets sidelined. Jesus is both fully God and fully human and this book really humanized Jesus in a way that isn’t often seen. I could not put this book down. David Peters tells the story of Jesus’ life through the lens of trauma. Trauma is such a tricky beast, it’s so hard to make room for the idea of it except after having experienced it and you’re left with no choice. This is the first book I’ve seen of it’s kind where trauma is both acknowledged and a consideration is taken for how that might have impacted choices, words spoken, feelings, etc. As someone who has experienced developmental trauma growing up, this book was a balm for me. The author gets it— but more especially, as he points out, Jesus gets it and He cares. What a friend we have in Jesus.
The book opens at the crucifixion— because all gospels were written after Jesus was crucified. It then goes back to the birth narrative and proceeds through Jesus’ life chapter by chapter. I especially enjoyed the added history of the various side players in the narrative for added context. The chapters were not overwhelmingly long, the author said what he needed to say and I really appreciated that— each chapter was approachable and not overwhelming. He mentions traumatic situations present day audiences can relate to, but he doesn’t live there, so the book was not as triggering as it might have been.
The mark of a good Christian book for me is one that leads me back into scripture, and all the way through, I found myself pausing to read the gospels account in an effort to consider what the author was presenting. The author is episcopal, but he stuck to the gospels without going into any theological differences that might make this book unapproachable to other denominations. It was very well done, and is accessible to all traumatized Christians in the same way that Mere Christianity by CS Lewis is a book beloved and cherished by all Christian’s.
I don’t know why it never occurred to me that Jesus experienced trauma, and so He knows and meets me in mine. I really appreciated this book and would recommend it to any believer who has experienced trauma.
A big thank you to Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley for my providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book opens at the crucifixion— because all gospels were written after Jesus was crucified. It then goes back to the birth narrative and proceeds through Jesus’ life chapter by chapter. I especially enjoyed the added history of the various side players in the narrative for added context. The chapters were not overwhelmingly long, the author said what he needed to say and I really appreciated that— each chapter was approachable and not overwhelming. He mentions traumatic situations present day audiences can relate to, but he doesn’t live there, so the book was not as triggering as it might have been.
The mark of a good Christian book for me is one that leads me back into scripture, and all the way through, I found myself pausing to read the gospels account in an effort to consider what the author was presenting. The author is episcopal, but he stuck to the gospels without going into any theological differences that might make this book unapproachable to other denominations. It was very well done, and is accessible to all traumatized Christians in the same way that Mere Christianity by CS Lewis is a book beloved and cherished by all Christian’s.
I don’t know why it never occurred to me that Jesus experienced trauma, and so He knows and meets me in mine. I really appreciated this book and would recommend it to any believer who has experienced trauma.
A big thank you to Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley for my providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 8, 2024
Post-Traumatic Jesus: A Healing Gospel for the Wounded by David W. Peters is a book I feel generally conflicted about. Peters seems to propose a post-traumatic reading of the Gospels in conjunction with a memoir like reading of these stories alongside his own journey with PTSD and the trauma he carries from his time as an American Solider in Iraq. What is presented is 30 vignettes that almost feel more like blogposts (not a bad thing) than fully fledged chapters that take stories from across the Gospels and re-read them from a “post-traumatic” lens. The reason I leave “post-traumatic” in quotations marks is not because I believe that this either not a valid methodology or that Peters fails, but there is no metric to judge Peter’s work against because he never actually defines what a “post-traumatic” reading is. Although Peter’s readings are clearly well researched and sensitive to the realities of trauma and the horrific realities of living under Roman Rule in the first century CE, it is still hard to judge them when “post-traumatic” or a “post-traumatic reading” is never defined. In the end Post-Traumatic Jesus is a moving memoir and does provide some insight into the realities of the trauma faced in the Gospels, but I can only recommend it for recreational reading. It is simply not robust enough to be a viable option for any type of serious research either into trauma studies or New Testament criticism. In the end there are some redeeming qualities, but there is not enough substance in this book to feel like I can recommend it when we live in a world of limited time where your time would be better spent reading other books on the same topic or adjacent research.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
July 21, 2023
“When you’re ranting at the heavens about what they did to you, the post-traumatic Jesus doesn’t step in and ask you to tone it down a little bit. He joins you in raw anger and grief.” (PTJ, 94)
In the middle of Post-Traumatic Jesus, in the middle of seeing the Gospels through a post-traumatic lens, David Peters takes us to an Old Testament often thought/taught by some to be a separate story altogether, one whose angry God is thought to be in opposition to the loving compassionate Jesus of the New Testament. Peters provides a much needed reminder that the loving God can be found in the OT just as the angry God can be found in the NT (I mean, if one were filled with love what would there be worth being angry about?)
