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Spiritual Theology #3
The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way
The Jesus Way — part of Eugene Peterson’s meaty "conversations" on spiritual theology
A way of sacrifice. A way of failure. A way on the margins. A way of holiness. In The Jesus Way Eugene Peterson shows how the ways of those who came before Christ — Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and Isaiah — revealed and prepared the "way of the Lord" that became incarnate and complete in Jesus. Further, Peterson calls into question common “ways” followed by the contemporary American church, showing in stark relief how what we have chosen to focus on — consumerism, celebrity, charisma, and so forth — obliterates what is unique in the Jesus way.
A way of sacrifice. A way of failure. A way on the margins. A way of holiness. In The Jesus Way Eugene Peterson shows how the ways of those who came before Christ — Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and Isaiah — revealed and prepared the "way of the Lord" that became incarnate and complete in Jesus. Further, Peterson calls into question common “ways” followed by the contemporary American church, showing in stark relief how what we have chosen to focus on — consumerism, celebrity, charisma, and so forth — obliterates what is unique in the Jesus way.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2007
237 people are currently reading
2208 people want to read
About the author
Eugene H. Peterson
432 books1,005 followersEugene H. Peterson was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He had written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of the Bible. After retiring from full-time teaching, Eugene and his wife Jan lived in the Big Sky Country of rural Montana. He died in October 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
December 3, 2020
This is a readable, yet meaty treatise on following the way of Jesus in these postmodern times. I am very thankful that I was able to study it with a group so that I was motivated to continue. The Message has never been an appealing translation to me and Peterson's writing is a bit more roundabout that say R.C. Sproul (one of my favorites). There was still much I could glean from this book and the discussions that we had on our Zoom bible study sessions really stretched me in good ways. One of my favorite portions concerns a Greek term: homothumadon. This is one of those biblical terms that is better left in its original form as it cannot be accurately translated in English. What it means is this -- with one mind, unanimously, with one accord, at the same time. Amen and Hallelujah.
August 24, 2012
This is the 3rd in the series, and an easier read than Christ plays in 10,000 places. There is SO much great theology just casually strewn through this book. The chapters are vignettes, and could be read stand alone. Peterson's ability to pull back and give a birds eye view so he can zoom in and make a point is amazing. The chapter on Abraham is a case in point. If you read the sacrifice of Isaac on it's own, it is a terrifying story, but if you pull back and remember what God is doing with Abraham (making a great nation, and a plan of redemption) then walk thru Abrahams successes (and failures) as God prepares him for this task, the story comes into it's own.
I am great re reader of books, and this is one I will do over. soon.
I am great re reader of books, and this is one I will do over. soon.
August 3, 2017
The character sketches from the Old Testament highlighting the characteristics of the coming Christ of various personnel or reasonably interesting. What really grabbed me, though, was toward the end of the book where Peterson describes the cultural landscape one to which Jesus came. His description of the ready-made options for leadership available from Jesus' contemporaries made for interesting comparisons. Seeing His legacy compared to that of the Pharisees, Harrodians, and heirs to Josephus made this worth reading.
January 19, 2024
Me gustó mucho el libro aunque la primera parte la encontré demasiada extensa e innecesaria, pero sin duda la segunda parte en la que trata los diferentes sectas judías en comparación con la actitud de Jesús es algo extraordinario.
April 11, 2020
This one blindsided me.
This is the first of Peterson's books I've actually read through, which was probably a mistake given that it's the 3rd in a series. A lifetime of hearing Peterson snippets from Evangelical pulpits (and his culture war missteps at the end of his life) gave me an impression of him as a sort of hipster-friendly Max Lucado.
I expected a personal (entirely anecdotal), novel (cliched), culturally relevant (totally outdated), light (shallow) and inspirational (unbiblical) corrective (polemic) of American churchianity for a popular (smug and vapid) audience.
I'm happy to say my expectations were wrong. True, some of the critiques of cultural Christianity, consumerism, and technology are a little worn and cliched but they are still, unfortunately, true.
The book branding is a bit off and that hurts the book. Billed as a "conversation" in a series of conversations the books primary interlocutor is Scripture and Peterson's serious engagement with the Bible is what lends the book its strength.
In fact, while most of the content of the book is properly basic in its assertions and its language favors simple clarity, it is sophisticated in its investigations. Because of my low expectations, I was surprised by how dense the book was in terms of content. In fact, I went through it far too quickly and I will probably give it another read after I've gone through the series from the beginning.
I was further surprised at the mass of citations and that most of them were more on the liberal/mainline/academic side of biblical studies even though they were marshaled to support a fairly conservative but highly spiritual theological project.
It will be interesting to reassess on my second read through.
This is the first of Peterson's books I've actually read through, which was probably a mistake given that it's the 3rd in a series. A lifetime of hearing Peterson snippets from Evangelical pulpits (and his culture war missteps at the end of his life) gave me an impression of him as a sort of hipster-friendly Max Lucado.
I expected a personal (entirely anecdotal), novel (cliched), culturally relevant (totally outdated), light (shallow) and inspirational (unbiblical) corrective (polemic) of American churchianity for a popular (smug and vapid) audience.
I'm happy to say my expectations were wrong. True, some of the critiques of cultural Christianity, consumerism, and technology are a little worn and cliched but they are still, unfortunately, true.
The book branding is a bit off and that hurts the book. Billed as a "conversation" in a series of conversations the books primary interlocutor is Scripture and Peterson's serious engagement with the Bible is what lends the book its strength.
In fact, while most of the content of the book is properly basic in its assertions and its language favors simple clarity, it is sophisticated in its investigations. Because of my low expectations, I was surprised by how dense the book was in terms of content. In fact, I went through it far too quickly and I will probably give it another read after I've gone through the series from the beginning.
I was further surprised at the mass of citations and that most of them were more on the liberal/mainline/academic side of biblical studies even though they were marshaled to support a fairly conservative but highly spiritual theological project.
It will be interesting to reassess on my second read through.
February 3, 2014
I have a particular appreciation for Peterson. I picked up the first book in his spiritual theology series at a dark time in my life and faith. He allowed me the freedom to think deeply about my Christian faith, and opened the door to discover a world of intelligent yet faithful believers who have paved the way through a strong history of dedicated spiritual and Christian conversation. Book 1 (Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places) was not as much a classic as it was an honest and slowly meandering pastoral reflection on some of the larger elements of the Christian faith with flashes of brilliance and inspiration mixed with some more sluggish commitment to allegory and imagery. The second (Eat This Book) was much more focused and deliberate in its examination on the place of scripture, and not surprisingly much shorter. I found "The Jesus Way" to sit somewhere in-between the two. It is focused, in particular in its exploration of the way (or the way of the Way) as rooted in Christ. It centers the life and ministry of Christ and His followers as a way set apart and with unique conviction by moving through a sort of history of those who represented this cause along the way. Following a general introduction the chapters are divided between 6 Old Testament and 2 New Testament figures, and closes with an overview of the post resurrection period in general, including the recognizable historian Josephus. In dividing the book in this way Peterson follows a recognizable flow as he connects the ministry, message and motivation of the early prophets with the later rulers and kings.
Peterson is a passionate writer, and it is hard not to admire this in his methodology. In "The Jesus Way" he shows us how deliberate the Biblical characters and the players of Church history were in their struggles to understand the ways of God. Further though, he desires to show how it is the intent of the writers to show how God is working through this history to enact a recognizable kingdom on earth that speaks His word in to human resistance of the Way. This is where Peterson shines. He has a mind for history, and even further an eye for history that allows him to bring fresh perspective to the table. He has an ability to bring what might be static elsewhere and infuse it in to our imaginations. He trends between the lines and under the crevices to reflect not just on persons and activities but on motivations, idiosyncrasies and subtle pieces of information. Once he brings this history to life in our imaginations he then pushes us further by forming the questions we may be hesitant to ask ourselves. As a reader I get excited when he gets his hands on someone like the prophet Isaiah, as I know he is going to fuse not just the main character but also the writers the circumstance and the surrounding characters with the larger narrative of scripture and history. By far the best part of the book was the final sections on Josephus. His dealings with Herod and Caiaphus set the stage for much of what develops his most focused conclusions. It is here where the big ideas become more realized, and it is here where the history of our faith really comes together and becomes alive.
While "The Jesus Way" retains a decent focus, it also has parts and portions where he meanders or could have pressed further. I know of some who don't appreciate his penchant for storytelling and metaphor. When he gets lost in some of his more passionate experiences it does not always translate as well as we might like it (for some at least). As well, personally I always struggle with his sort of itinerant prophet/pastor persona that tends towards rejection (or at least resistance) of modern progress and city life (I stop short of including culture as I also know that he remains culturally aware). He is most comfortable outside of the movement of city streets strolling the mountain tops, breathing in the fresh air and communing with nature at an extremely slow and patient pace, and sometimes this translates in to a sort of critique of city life and pace in which I myself am immersed. I understand his caution towards assimilation and the dangers of progress in terms of the Way, but I also find the development of cities as cultural centers and creative landscapes as both spiritually invigorating and stimulating towards my understanding of God. I can enjoy a mountain top here and there, but where I come most alive in my faith is strolling the streets of New York, people watching on the streets of Rome or wondering at the diverse landscape of California spirit. I find allegory in the community that converge at a concert or football game. I resist caricatures of what it means to silence our lives even as much as I agree with the discipline, and I think we need to be careful of traveling the line of demonizing the trajectory of culture. Peterson does not do this outright, but sometimes his own preferences paint a subtle critique on a very generalized picture of characters that might sit differently than his own.
"The Jesus Way" is a worthy read from a seasoned and celebrated theologian. Where some parts bog down, the next page brings me right back in to the narrative. I left the book with a greater love for scripture, its characters and our history. I loved the section near the end where he deals with a nagging question, that of a familiar trajectory of religious violence that appears to follow this history through. Christ leads us towards a way that is decidedly different in approach. When confronted with the Way we are confronted with all of the ways in which Christ turns our worlds upside down. It is a Way that is uncomfortable and challenging, but also immediately recognizable, even if one has to look consistently to the margins to see it. It really is a wonder to realize how much of the movement to and from, in and through Christ takes place on the margins. And it really is amazing to see how it survived and continues to survive against such amazing odds, especially considering the division of ways that we find amongst its own people. And yet Peterson allows us to share in his conviction that although the history is full of broken and conflicted personalities through which "the Gospel" is represented, that God continues to forward His Way in ways that connect us with those figures even separated through thousands of years. Peterson is educated and well versed, but he speaks with a language that connects with the modern man, and this allows him to freedom to say certain things about theology without fear of falling in to the limitations of particular scholarly entrapments. And that is sometimes a welcome change.
Peterson is a passionate writer, and it is hard not to admire this in his methodology. In "The Jesus Way" he shows us how deliberate the Biblical characters and the players of Church history were in their struggles to understand the ways of God. Further though, he desires to show how it is the intent of the writers to show how God is working through this history to enact a recognizable kingdom on earth that speaks His word in to human resistance of the Way. This is where Peterson shines. He has a mind for history, and even further an eye for history that allows him to bring fresh perspective to the table. He has an ability to bring what might be static elsewhere and infuse it in to our imaginations. He trends between the lines and under the crevices to reflect not just on persons and activities but on motivations, idiosyncrasies and subtle pieces of information. Once he brings this history to life in our imaginations he then pushes us further by forming the questions we may be hesitant to ask ourselves. As a reader I get excited when he gets his hands on someone like the prophet Isaiah, as I know he is going to fuse not just the main character but also the writers the circumstance and the surrounding characters with the larger narrative of scripture and history. By far the best part of the book was the final sections on Josephus. His dealings with Herod and Caiaphus set the stage for much of what develops his most focused conclusions. It is here where the big ideas become more realized, and it is here where the history of our faith really comes together and becomes alive.
While "The Jesus Way" retains a decent focus, it also has parts and portions where he meanders or could have pressed further. I know of some who don't appreciate his penchant for storytelling and metaphor. When he gets lost in some of his more passionate experiences it does not always translate as well as we might like it (for some at least). As well, personally I always struggle with his sort of itinerant prophet/pastor persona that tends towards rejection (or at least resistance) of modern progress and city life (I stop short of including culture as I also know that he remains culturally aware). He is most comfortable outside of the movement of city streets strolling the mountain tops, breathing in the fresh air and communing with nature at an extremely slow and patient pace, and sometimes this translates in to a sort of critique of city life and pace in which I myself am immersed. I understand his caution towards assimilation and the dangers of progress in terms of the Way, but I also find the development of cities as cultural centers and creative landscapes as both spiritually invigorating and stimulating towards my understanding of God. I can enjoy a mountain top here and there, but where I come most alive in my faith is strolling the streets of New York, people watching on the streets of Rome or wondering at the diverse landscape of California spirit. I find allegory in the community that converge at a concert or football game. I resist caricatures of what it means to silence our lives even as much as I agree with the discipline, and I think we need to be careful of traveling the line of demonizing the trajectory of culture. Peterson does not do this outright, but sometimes his own preferences paint a subtle critique on a very generalized picture of characters that might sit differently than his own.
"The Jesus Way" is a worthy read from a seasoned and celebrated theologian. Where some parts bog down, the next page brings me right back in to the narrative. I left the book with a greater love for scripture, its characters and our history. I loved the section near the end where he deals with a nagging question, that of a familiar trajectory of religious violence that appears to follow this history through. Christ leads us towards a way that is decidedly different in approach. When confronted with the Way we are confronted with all of the ways in which Christ turns our worlds upside down. It is a Way that is uncomfortable and challenging, but also immediately recognizable, even if one has to look consistently to the margins to see it. It really is a wonder to realize how much of the movement to and from, in and through Christ takes place on the margins. And it really is amazing to see how it survived and continues to survive against such amazing odds, especially considering the division of ways that we find amongst its own people. And yet Peterson allows us to share in his conviction that although the history is full of broken and conflicted personalities through which "the Gospel" is represented, that God continues to forward His Way in ways that connect us with those figures even separated through thousands of years. Peterson is educated and well versed, but he speaks with a language that connects with the modern man, and this allows him to freedom to say certain things about theology without fear of falling in to the limitations of particular scholarly entrapments. And that is sometimes a welcome change.
February 4, 2022
Immediately one of my favorite, if not THE favorite, of Eugene Peterson’s books. The last few chapters are shockingly relevant to our day. My spiritual mentor continues to counter-balance my despair with hope and insight in tumultuous times. His wisdom has never been more needed. Every pastor should read 10 Petersons for every 1 book by anyone still living.
August 8, 2022
Highly recommend
May 24, 2011
Is it wrong to covet a man's spiritual life? Probably. But Eugene Peterson is one of those men I would love to just be around to see if any of his spirituality could drip on me.
Peterson's book The Jesus Way is a book about discipleship. In typical Peterson fashion, he is able to be extremely practical without really being 'practical.' He speaks about theology in a way that shapes the every day understanding of our world.
The Jesus Way is composed of several chapters that examine the 'ways' of Biblical characters and then a couple of chapters on 'alternative' ways. It is interesting, and refreshing, to note that even though Peterson is dealing with the way of Jesus, most of his examples come from the Old Testament. This is a testament to the Bible's unity and the Christians understanding of hermeneutics. His inclusion of 'other ways' was interesting, but well recieved, because sometimes in order to understand something, you need to see the opposite.
This book is enlightening and challenging. I recommend for anybody who wishes to grow in their spiritual walk.
Peterson's book The Jesus Way is a book about discipleship. In typical Peterson fashion, he is able to be extremely practical without really being 'practical.' He speaks about theology in a way that shapes the every day understanding of our world.
The Jesus Way is composed of several chapters that examine the 'ways' of Biblical characters and then a couple of chapters on 'alternative' ways. It is interesting, and refreshing, to note that even though Peterson is dealing with the way of Jesus, most of his examples come from the Old Testament. This is a testament to the Bible's unity and the Christians understanding of hermeneutics. His inclusion of 'other ways' was interesting, but well recieved, because sometimes in order to understand something, you need to see the opposite.
This book is enlightening and challenging. I recommend for anybody who wishes to grow in their spiritual walk.
February 24, 2016
I had been working through some questions about my faith, and wasn't getting anywhere. There are lots of people out there who think they have the answers, but none of them were satisfying. The current style of the Millennials (I am not even close to being one) is to use yourself as your own guide. There is a line: "The person who seeks to be their own lawyer has an idiot for a client." I had some sense that that would be true if I tried to be my own guide through my own spiritual morass. So I went looking. Kierkegaard was fine. I finally turned to Eugene Peterson, who I have turned to before for other reasons. This book was the one I landed on. This book didn't answer all my questions, nor did I expect it to. Anyone who thinks there is a book out there that will do that for them is deluded. But this book of Eugene's got me in the right direction, and gave me the means to have the conversation with God that I had been wanting to have for a number of years. For that reason alone, I appreciate this book.
September 11, 2018
Another insightful book by Eugene Peterson. He walks slowly through the Old Testament and shows how the characters and stories of Judaism point the way to the Messiah. However, it is not the messiah that everyone expected. Peterson then compares the way of the Christ with his contemporaries: Josephus, Herod and Caiaphas. They each represent the modern way of self promotion and making ones own way in the world.
This book is like a running commentary on the Bible. I will have to reach for it every time I study a character in the Old Testament. Like his translation, The Message, Peterson finds insights into the stories that are not obvious to the casual reader.
A great book to read slowly. It is broken down into small sub-chapters which makes it a great book to use as a daily devotional.
This book is like a running commentary on the Bible. I will have to reach for it every time I study a character in the Old Testament. Like his translation, The Message, Peterson finds insights into the stories that are not obvious to the casual reader.
A great book to read slowly. It is broken down into small sub-chapters which makes it a great book to use as a daily devotional.
September 23, 2010
While we often say that we believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, Peterson says that if we want to know the Jesus truth, and have the Jesus life, we have to live the Jesus way. He explores what makes the Jesus way different, looking at not just Jesus, but at the way others, such as Moses, David, Elijah and more, lived the Jesus way in their lives. But even more, he looks at the ways others, like Caiaphas, Herod, Pharisees, and Essenes and more, are NOT the Jesus way. I like the way Peterson writes and this book is not only insightful, but offers some interesting historical information as well as a challenge to a deeper spiritual life.
February 23, 2015
Eugene Peterson challenges all Christians in this book to think about if we are complacent in our christianity. He writes with a frankness and great insight to those who would be comfortable sitting in the pew instead of living in the presence of God. He starts by describing how if Jesus is really the way we should start living like that. Then each chapter deals with a different character and what they learned about God and how they point to Jesus being the way.
A great book to continue the series. Challenging yes, but the heart Peterson has for Jesus shines brightly. Blessed me greatly.
A great book to continue the series. Challenging yes, but the heart Peterson has for Jesus shines brightly. Blessed me greatly.
July 13, 2013
Puts a lot into perspective! Really enjoyed this book and will read it again!
June 19, 2023
Another thoughtful and thorough treatment of a topic in the realm of spiritual theology by Eugene Peterson.
As usual in this series, he argues that spirituality must be incarnated. It must be concerned with the particular, not abstract. God is personal and deals with persons, and so do we.
In the first half of the book, Peterson searches the Old Testament for examples of people who parallel the way of Jesus. Abraham exemplifies sacrifice and transformation. Moses shares stories of God's community. David lived a transparent life. Elijah existed on the margins. Isaiah of Jerusalem was called to holiness in a time of disaster. Isaiah of the exile spoke of servanthood.
In the second half, these ways of Jesus are contrasted with the way of Herod, the Pharisees, Caiaphas, the Essenes, Joseph's, and the Zealots.
Overall, Peterson thoroughly illustrates how the way of Christ is a way of resistance to one's surroundings; it is an Incarnation of spirituality; it is down-to-earth life lived by faith.
One point I'd differ on is his comment (in Moses) that forgiveness is the only solution to sin. We can't manage it or just try to do better. I fully agree, but wish he went further to speak of the freedom from sin that we can experience in the new life. We need to move from Romans 3 to Romans 6. From Romans 7 to 8. I suspect that the next two books in the series tough on this.
As usual in this series, he argues that spirituality must be incarnated. It must be concerned with the particular, not abstract. God is personal and deals with persons, and so do we.
In the first half of the book, Peterson searches the Old Testament for examples of people who parallel the way of Jesus. Abraham exemplifies sacrifice and transformation. Moses shares stories of God's community. David lived a transparent life. Elijah existed on the margins. Isaiah of Jerusalem was called to holiness in a time of disaster. Isaiah of the exile spoke of servanthood.
In the second half, these ways of Jesus are contrasted with the way of Herod, the Pharisees, Caiaphas, the Essenes, Joseph's, and the Zealots.
Overall, Peterson thoroughly illustrates how the way of Christ is a way of resistance to one's surroundings; it is an Incarnation of spirituality; it is down-to-earth life lived by faith.
One point I'd differ on is his comment (in Moses) that forgiveness is the only solution to sin. We can't manage it or just try to do better. I fully agree, but wish he went further to speak of the freedom from sin that we can experience in the new life. We need to move from Romans 3 to Romans 6. From Romans 7 to 8. I suspect that the next two books in the series tough on this.
April 2, 2025
This was one of my favorite Peterson books I’ve read. It was super encouraging and inspiring to stay committed to this path that has been walked long before me and will continue after with encouraging stories all of scripture. The latter half of the book and its critique of the different ways that were around when Jesus was were incredibly relevant. Would recommend for anyone wanting to dip their toe in to a more biblical theology from a very pastoral lens.
January 9, 2025
Excellent and well written as always. I especially appreciated the two Isaiah chapters.
July 25, 2007
Eugene is expansive as he leads us into the narrative of scripture showing us that the Jesus way begins with Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah and Isaiah before he shows the Jesus way in relation to other ways (Herod, Caiaphas and Josephus) and means before us in the world. The section on sacrifice in the Abraham story was extremely helpful. The theme of God paving the way in a personal, relational and community way (not individualistic ever) was also beneficial. As pastor who struggles in restoring dignity to the life of the church Peterson is of extreme value. His books are truly friends along the way.
There was only one point that left me uneasy and that is his insistence upon the higher critical assumption help by most but not all scholars that Isaiah is threefold. I have used the commentary by Alec Motyer on Isaiah and have found it extremely helpful. There is still not consensus. Also I wondered how the supernaturalism of the bible fares in the light of these other scholars like Bruggemann who sees not prophetic elements in scripture.
If it were not for this point I would recommend the book without reservations. It has helped me more than the previous two.
There was only one point that left me uneasy and that is his insistence upon the higher critical assumption help by most but not all scholars that Isaiah is threefold. I have used the commentary by Alec Motyer on Isaiah and have found it extremely helpful. There is still not consensus. Also I wondered how the supernaturalism of the bible fares in the light of these other scholars like Bruggemann who sees not prophetic elements in scripture.
If it were not for this point I would recommend the book without reservations. It has helped me more than the previous two.
May 19, 2017
I think this is the best book in this series so far. It is informative but also formational. It is prophetic but also generous in tone. Peterson examines the Way of following Jesus by comparing Jesus to Moses, David, Elijah and Isaiah (two Isaiahs actually which is interesting for a book in the Evangelical tradition). This is comparison by addition, showing how what these others started Jesus completed. He also compares Jesus to Herod, Caiaphus and Josephus. This is a brilliant idea. Peterson shows that there were many other ways to follow God in the first century which included, political opportunism, withdrawal, self promotion and violence. Jesus and his followers consciously rejected all of these. It wasn't that they didn't know how to take over the government or fight off an army or blend into the culture. They did and they could have. But they did not, nor should we.
July 20, 2018
I'd say 3.5 star if I could. Eugene Peterson writes this book with this premise- we try to live our lives in the "way" of Jesus, but what else can we learn by examining the "way" of other outstanding biblical characters? Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and other people are examined, and Peterson talks about how we can learn from their model of life and trusting God. Unfortunately, the writing is quite dull, and full of many tangents and other things that made me lose my interest. I wasn't a big fan of the premise in the first place, and in my opinion, it wasn't well executed anyways. This book is good for a quick way to pick up some background context for some of these characters, and probably for some good quotes that you could easily insert into a sermon, but reading through it was not really worth my time.
October 16, 2007
I have about 20 pages left. Peterson really understands that we are an information happy society ... always looking for easy definitions and more assimilated information that we can immediately put to use (or file away). He believes that life should be more personal and so I really think that part of his wandering, story-filled way of writing is to force us out of those robotic habits. He wants a conversation (like he says in the title) and he intends to have it. It is much more like reading good fiction ... you just don't know exactly what to do with a good story, you just know you need it and that it is doing something good in you to have heard it or to have had that talk. I still think Christ Plays is the best, but this one is very good as well.
July 19, 2011
Short review: This is my second attempt through this book. So I have to knock it down a bit for being a bit unstructured and meandering. But I did "get it" this time. Overall I think the last (of 3) sections was the best. It is focused on the alternative ways Jesus could have lead using the other political, social and religious movements of Jesus' day.
Full review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/jesus-way-peterson/
Full review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/jesus-way-peterson/
August 31, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I had a long gap of time between the first and second halves of the book. I had not read his previous two books which I guess are lead ups to this. I will have to go back and read those as well. Peterson does a great job of using the lives of major and minor people from the Bible to juxtapose those lives against the way we (the Western) church should be living ours. I learned a lot reading this book.
March 10, 2010
I had high hopes for this one. The opening chapter is best, as it lays out the pattern of thinking I was looking for, namely, getting folks to think in terms of faith in Jesus as a faith in a distinct, alternative way of life rather than faith in the mere truth of Jesus. But after that chapter it just seems like it rambles through general good points, but it doesn't really stick to the notion of "the way" as it promises.
March 8, 2018
Oh my, Eugene really hits hard in this book. Our modern cultural blindspots, failures and distorted views of the Way of Jesus are left bruised and battered after this beautiful and critical review of our understanding of the Gospel and way of Jesus. Many of our protestant lenses are called out for being disembodied from practice. "Who cares if we can spew doctrine and mission statements if it never looks like Jesus is walking with us today like He did 2000 years ago?" Eugene would ask.
February 23, 2019
This book was published 12 years ago. You’d think it was written just last month.
Eugene Peterson continues to be a prolific voice to me. His awareness of American culture with splashes of religion make his words hit home. Though he rarely, if ever, points to specific instances in American history, I kept finding myself thinking, “This sounds like today!”
Check this book out.
Eugene Peterson continues to be a prolific voice to me. His awareness of American culture with splashes of religion make his words hit home. Though he rarely, if ever, points to specific instances in American history, I kept finding myself thinking, “This sounds like today!”
Check this book out.
August 6, 2023
What a masterpiece. Powerful, inspiring and insightful. The Way of Jesus pressing into how we live and love, and not just why. It highlights the significance of living like Jesus, and not simply doing what Jesus would do. Loved this book.
May 27, 2022
The Way of Jesus of Nazareth
Peterson is an excellent and gifted writer, this book was walkthrough of the Jesus Way starting from the Hebrew Scriptures right into the Gospels. The way he ties it all together is brilliant.
Peterson is an excellent and gifted writer, this book was walkthrough of the Jesus Way starting from the Hebrew Scriptures right into the Gospels. The way he ties it all together is brilliant.
March 4, 2023
Book Review: Peterson, Eugene H. The Jesus Way: A Conversation On The Ways That Jesus Is The Way. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI., USA/Cambridge, UK, 2007, 289 pages.
Terrific book, but quite heavy reading. It could serve as a year-long bible study, but I took a deep breath and read it in a few weeks, telling myself I have read every single verse of the Pentateuch and the NT , so I ploughed through it. It could be revelatory to say the least, but I was previously familiar with the gist of each chapter which thus served as ‘further explanations’ to me.
I decided to quickly read and review this Christian book because a retiring minister had gifted a copy to many of us at our faith community before his recent full-time retirement.
Happily, the book is eminently suitable for extra special study during Lent, and that is how I approached my own reading of it this Lenten season.
Right away, I found the book was not necessarily quick reading but might have required close reading of every chapter. However, again, I decided I was familiar enough with most of the referenced scriptural passages to not stop every single page ‘to look things up’ and so I read it through as quickly as possible to get that wonderful bird’s eye view of it all.
For many years, Rev. Peterson was professor of spiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. He wrote over thirty spiritual books and, saliently, he was the author of a brand new translation of the entire Bible into a contemporary English version. His Bible version is called The Message and is available for free, both on the www.biblegateway.com website and in the Bible Gateway mobile phone app, alongside many other Holy Bible translation versions like the AKJV, RSV, NRSV, GNMM and so on in English and Bible versions in all the major languages of the world. The Message version is perhaps about similar to the New Living Bible version in reading level .
Rev. Peterson’s purpose in writing this book was twofold.
Firstly, he wanted to alert his readers that for worshipping Christians the ways of the modern world, as seen in popular cultural phenomena, such as following celebrities, consumerism, watching TV or fast food consumption, are simply not acceptable and must be avoided, because popular values, practices and beliefs are diametrically opposed to The Way of Jesus and his Followers.
Secondly, the author wanted to highlight that The Way of the Lord was anticipated and prepared for much more comprehensively and extensively and for a much longer period of time than by John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) alone.
The genre of this book was an advanced bible study book with up to six scriptural references per page. A few of the scriptural references were from The Message but most were from the NRSV. There were two indices: a subject and name one and a scriptural references one. Chapter summaries were missing and would have been helpful.
The intended audience of the book would have been worshipping Christians who needed an in-depth understanding of The Way of Jesus to become better Followers of Jesus.
My contention is that The Jesus Way is an important Christian book because it showcases new, modern developments in the spiritual understanding of The Way of Jesus, starting with how Christianity was originally called The Way, particularly by the Apostle Paul and his followers (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, 24:22), (p. 23).
Many OT prophets contributed to preparing The Way of the Lord, as did many people during Jesus’ life on earth and after his death and resurrection.
This book was basically an extensive bible study of the first part of Jesus’ sixth “I AM” Statement from the Gospel of John, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14.6). So “I am the way,” and we learned how exactly Jesus is The Way to the Father.
In conjunction with The Way of Jesus, this book also discussed Jesus’ third Imperative Statement “Follow Me ! ” because Following Jesus on The Way has such a close relationship to The Way of Jesus. (The first two Imperatives are “Repent!” and “Believe!”). In this regard we learned how exactly we are meant to Follow Jesus on The Way.
In part one, chapter one (pp. 28-36), Rev. Peterson explained how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke clarified how Jesus is The Way. At his baptism, Jesus began his lifework as Messiah, revealing God to us and leading us to God. Right away the devil took Jesus out into the wilderness to tempt and test him there. Jesus refused to be tempted and overcame every temptation and responded to each temptation with love and forgiveness, by meeting human needs in personal ways and by always acting relationally with all other people.
In chapters two to seven (pp. 42-189), the author selected six OT figures and discussed how each of them contributed to preparing The Way of the Lord.
Abraham was discussed for living a way of faith (p. 58), particularly in climbing Mount Moriah with his son Isaac (p. 42), feeling a need to slay his son but fully trusting that God would come through for him and show him how not to do so, which in fact happened.
Moses was discussed for giving us the words of the revelation of God, showing us a way of words (p. 59).
It is easy to understand how Abraham’s and Moses’ ways helped prepare The Way of the Lord.
But in chapter four (pp. 78-100), the author discussed the two ways of King David which could be surprising to some people, for although David was a popular teenaged giant-slayer, he grew up to be a bad man and we don’t hear so much about him these days. Apparently, his was a way of imperfection due to living in the human condition. Basically, King David’s way would seem to apply to everyone of us, as we all have sinned. Furthermore, Kind David also lived another, a second way, a way of prayer and left worshipping Christians his Psalms of David as evidence of that.
In chapter five (pp. 101-126), the author explained how the way of the Prophet Elijah was a way of marginality ‘hiding out by the brook Cherith’ (p. 101). It seemed to me that Rev. Peterson was highly impressed and influenced by the Prophet Elijah, starting at the moment of Elijah’s appearance with Moses at Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3-4) (pp. 101-102).
Chapters six and seven (pp. 127-189) sent me to re-read the introduction to the Book of Isaiah in the NRSV Harper Collins Study Bible that I use, where it was clarified that over a period of about 200 years there may have been up to four different prophets who contributed to the Book of Isaiah. Rev. Peterson alluded to three of them and examined the ways of two, Isaiah of Jerusalem and the nameless prophet Isaiah of the (Babylonian) Exile.
Rev. Peterson seemed to have considered Isaiah of Jerusalem to have been the greatest preacher in the Holy Bible (p. 140), whose name for God was ‘The Holy’ (p. 127), and from whom Jesus learned to pray for his disciples, “Holy Father… sanctify them…. that they also may be sanctified…” (John 17:11,17,19) (pp. 127-128). But Isaiah of Jerusalem’s was a way of failure because his people totally ignored his preaching to return to the Lord. He failed on purpose, as shown by a life-scripting vision he received about his preaching to a field of stumps, although holy stumps. His was a very dazzling vision, apparently a type that we do not come across again in the bible before the visions of the Book of Revelation.
In chapter seven (pp. 149-189), Rev. Peterson discussed the spectacular contribution of Isaiah of the Exile to preparing The Way of the Lord. This prophet discerned that there was to be a holy seed in the field of holy stumps (Isaiah 6:13) (p. 145). He also discerned a way of servanthood in preparing The Way of the Lord. In fact, Jesus and the Apostle Paul relied on this prophet completely. One major lesson I learned from this prophet is that on The Way of Jesus, suffering for others is not a toxic tragedy, but, in fact, meant to be, because suffering is the God-chosen method of salvation; it is The Way to eternal life.
In part two of the book (pp. 197, 229, 243), the author discussed the bad ways of Herod, Caiaphas and Josephus, that is of people living before, during and after Jesus’s life on earth and resurrection.
In contrast to these failed bad ways of being, the author discussed the way of prayer on The Way of Jesus with Mary and her ‘Magnificat’ prayer (pp. 216-219). Rev. Peterson discerned for us that Jesus probably learned to pray from his mother Mary.
For Doubting Thomas, The Way of Jesus became a way of obedience and of worship (p. 242).
For the Resurrection Christians of the very early Christian Church who gave us the first church prayer (Acts 4:24-30) (pp. 266-269) The Way of Jesus was essentially a way of prayer.
Altogether, this book is an excellent Bible study of the books and prophets discussed and can always be re-read in smaller sections alongside the reading of the passages of the Holy Bible as the various lectionaries are read throughout the year in church.
A highly recommended book for discerning, worshipping Christians.
Terrific book, but quite heavy reading. It could serve as a year-long bible study, but I took a deep breath and read it in a few weeks, telling myself I have read every single verse of the Pentateuch and the NT , so I ploughed through it. It could be revelatory to say the least, but I was previously familiar with the gist of each chapter which thus served as ‘further explanations’ to me.
I decided to quickly read and review this Christian book because a retiring minister had gifted a copy to many of us at our faith community before his recent full-time retirement.
Happily, the book is eminently suitable for extra special study during Lent, and that is how I approached my own reading of it this Lenten season.
Right away, I found the book was not necessarily quick reading but might have required close reading of every chapter. However, again, I decided I was familiar enough with most of the referenced scriptural passages to not stop every single page ‘to look things up’ and so I read it through as quickly as possible to get that wonderful bird’s eye view of it all.
For many years, Rev. Peterson was professor of spiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, BC. He wrote over thirty spiritual books and, saliently, he was the author of a brand new translation of the entire Bible into a contemporary English version. His Bible version is called The Message and is available for free, both on the www.biblegateway.com website and in the Bible Gateway mobile phone app, alongside many other Holy Bible translation versions like the AKJV, RSV, NRSV, GNMM and so on in English and Bible versions in all the major languages of the world. The Message version is perhaps about similar to the New Living Bible version in reading level .
Rev. Peterson’s purpose in writing this book was twofold.
Firstly, he wanted to alert his readers that for worshipping Christians the ways of the modern world, as seen in popular cultural phenomena, such as following celebrities, consumerism, watching TV or fast food consumption, are simply not acceptable and must be avoided, because popular values, practices and beliefs are diametrically opposed to The Way of Jesus and his Followers.
Secondly, the author wanted to highlight that The Way of the Lord was anticipated and prepared for much more comprehensively and extensively and for a much longer period of time than by John the Baptist (Jesus’ cousin) alone.
The genre of this book was an advanced bible study book with up to six scriptural references per page. A few of the scriptural references were from The Message but most were from the NRSV. There were two indices: a subject and name one and a scriptural references one. Chapter summaries were missing and would have been helpful.
The intended audience of the book would have been worshipping Christians who needed an in-depth understanding of The Way of Jesus to become better Followers of Jesus.
My contention is that The Jesus Way is an important Christian book because it showcases new, modern developments in the spiritual understanding of The Way of Jesus, starting with how Christianity was originally called The Way, particularly by the Apostle Paul and his followers (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 19:23, 22:4, 24:14, 24:22), (p. 23).
Many OT prophets contributed to preparing The Way of the Lord, as did many people during Jesus’ life on earth and after his death and resurrection.
This book was basically an extensive bible study of the first part of Jesus’ sixth “I AM” Statement from the Gospel of John, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14.6). So “I am the way,” and we learned how exactly Jesus is The Way to the Father.
In conjunction with The Way of Jesus, this book also discussed Jesus’ third Imperative Statement “Follow Me ! ” because Following Jesus on The Way has such a close relationship to The Way of Jesus. (The first two Imperatives are “Repent!” and “Believe!”). In this regard we learned how exactly we are meant to Follow Jesus on The Way.
In part one, chapter one (pp. 28-36), Rev. Peterson explained how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke clarified how Jesus is The Way. At his baptism, Jesus began his lifework as Messiah, revealing God to us and leading us to God. Right away the devil took Jesus out into the wilderness to tempt and test him there. Jesus refused to be tempted and overcame every temptation and responded to each temptation with love and forgiveness, by meeting human needs in personal ways and by always acting relationally with all other people.
In chapters two to seven (pp. 42-189), the author selected six OT figures and discussed how each of them contributed to preparing The Way of the Lord.
Abraham was discussed for living a way of faith (p. 58), particularly in climbing Mount Moriah with his son Isaac (p. 42), feeling a need to slay his son but fully trusting that God would come through for him and show him how not to do so, which in fact happened.
Moses was discussed for giving us the words of the revelation of God, showing us a way of words (p. 59).
It is easy to understand how Abraham’s and Moses’ ways helped prepare The Way of the Lord.
But in chapter four (pp. 78-100), the author discussed the two ways of King David which could be surprising to some people, for although David was a popular teenaged giant-slayer, he grew up to be a bad man and we don’t hear so much about him these days. Apparently, his was a way of imperfection due to living in the human condition. Basically, King David’s way would seem to apply to everyone of us, as we all have sinned. Furthermore, Kind David also lived another, a second way, a way of prayer and left worshipping Christians his Psalms of David as evidence of that.
In chapter five (pp. 101-126), the author explained how the way of the Prophet Elijah was a way of marginality ‘hiding out by the brook Cherith’ (p. 101). It seemed to me that Rev. Peterson was highly impressed and influenced by the Prophet Elijah, starting at the moment of Elijah’s appearance with Moses at Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3-4) (pp. 101-102).
Chapters six and seven (pp. 127-189) sent me to re-read the introduction to the Book of Isaiah in the NRSV Harper Collins Study Bible that I use, where it was clarified that over a period of about 200 years there may have been up to four different prophets who contributed to the Book of Isaiah. Rev. Peterson alluded to three of them and examined the ways of two, Isaiah of Jerusalem and the nameless prophet Isaiah of the (Babylonian) Exile.
Rev. Peterson seemed to have considered Isaiah of Jerusalem to have been the greatest preacher in the Holy Bible (p. 140), whose name for God was ‘The Holy’ (p. 127), and from whom Jesus learned to pray for his disciples, “Holy Father… sanctify them…. that they also may be sanctified…” (John 17:11,17,19) (pp. 127-128). But Isaiah of Jerusalem’s was a way of failure because his people totally ignored his preaching to return to the Lord. He failed on purpose, as shown by a life-scripting vision he received about his preaching to a field of stumps, although holy stumps. His was a very dazzling vision, apparently a type that we do not come across again in the bible before the visions of the Book of Revelation.
In chapter seven (pp. 149-189), Rev. Peterson discussed the spectacular contribution of Isaiah of the Exile to preparing The Way of the Lord. This prophet discerned that there was to be a holy seed in the field of holy stumps (Isaiah 6:13) (p. 145). He also discerned a way of servanthood in preparing The Way of the Lord. In fact, Jesus and the Apostle Paul relied on this prophet completely. One major lesson I learned from this prophet is that on The Way of Jesus, suffering for others is not a toxic tragedy, but, in fact, meant to be, because suffering is the God-chosen method of salvation; it is The Way to eternal life.
In part two of the book (pp. 197, 229, 243), the author discussed the bad ways of Herod, Caiaphas and Josephus, that is of people living before, during and after Jesus’s life on earth and resurrection.
In contrast to these failed bad ways of being, the author discussed the way of prayer on The Way of Jesus with Mary and her ‘Magnificat’ prayer (pp. 216-219). Rev. Peterson discerned for us that Jesus probably learned to pray from his mother Mary.
For Doubting Thomas, The Way of Jesus became a way of obedience and of worship (p. 242).
For the Resurrection Christians of the very early Christian Church who gave us the first church prayer (Acts 4:24-30) (pp. 266-269) The Way of Jesus was essentially a way of prayer.
Altogether, this book is an excellent Bible study of the books and prophets discussed and can always be re-read in smaller sections alongside the reading of the passages of the Holy Bible as the various lectionaries are read throughout the year in church.
A highly recommended book for discerning, worshipping Christians.
May 6, 2025
This is a great, not so well known book. Eugenes second book in the series (Eat this book) is a lot more popular. I think this one is a gem. The Jesus Way is divided into two parts, the first goes through a chapter each for Jesus and then Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah and Isaiah and how each of them prepared the way for Jesus. The second part is about the contrasting 'Way of Herod', Way of Caiaphas' and 'Way of Josephus'.
This book is a blend of theology, teaching, history and is written in Eugens typical prose. I learnt alot. Its extremely well researched, as you would expect, and seeks to show you practical ways that we can learn to live like Jesus.
Here are a few quotes from the book:
"Martin Luther meant, that we are not all priests for ourselves, but for oneanother. The priesthood of all believers is not an arrogant individualism that doesnt need anyone, it is a confession of mutuality."
"In the three great refusals (temptations of Jesus), Jesus refuses to do good things in the wrong way, each temptation is wrapped around something good. Feed a lot of people, evangalise by miracle, rule the world justly! The devils temptation strategy is to depersonalise the ways of Jesus but leave the way itself intact. His strategy is the same with us. But a way that is depersonalised, carried out without love or intimacy or participation is not, no matter how well we do it, no matter how much good is accomplished, the Jesus way."
"God has tested Abrahams faith at every turn, to live by faith, better, to live a faith life, means to be tested. Abrahams faith did not always survive the test. His faith failed in Egypt, in Moriah and with Hagar. Untested faith, does not yet qualify as faith. Untested faith, having the appearance of faith, the feeling of faith, the kanguage of faith, may be only wishful thinking."
"A frequently used phrase in western culture, that is symptomatic baalistic tendancies in worship is, 'Lets have a worship experience'. It is the baalistic version of, 'let us worship God' It is the difference between cultivating something that makes sense to the individual, and acting in response to what makes sense to God."
"Biblically formed people of God do not use the term 'worship' as a description of experience, such as: 'I can have a worship experience with God on the golf course'. What that means is, 'I can have religous feelings, reminding me of good things nearly any place'... Which is true enough. The only thing wrong with this statement is its ignorance. Thinking that the experience makes up what the church calls 'worship'. The biblical experience is very different.... It is something we do, regardless of how we feel, not something we experience.."
"When you have a God that is a 'thing', a God that you can use, an 'object', neighbours also become things and objects that you can use. With an impersonal God, you end up with an impersonal neighbour."
"Following Jesus is not a skill we acquire so that we can be useful to the Kingdom, the Essene way. It is not a privilege we are let into so that the Kingdom can be useful to us, the Caiaphas way. It is obedience 'My Lord' and worship 'and my God'."
This book is a blend of theology, teaching, history and is written in Eugens typical prose. I learnt alot. Its extremely well researched, as you would expect, and seeks to show you practical ways that we can learn to live like Jesus.
Here are a few quotes from the book:
"Martin Luther meant, that we are not all priests for ourselves, but for oneanother. The priesthood of all believers is not an arrogant individualism that doesnt need anyone, it is a confession of mutuality."
"In the three great refusals (temptations of Jesus), Jesus refuses to do good things in the wrong way, each temptation is wrapped around something good. Feed a lot of people, evangalise by miracle, rule the world justly! The devils temptation strategy is to depersonalise the ways of Jesus but leave the way itself intact. His strategy is the same with us. But a way that is depersonalised, carried out without love or intimacy or participation is not, no matter how well we do it, no matter how much good is accomplished, the Jesus way."
"God has tested Abrahams faith at every turn, to live by faith, better, to live a faith life, means to be tested. Abrahams faith did not always survive the test. His faith failed in Egypt, in Moriah and with Hagar. Untested faith, does not yet qualify as faith. Untested faith, having the appearance of faith, the feeling of faith, the kanguage of faith, may be only wishful thinking."
"A frequently used phrase in western culture, that is symptomatic baalistic tendancies in worship is, 'Lets have a worship experience'. It is the baalistic version of, 'let us worship God' It is the difference between cultivating something that makes sense to the individual, and acting in response to what makes sense to God."
"Biblically formed people of God do not use the term 'worship' as a description of experience, such as: 'I can have a worship experience with God on the golf course'. What that means is, 'I can have religous feelings, reminding me of good things nearly any place'... Which is true enough. The only thing wrong with this statement is its ignorance. Thinking that the experience makes up what the church calls 'worship'. The biblical experience is very different.... It is something we do, regardless of how we feel, not something we experience.."
"When you have a God that is a 'thing', a God that you can use, an 'object', neighbours also become things and objects that you can use. With an impersonal God, you end up with an impersonal neighbour."
"Following Jesus is not a skill we acquire so that we can be useful to the Kingdom, the Essene way. It is not a privilege we are let into so that the Kingdom can be useful to us, the Caiaphas way. It is obedience 'My Lord' and worship 'and my God'."
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