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| Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions (Relit Theology) | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 29 reviews)
Sales Rank: 17782
Category: Book
Authors: Gerry Breshears, Mark Driscoll
Publisher: Crossway Books
Studio: Crossway Books
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
Label: Crossway Books
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 5.5 x 1
ISBN: 1581349750
Dewey Decimal Number: 232
EAN: 9781581349757
ASIN: 1581349750
Publication Date: February 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Some two thousand years after he walked the earth, Jesus Christ is still a hot topic. And for all the ridiculous, twisted, Da Vinci Code-esque conspiracy theories and lies about Jesus that have permeated popular culture and even the academy over the years, the truth about his character, nature, and work has not changed. So what exactly is the truth about Jesus Christ?
That's the question the authors of Vintage Jesus seek to answer by breaking it down into a number of sub-questions about Jesus, including Is Jesus the only God? Why did Jesus come to earth? Did Jesus rise from death? Why should we worship Jesus? and others.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
Vintage Jesus January 5, 2009
Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions by Gerry Breshears tries to tackle tough questions about Jesus the man and Jesus the God. He refers to the Bible for most answers about Jesus the God and speculates about Jesus the man.
There is a beautiful new book about Jesus, God , faith and what you will do after death entitled "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," by John H. Eagan. I just finished it. It's really great and deals with God, the creator, Jesus' teachings, and His Passion. It brought me to tears. I think the readers of Breshears' book will really enjoy The Enlightenment.
 Helped My Christology November 15, 2008
This reminded me of one huge Chick tract but with great theology, wonderful humor and questions that any non-believer (or even old believer like myself) would ask. Trust me, it is a good thing. (I think I was looking for that analogy due to the really cool cover to the hardcover.)
Oh yes. I understand that Driscoll wants to make sure that the point is not only made but it sinks into your heart. I think he does a wonderful job in doing so. He does it with a humor that is a bit courser than what most people are used to. I have read many reviews where the reviewer cries out, "oh why did He have to make that joke" and to others, it was a giggle and simply moved on i.e. a non-factor. If the term "Mary did not knock boots with God" (yes, some religions teach that God had sex with Mary to conceive Jesus Christ) offends you, don't read this book. Otherwise, the humor is great and a non-issue to you.
Moving on to the juicier stuff...
This book is the counter attack to so many thoughts and ideas about who Jesus is, what did He do on this earth and did He really do what the Bible teaches. The book nicely sums up the impact that Jesus had on human history.
The only secondary issue I had was the teaching of what Jesus did immediately after He died on pages 121-122. Driscoll/Breashears teach that Jesus went into Paradise or Abraham's side, which it is true:
Jesus went into the heart of the earth:
Matthew 12:40 (ESV) For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
He went into hell to grab the keys to death and hell:
Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Grabbed the saints from Abraham's side and made His way back up to Heaven with a pit stop on earth:
Matthew 27:50-52 (ESV) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
Remember in John 20:1-18 where Jesus appeared in the early morning to Mary Magdalene. Jesus told Mary, "Do not cling to me. Don't touch me right now. I haven't seen my Father just yet. Go to my friends and tell them 'I am going to my Father and your Father. I am going to see my God and your God." (Because Jesus intercedes for us to the Father, we are now able to have a personal relationship with God the Father.)
Okay, then right after that passage in John 20:19, it reads "On the evening of that day...". So between the wee morning hours of the first day and the evening of that same day, something happened. It says in the verse 17, "I am going to my Father and your Father...".
But what exactly happened when He went to go see the Father? Well, he wasn't going alone. He had all the saints from Paradise. What was He going to do with all those saints?
Judgment upon Satan as the ruler of this world:
John 12:31 (ESV) Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
Jesus worries not. Satan was the previous ruler and now Jesus is:
John 14:30 (ESV) I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,
God the Father holds court:
Daniel 7:9-12 (ESV) "As I looked,
thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
"I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Then Jesus Christ is now given dominion over this earth:
Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV) "I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Thus, the kingdom of God is now:
Daniel 7:21-22 (ESV) As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
Other than that (very very minor), I love the book. Can't wait to give it away to loved ones.
 A Book that Deserves a Wide Audience October 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
According to the subtitle of Mark Driscoll's new book, Vintage Jesus (Crossway, 2008) aims to provide "timeless answers to timely questions." Actually, this book offers the reverse - timely answers to timeless questions.
Vintage Jesus takes weighty theology and breaks it down into today's vernacular through the inclusion of quotes and stories from a variety of cultural sources. The way that Vintage Jesus has been crafted may tell you as much about Jesus as the content. Here is theology that takes on flesh, namely - the current flesh of contemporary American culture.
Driscoll stands out as a pastor and author because he is well-read, not only in theology, but in culture. His innate ability to communicate theological concepts in a timely, relevant manner has brought this book attention in the forms of both praise and criticism.
In Vintage Jesus, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears take important questions about Jesus, strip them down to their essence, and then answer them in the "in-your-face" style that Driscoll has become known for. Questions like "Is Jesus the Only God?," "Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?" and "What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?" are answered in an easy-to-understand way and with cultural points of contact that keep the reader interested. Driscoll doesn't shy away from tough questions. He hits them head-on and offers solid answers.
Strengths
The strengths of Vintage Jesus are numerous. First, the book's outline shows how theological questions are relevant to the Christian faith and to every-day life. Anyone involved in ministry with 20-somethings can probably testify to fielding these questions. Driscoll has provided an immensely-readable book that dives into deep theological waters without drowning newcomers to the Christian faith.
Secondly, the points of cultural contact help readers to make connections between the biblical worldview and the world we live in. I can see this book being well-received by those in my Sunday School class. In fact, I have already decided to pass this book along to a young man in jail who I am discipling. (No big books are allowed, so I am having to copy portions of the book and staple them together in book form!) Rarely do I come across good theology that is expressed in such a readable, relevant way.
Third, Vintage Jesus saves the best chapters for later in the book. The first few chapters are the most entertaining for sure, but as the book progresses, it seems to get better and more theologically precise. One of the later chapters mentions the great contributions of Christianity to the world and responds well to objections to the Christian faith.
Weaknesses
Vintage Jesus has already caused a stir in the blogosphere - in true Driscoll-like fashion - as many reviewers have criticized some of the crude, seemingly irreverent language that Mark employs to get his point across. Because of some of the reviews, I started this book fully prepared to despise certain aspects of it. Surprisingly, though there are times where Mark crosses the line into juvenile humor, I did not find the book irreverent or blasphemous. Most of the people I minister to would not bat an eye upon reading words like "shagging" or "knocking boots" as euphemisms for other activities. (My only issue with using this terminology is not its potential "irreverence" but that it contributes to the trivialization and cheapening of sex - a sacred gift from God.)
This kind of language necessarily dates the book. In many ways, using current lingo is a strength, as it makes the book accessible to today's generation. But the timeliness of Driscoll's delivery virtually ensures its eventual relegation to the Bargain Book section of Christian bookstores. Imagine picking up a book from the 1970's that talked about how "groovy" Jesus' disciples were.
The other weakness of Vintage Jesus is that Mark tends toward oversimplification, and ironically, this leads to a lack of clarity in some cases.
Take for example this statement from Mark about the eternality of Jesus. "Finally, the statement that he came down from heaven also indicates Jesus' eternality; he existed before his birth as a man, which is the repeated teaching of the New Testament." (18) Mark is clear that Jesus was pre-existent, but because this affirmation is merely stated, rather than explained, we're left with the puzzling sentence: "He existed before his birth as a man." This could mean one of two things: "Jesus, before his birth as a man, existed" (the orthodox belief that teaches that Jesus had not yet become human, though he eternally existed as the Son) or that "Jesus existed as a man before his birth" (a heretical teaching that denies the special nature of the Incarnation). I'm confident that Mark believes Option 1, but his simple, hard-hitting style sometimes leaves us with less clarity, not more.
At other times, Driscoll overstates his case. Take for example this statement: "Jesus clearly, emphatically, and repeatedly said he is God." (21) Of course, the Gospels show Jesus clearly implying his deity both in his words and actions, but we do not see him walking around "clearly, emphatically, and repeatedly" saying "I Am God" in such terms (which is the picture that Mark paints). I admire Mark's desire to simplify doctrinal teaching, but at times, he makes simple, bold affirmations of truth that his readers/listeners may find expressed differently in Scripture itself and which will lead them to later cast doubt on Mark's teaching, however solid and orthodox it may be.
Overall, Vintage Jesus is a great book that deserves a wide audience. If Driscoll continues upon this current trajectory, I suspect that his influence over conservative evangelicalism will increase. I hope his book sells well and that we will see more books in this series.
Presents the person and work of Jesus Christ in a meaningful way for the average reader. October 13, 2008
This isn't your Grandpa's theology book. Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears bring a fresh approach to timeless Christian doctrines about Jesus in a way that is sure to resonate with those (especially non-Christians and new Christians) in their twenties and thirties. Driscoll's engaging, but sometimes shocking style is on display at various points throughout this work. Even if you're amongst those who have criticized Driscoll in the past for his sometimes raw and edgy language, I'd ask that you give him the benefit of the doubt and give this book a chance.
This work is divided into twelve chapters. Each of these chapters answers an important question about the life and work of Jesus. The questions are as follows:
*Chapter 1: Is Jesus the Only God?
*Chapter 2: How Human Was Jesus?
*Chapter 3: How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
*Chapter 4: Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
*Chapter 5: Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
*Chapter 6: What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
*Chapter 7: Did Jesus Rise from Death?
*Chapter 8: Where Is Jesus Today?
*Chapter 9: Why Should We Worship Jesus?
*Chapter 10: What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
*Chapter 11: What Differences Has Jesus Made in History?
*Chapter 12: What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?
In each chapter, Driscoll unpacks one of the twelve questions. He engages them in several ways. First of all, he explores how culture (modern & historic) has responded to these questions. Second, he presents a Christian response to each question, utilizing the Bible, church history, and sound Christian doctrine and theology. Gerry Breshears' contribution to this work shines through in the "Answers to common questions" found at the end of each chapter. Here Dr. Breshears offers solid Biblical and historical answers to additional questions that are commonly asked about the subject matter discussed in the chapter. Additionally, I appreciated the subject index, scripture index, and notes found at the end of this book. It's nice to see well devised references and indexing in a work of this size.
I highly recommend this recent work from Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears. They've done a great job of presenting the timeless truths about the person and work of Jesus Christ in a way that will make sense to those entrenched in our modern culture, whose view of Jesus is often confused at best. In addition to this book, I'd also recommend another recent book by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears titled: Death by Love: Letters from the Cross. This new work has a unique format in which Mark Driscoll responds to a member of his church in a pastoral letter that explains how Jesus' work on the cross is sufficient for the sin or issue they're struggling with.
Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill church [www.marshillchurch.org] in Seattle. He is also co-founder and president of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network [www.acts29network.org]. Mark has penned an ever-growing list of books including: A book you'll actually read series, Vintage Jesus, Death by Love, and Vintage Church (January 31, 2009). Mark is married to his high school sweetheart Grace. They have been blessed with 5 children.
Gerry Breshears is Professor of theology and chairman of the division of biblical and theological studies at Western Seminary. Other books by Dr. Breshears include Death by Love: Letters from the Cross, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (January 31, 2009), and Personal Doctrinal Statements.
good college small group book September 19, 2008
This is a great book to use with a college small group. It is easy to read,entertaining,informative, and funny yet very orthodox. We're using it to train new leaders and get to know where students are with their basic beliefs. Driscoll can be caustic and over the line at times as he is want to do, but i think the way he confronts common misconceptions and ideas in the world of christendom more than makes up for the burned bridges. He is logical, upfront, and honest . . . with a few glimpses of compassion! :-)
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