The chapter, as with the rest of Peters’ writing, addresses a too common experience of those who’ve suffered from trauma, one of isolation, of even not being worthy because our response seems to not be the response we should have. Until we look at scripture and at our spiritual family through a post traumatic lens and find we have much more in common than we thought.
Without the post-traumatic lens the verses we read can come off as symbolic, abstraction, sanitized of the suffering that those living under Roman occupation, and many occupation since, experienced. And that abstraction runs the risk of desensitizing us to the suffering around us.
David Peters’ book is a tremendous gift – words that need to be considered, picked up again and re-read, and wrestled with. Just as we wrestle with how to respond to our own experiences or those of our neighbors.
In the middle of Post-Traumatic Jesus, in the middle of seeing the Gospels through a post-traumatic lens, David Peters takes us to an Old Testament often thought/taught by some to be a separate story altogether, one whose angry God is thought to be in opposition to the loving compassionate Jesus of the New Testament. Peters provides a much needed reminder that the loving God can be found in the OT just as the angry God can be found in the NT (I mean, if one were filled with love what would there be worth being angry about?)
The chapter, as with the rest of Peters’ writing, addresses a too common experience of those who’ve suffered from trauma, one of isolation, of even not being worthy because our response seems to not be the response we should have. Until we look at scripture and at our spiritual family through a post traumatic lens and find we have much more in common than we thought.
Without the post-traumatic lens the verses we read can come off as symbolic, abstraction, sanitized of the suffering that those living under Roman occupation, and many occupation since, experienced. And that abstraction runs the risk of desensitizing us to the suffering around us.
David Peters’ book is a tremendous gift – words that need to be considered, picked up again and re-read, and wrestled with. Just as we wrestle with how to respond to our own experiences or those of our neighbors.
July 11, 2023
"Post-Traumatic Jesus: Reading the Gospel with the Wounded" by David W. Peters explores the life story of Jesus through the lens of trauma. In the midst of a world affected by war, a global pandemic, racial violence, and frequent shootings, the author highlights the relevance of Jesus' story to those living with the effects of trauma.
Peters, an Army veteran and Episcopal priest, draws parallels between the trauma experienced by the Gospel writers, who witnessed the execution of their leader by an oppressive government, and the traumas faced by people today. By examining Jesus as a post-traumatic figure, the book aims to offer solace and healing to modern Christians and spiritual seekers who are themselves wounded.
Through this perspective, Peters suggests that the story of Jesus can resonate deeply with individuals who have experienced trauma, providing a sense of comfort, understanding, and hope. By emphasizing Jesus' identification with the wounded and oppressed, the author invites readers to explore their own journeys of healing and find meaning in the midst of suffering.
Overall, "Post-Traumatic Jesus: Reading the Gospel with the Wounded" offers a unique perspective on the life of Jesus and seeks to provide insight and support to those grappling with the effects of trauma.
Peters, an Army veteran and Episcopal priest, draws parallels between the trauma experienced by the Gospel writers, who witnessed the execution of their leader by an oppressive government, and the traumas faced by people today. By examining Jesus as a post-traumatic figure, the book aims to offer solace and healing to modern Christians and spiritual seekers who are themselves wounded.
Through this perspective, Peters suggests that the story of Jesus can resonate deeply with individuals who have experienced trauma, providing a sense of comfort, understanding, and hope. By emphasizing Jesus' identification with the wounded and oppressed, the author invites readers to explore their own journeys of healing and find meaning in the midst of suffering.
Overall, "Post-Traumatic Jesus: Reading the Gospel with the Wounded" offers a unique perspective on the life of Jesus and seeks to provide insight and support to those grappling with the effects of trauma.
November 12, 2023
David W. Peters writes this book out of a lens of PTSD. Different biblical incidents and parables are considered all with the perspective of what life was like during the time of Jesus. His basic premise is that to truly understand what Jesus was saying, to grasp what the Bible has to say to us today we must realize that the Jesus many of us in Western Civilization have come to think of is a sanitized Jesus. Peters does a good job of bringing historical facts together with modern day trauma, bringing a new understanding not only of the effects of trauma, but how that trauma actually frames our comprehension of Jesus. He brings a new perspective on how Jesus heals, giving agency to traumatized people. If you work with traumatized people or have experienced trauma this is a good book to read and broaden your understanding of how scripture and modern day trauma intersect to bring hope to brokenness. #Post-TraumaticJesus #netgalley
April 8, 2023
To me, reading this book felt like taking a bath.
At first, there was the hesitancy to take a moment to slow down. I tend to search out things that can distract from reality rather than dive right in. But with each short chapter, a wound was exposed and soothed.
The author has a beautiful talent in being both incredibly real and raw while also being gentle to the reader. I would still recommend being aware that many kinds of trauma are mentioned, as one might expect.
This is definitely a book I will come back to and reread.
At first, there was the hesitancy to take a moment to slow down. I tend to search out things that can distract from reality rather than dive right in. But with each short chapter, a wound was exposed and soothed.
The author has a beautiful talent in being both incredibly real and raw while also being gentle to the reader. I would still recommend being aware that many kinds of trauma are mentioned, as one might expect.
This is definitely a book I will come back to and reread.
March 31, 2025
I will start with I enjoyed the authors first book, “Post-Traumatic God”. This one I’m at a solid 3 on. Some
Chapters were a solid 5-star. Others a 3. And some were a 1-star. I wish I had a better review but this one has a few gems in it and they really hit home. And other spots felt like trying to hammer a square peg in a round hole. But to be fair, with a topic like this a different reader may feel exactly opposite about every single chapter.
Chapters were a solid 5-star. Others a 3. And some were a 1-star. I wish I had a better review but this one has a few gems in it and they really hit home. And other spots felt like trying to hammer a square peg in a round hole. But to be fair, with a topic like this a different reader may feel exactly opposite about every single chapter.
March 6, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc!
"When we are faced with mercy and love, we mistake it for all of society unraveling. And maybe it has. Maybe the post-traumatic Jesus has come to do just this, to unravel the cycle of retribution, even in situations where we think it is deserved."
I haven't experienced very many honest and helpful conversations in the church about trauma, its fallout, and how to continue walking with Jesus in an authentic way afterwards. That's why I recommend this post-traumatic lens through which to experience the gospel. Peters walks us through the traumas of being a human during Jesus's earthly ministry and connects it to the many traumatic experiences of being human today. I appreciated this approach, as many titles in this genre are too sugar-coated for my taste, leaving me feeling a little sick and still hungry for something sustaining. There are even a few swear words sprinkled throughout, always with purpose, never in a way I found to be offensive, just real and relatable. Each chapter is fairly short and stays focused on one parable, story, or statement of Jesus's which was nice, as the reader may wish to pause, process, and soak in the chapter they've just read.
There were times I wanted Peters to elaborate more on a certain connection he was making between the past and the present, but overall it was a thought-provoking and satisfying read. I would recommend this title to readers who enjoy Rob Bell, Eugene Peterson, Kate Bowler, and/or Barbara Brown Taylor.
"When we are faced with mercy and love, we mistake it for all of society unraveling. And maybe it has. Maybe the post-traumatic Jesus has come to do just this, to unravel the cycle of retribution, even in situations where we think it is deserved."
I haven't experienced very many honest and helpful conversations in the church about trauma, its fallout, and how to continue walking with Jesus in an authentic way afterwards. That's why I recommend this post-traumatic lens through which to experience the gospel. Peters walks us through the traumas of being a human during Jesus's earthly ministry and connects it to the many traumatic experiences of being human today. I appreciated this approach, as many titles in this genre are too sugar-coated for my taste, leaving me feeling a little sick and still hungry for something sustaining. There are even a few swear words sprinkled throughout, always with purpose, never in a way I found to be offensive, just real and relatable. Each chapter is fairly short and stays focused on one parable, story, or statement of Jesus's which was nice, as the reader may wish to pause, process, and soak in the chapter they've just read.
There were times I wanted Peters to elaborate more on a certain connection he was making between the past and the present, but overall it was a thought-provoking and satisfying read. I would recommend this title to readers who enjoy Rob Bell, Eugene Peterson, Kate Bowler, and/or Barbara Brown Taylor.
March 5, 2023
Insightful book on trauma and how faith can be impacted by our trauma. It is great to read a book on trauma from a biblical perspective. Though this was not the easiest of reads it definitely open my eyes to the fact that even Jesus experienced trauma but thankful that He overcame so that I can overcome.
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July 3, 2023David Peters skillfully weaves his own story into this researched, theologically rich book. I was especially grateful for the perspective about soldiers and the moral failing felt by those of us with disease. Fabulous pick for a church book study and I suspect I will revisit it for sermon preparation.
June 5, 2024
Really loved this deep, personal book. David was a chaplain in the military. He suffered his own trauma and shared some of his own trauma. However reading the gospels through the lens of trauma opened up so much more. I know that several of the insights I gained I will be chewing on for a very long time.
December 31, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc. I enjoyed this carefully researched and pastorally significant look at the trauma both of Jesus and of his first followers than can help other traumatic followers keep close tk God.
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August 27, 2023Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I’m grateful for this perspective and view of Jesus through the lens of trauma. As someone who works in ministry but also has a background in mental health, it was powerful to see merch and grace to represented in such a way.
November 15, 2023
Netgalley Arc
This is a game changer of a book. If you suffer from PTSD, then this book is for you. You can read it in a day or take a chapter each week. I found many things that I have been through, and it's just like having a hand put on your shoulder, allowing you to know God is there.
This is a game changer of a book. If you suffer from PTSD, then this book is for you. You can read it in a day or take a chapter each week. I found many things that I have been through, and it's just like having a hand put on your shoulder, allowing you to know God is there.
January 18, 2023
Well researched take on trauma relating it to the life of Jesus and His first followers. Good read. Peter’s relates Jesus’ trauma to our own that we face today.
August 5, 2024
Beautiful and insightful. I don’t agree with all of the theology, but I still took away so much incredible truth and new perspectives on trauma and the gospel.
July 11, 2025
A decent collection of sermons and comments on Gospel stories, looking through the lens of being traumatized and ministering to the traumatized.
January 4, 2023
I put this on my list of the best books I read in 2022. It was a balm for me to read, as someone who suffers from PTSD. It's gentle but firm in its call to view Jesus as one of us in every way, including in our trauma. Highly recommended.
*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 15, 2023
This was such a cool book. As someone who considers myself a somewhat "non-traditional" Christian, I'm super picky about what Christian books I read since I find too many of them to be either cloying or completely exclusionary of my identity as a queer Christian. This book really resonated with me and my relationship with religion, and I absolutely loved this author's perspective on the Gospel. Reading this made me look at so many elements of the Gospel in new ways, which is always really cool as someone who grew up very immersed in the Church and who has heard these stories many times over. This book did a great job at showcasing the human side of not only Jesus but everyone in the Gospel story, as well as brought my attention to certain details in the Bible I've never given a second thought to. I was really, really impacted by his interpretation of Mary's visitation by the angel at the beginning of the Gospel, and the scene where she gives consent. The only reason this book is a 4 star for me and not a 5 is because I wish the author would have gone into a bit more detail in certain elements, especially regarding what this means for present-day readers and how we can apply the post-traumatic Gospel to our lives. But overall, I was very pleasantly surprised by this book and can see myself returning to it again and gleaning new things from it with each re-read.
Content warnings: Religious content (obviously), discussions of trauma including war-related trauma, sexual assault, and violence
Content warnings: Religious content (obviously), discussions of trauma including war-related trauma, sexual assault, and violence
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews