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The Words of Jesus: A Gospel of the Sayings of Our Lord with Reflections by Phyllis Tickle
What if you could encounter the words of Jesus on their own, lifted up from the surrounding narratives and presented in their full power and mystery? That’s the question Phyllis Tickle—one of America’s most beloved writers on Christian spirituality—asked when she set out to write what she calls a “Sayings gospel.” In The Words of Jesus Tickle has compiled and arranged all the sayings of Jesus from the first four books of the New Testament and the first chapter of the Book of Acts in a way that creates an entirely new kind of encounter with the texts. And she has accompanied those sayings with her own personal reflections and commentaries not just on the words themselves but on the One who spoke them.
258 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2008
13 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Tickle
97 books76 followersPhyllis Natalie Tickle was an American author and lecturer whose work focuses on spirituality and religion issues. After serving as a teacher, professor, and academic dean, Tickle entered the publishing industry, serving as the founding editor of the religion department at Publishers Weekly, before then becoming a popular writer. She is well known as a leading voice in the emergence church movement. She is perhaps best known for The Divine Hours series of books, published by Doubleday Press, and her book The Great Emergence- How Christianity Is Changing and Why. Tickle was a member of the Episcopal Church, where she was licensed as both a lector and a lay eucharistic minister. She has been widely quoted by many media outlets, including Newsweek, Time, Life, The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS, The History Channel, the BBC and VOA. It has been said that "Over the past generation, no one has written more deeply and spoken more widely about the contours of American faith and spirituality than Phyllis Tickle." A biography of Tickle, written by Jon M. Sweeney, was published in February 2018. Phyllis Tickle: A Life (Church Publishing, Inc), has been widely reviewed.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 5, 2010
Just Jesus' words- nothing else. So, what did he really say? Read this, and you'll be surprised, and shocked!
November 22, 2020
Great book if you’d like to see all Jesus’ words pulled together and categorized.
January 19, 2016
Phyllis Tickle is he author of a number of books relating to Christianity. In this one, she starts off by the basic origin of the first gospels. The first gospels, canonical or not, began as “sayings of Jesus” writings. The order of his statements, who he said them to, and why, was added later by the apostles and disciples.
“Sayings” writings are more hard-hitting than ones that have been sayings and with lots of other stuff added. She adds that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are inconsistent and cannot be made consistent with each other. She also points out that there is no way to know what body language, inflection, and emotional were used by Jesus when he spoke, and those things add to understanding the message. Since he was human, he presents himself differently according to whom he was talking, when, and why.
She divides his sayings into five general types:
1. public preaching
2. private instructions
3. healing dialog (not many, maybe 21; used as instructions for teaching of health of more than just the body)
4. intimate conversations
5. post-Resurrection sayings
She also adds that Jesus had certain expressions he liked to use over and over (“Let those who have ears, hear,” and that He spoke most often of the “end times.”
I have no problem with any of that. It all makes a lot of sense and seems to be very logical.
She then goes on to point out that Jesus was a Jew. “..salvation is from the Jews.” (11.2) “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (111.14) She adds: “...His aggressive assertion of a singular, specific, and immutable plan that is Jewish by both edit and execution and that endures through, across, and over multiple cultures and eras.”
In other words, he was a Jew, following Jewish traditions, saying that he was sent to minister to the Jews. He was not a Christian. His message was not for those who later established Christianity. His essential message was for the Jews, and for them only, although non-Jews could show faith in God and be acknowledged for that.
She then brings up the term “actualness,” which, as far as I can figure out, deals with exactly what he said, but doesn't worry about when he said it, or to whom, or why. It's sort of stripping down the words of Jesus to just the words, alone.
Again, as far as I can see, this can lead to some rather uncomfortable things for people. For one thing, it shuts out all other religions, no matter when they were established.
“...all should honor the Son. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” In other words, if you are not a specific follower of Jesus, then you are just plain out of luck, which effectively eliminates all Hindus, all Muslims, all Native Americans, Shintos, Buddhists, Wiccans, pagans, and all religions of all time that did not center themselves on Jesus, even if he hadn't been born yet.
There are many religious conservatives who say that every single word of the Bible is literal truth and must be followed. I think they tend to overlook things like this: “...everyone who is angry with another shall be liable to judgment...whoever says, 'You fool! shall be liable to hellfire.” In other words, you can't get angry at anyone.
Then there's the statement that tripped up Jimmy Carter. “But I say to you that everyone who looks at another lustfully has already committed adultery in his or her heart.” If this is to be taken literally, then even people we end up marrying and have lusted after results in us sinning. There's also the biological imperative we are under, the “hard-wiring” in our brains that contributes a lot to our lusting after others, basically in order to perpetuate the species.
Again, for those who want to take everything literally (note; I'm pointing this out myself; the author is not noticing that these statements, interpreted as actual statements, can lead to some rather nasty consequences):
“So if your right eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of yourself, better for you to enter life with one eye and maimed than with two eyes to have your whole body thrown into hell.” He adds other body parts to this message. Following the words exactly, if anyone has sinned using any specific body part, then that person should get rid of that body part.
“And in praying, do hot heap up empty repetitions as Gentiles do, because they think they will be heard for their many words.” This helps to point out something said earlier, than Jesus came for the Jews, not the Gentiles. The Gentiles were the “other.”
“...whoever divorces his wife, except for reasons of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. And whoever, having divorced his wife, marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.” Again, for those who want to consider that every word in the Bible must be taken literally, then divorce of any kind (other than sexual immorality) by anyone is null and void.
“I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” In other words, Satan is an actual factual being.
There is a lot of emphasis on Jesus as the “Prince of Peace,” but this statement doesn't seem to be very peaceful:
“No, I have not come to bring peace, but rather a sword and division. From now in a household of five, three will be divided against two and two against three. They will be divided: father against son,, and song against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law; for one's fores will be those of one's own household.”
Essentially, the first part of the book reads like an academic thesis that tries to split hairs and establish new definitions. At times it approaches, if not actually achieves, being boring.
The second part of the book is a compilation of Jesus' statements, divided into the categories noted above, simply noting the saying but not noting that some of the sayings have very significant consequences if they are all true, correct, and are to be followed exactly.
The second part of the book, then, is essentially a listing of the statements of Jesus that loads of other books have, done without comment, the only difference from other books that do this being that the statements are arranged by certain categories.
Overall, this is a rather unsatisfactory and somewhat upsetting book.
“Sayings” writings are more hard-hitting than ones that have been sayings and with lots of other stuff added. She adds that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are inconsistent and cannot be made consistent with each other. She also points out that there is no way to know what body language, inflection, and emotional were used by Jesus when he spoke, and those things add to understanding the message. Since he was human, he presents himself differently according to whom he was talking, when, and why.
She divides his sayings into five general types:
1. public preaching
2. private instructions
3. healing dialog (not many, maybe 21; used as instructions for teaching of health of more than just the body)
4. intimate conversations
5. post-Resurrection sayings
She also adds that Jesus had certain expressions he liked to use over and over (“Let those who have ears, hear,” and that He spoke most often of the “end times.”
I have no problem with any of that. It all makes a lot of sense and seems to be very logical.
She then goes on to point out that Jesus was a Jew. “..salvation is from the Jews.” (11.2) “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (111.14) She adds: “...His aggressive assertion of a singular, specific, and immutable plan that is Jewish by both edit and execution and that endures through, across, and over multiple cultures and eras.”
In other words, he was a Jew, following Jewish traditions, saying that he was sent to minister to the Jews. He was not a Christian. His message was not for those who later established Christianity. His essential message was for the Jews, and for them only, although non-Jews could show faith in God and be acknowledged for that.
She then brings up the term “actualness,” which, as far as I can figure out, deals with exactly what he said, but doesn't worry about when he said it, or to whom, or why. It's sort of stripping down the words of Jesus to just the words, alone.
Again, as far as I can see, this can lead to some rather uncomfortable things for people. For one thing, it shuts out all other religions, no matter when they were established.
“...all should honor the Son. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” In other words, if you are not a specific follower of Jesus, then you are just plain out of luck, which effectively eliminates all Hindus, all Muslims, all Native Americans, Shintos, Buddhists, Wiccans, pagans, and all religions of all time that did not center themselves on Jesus, even if he hadn't been born yet.
There are many religious conservatives who say that every single word of the Bible is literal truth and must be followed. I think they tend to overlook things like this: “...everyone who is angry with another shall be liable to judgment...whoever says, 'You fool! shall be liable to hellfire.” In other words, you can't get angry at anyone.
Then there's the statement that tripped up Jimmy Carter. “But I say to you that everyone who looks at another lustfully has already committed adultery in his or her heart.” If this is to be taken literally, then even people we end up marrying and have lusted after results in us sinning. There's also the biological imperative we are under, the “hard-wiring” in our brains that contributes a lot to our lusting after others, basically in order to perpetuate the species.
Again, for those who want to take everything literally (note; I'm pointing this out myself; the author is not noticing that these statements, interpreted as actual statements, can lead to some rather nasty consequences):
“So if your right eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of yourself, better for you to enter life with one eye and maimed than with two eyes to have your whole body thrown into hell.” He adds other body parts to this message. Following the words exactly, if anyone has sinned using any specific body part, then that person should get rid of that body part.
“And in praying, do hot heap up empty repetitions as Gentiles do, because they think they will be heard for their many words.” This helps to point out something said earlier, than Jesus came for the Jews, not the Gentiles. The Gentiles were the “other.”
“...whoever divorces his wife, except for reasons of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. And whoever, having divorced his wife, marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.” Again, for those who want to consider that every word in the Bible must be taken literally, then divorce of any kind (other than sexual immorality) by anyone is null and void.
“I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” In other words, Satan is an actual factual being.
There is a lot of emphasis on Jesus as the “Prince of Peace,” but this statement doesn't seem to be very peaceful:
“No, I have not come to bring peace, but rather a sword and division. From now in a household of five, three will be divided against two and two against three. They will be divided: father against son,, and song against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law; for one's fores will be those of one's own household.”
Essentially, the first part of the book reads like an academic thesis that tries to split hairs and establish new definitions. At times it approaches, if not actually achieves, being boring.
The second part of the book is a compilation of Jesus' statements, divided into the categories noted above, simply noting the saying but not noting that some of the sayings have very significant consequences if they are all true, correct, and are to be followed exactly.
The second part of the book, then, is essentially a listing of the statements of Jesus that loads of other books have, done without comment, the only difference from other books that do this being that the statements are arranged by certain categories.
Overall, this is a rather unsatisfactory and somewhat upsetting book.
January 9, 2026
I especially liked the way that this book is organized as five books in one: words of public teaching, private instruction, healing, intimate conversation, and post- resurrection encounters.
Contemplative reading? Absolutely. I would think that each reader will have his or her personal takeaways and perhaps some new insights about Jesus - as I did.
Contemplative reading? Absolutely. I would think that each reader will have his or her personal takeaways and perhaps some new insights about Jesus - as I did.
May 21, 2020
Think of all the red lines from the gospels all laid out...a wee bit overwhelming!
I missed the context of some of the words but was most striking wasn’t what he said, it was what he did not say.
I missed the context of some of the words but was most striking wasn’t what he said, it was what he did not say.
April 15, 2011
It is exactly what it says, the words of Jesus from the Gospels along with some reflections by Phyllis Tickle.
It is presumably a Q-like compilation in that it contains only the recorded sayings of Jesus. She then divides these sayings into five categories: Public Teaching, Private Instruction, Healing Dialogue, Intimate Conversation, and Post-Resurrection Encounters. It's an interesting way to go about categorizing them and brings out meaning from the passages that may be missed through casual reading.
It is presumably a Q-like compilation in that it contains only the recorded sayings of Jesus. She then divides these sayings into five categories: Public Teaching, Private Instruction, Healing Dialogue, Intimate Conversation, and Post-Resurrection Encounters. It's an interesting way to go about categorizing them and brings out meaning from the passages that may be missed through casual reading.
June 13, 2015
This is a very interesting book, especially for Phyllis Tickle's reflections and then her compilation of the 'sayings of our Lord'. The only quibble I would have is that the sayings are not immediately following by the text references. You need to turn to the back of the book for those. I borrowed this from the library and it's not a book you can use productively when you need to return it...and I must not have something overdue or my librarian credentials will be revoked! You need to use this as part of your home library and engage in on-going reflective work.
December 14, 2012
I found this book to be absolutely incredible. Phyllis Tickle simply takes the words Jesus spoke as recorded in the Bible and groups them into categories. There is no context given for the quotes, no versus by other people, simply the words that Jesus spoke, line after line and page after page. It was remarkable to read. His words regarding the poor were very insightful for me.
July 8, 2012
I think what Phyllis was trying to do in this book is an interesting concept of breaking up the Gospel writings and connecting them under bigger headings. It can help with putting together bigger concepts and main teachings but not a good exegetical approach.
May 20, 2010
This book gives such meaning to Bible passages. Makes you ponder the words we know so well. Lovely!This is a book I continue to pick up and read often.
February 26, 2015
The benefit of this book is that readers gets all the words attributed to Jesus, not just their favorite texts. It thus offers a broader perspective of Jesus in his own words.
March 22, 2016
It's the words of Jesus. What's not to love?
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews