A study guide for Joseph Ratzinger's (Pope Benedict XVI) Jesus of Nazareth : from the baptism in the Jordan to the transfiguration

For Christians, Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world, and who rose from the dead in triumph over sin and death. For non-Christians, he is almost anything else--a myth, a political revolutionary, a prophet whose teaching was misunderstood or distorted by his followers.Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, and no myth, revolutionary, or misunderstood prophet, insists Benedict XVI. He thinks that the best of historical scholarship, while it can't "prove" Jesus is the Son of God, certainly doesn't disprove it. Indeed, Benedict maintains that the evidence, fairly considered, brings us face-to-face with the challenge of Jesus--a real man who taught and acted in ways that were tantamount to claims of divine authority, claims not easily dismissed as lunacy or deception.Benedict XVI presents this challenge in his new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, the sequel volume to Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration.Why was Jesus rejected by the religious leaders of his day? Who was responsible for his death? Did he establish a Church to carry on his work? How did Jesus view his suffering and death? How should we? And, most importantly, did Jesus really rise from the dead and what does his resurrection mean? The story of Jesus raises many crucial questions.Benedict brings to his study the vast learning of a brilliant scholar, the passionate searching of a great mind, and the deep compassion of a pastor's heart. In the end, he dares readers to grapple with the meaning of Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection.

This easy-to-use companion study guide helps the readers who approach Joseph Ratinger/Pope Benedict's Jesus of Nazareth without the benefit of extensive theological or biblical training. The goal is not to replace Benedict's book but to make it more accessible, more fruitful for the average reader—whether lay, religious, priest or deacon Designed for individual study or for group/parish discussion, this guide has the following features for each section and chapter of Jesus of Nazareth:

• a reader-friendly summary
• an outline
• a list of key terms
• questions for understanding, reflection, application and discussion
• a section for readers to include their personal reflections on the reading The guide also includes an ample introduction explaining the background for understanding Pope Benedict's approach and how to use this guide as an easy-to-use glossary that defines important terms and identifies key people discussed in Jesus of Nazareth.

This easy-to-use companion study guide helps the readers who approach Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedicts Jesus of Nazareth without the benefit of extensive theological or biblical training. The goal is not to replace Benedicts book but to make it more accessible, more fruitful for the average readerwhether lay, religious, priest or deacon. Designed for individual study or for group/parish discussion, this guide has the following features for each section and chapter of Jesus of Nazareth : The guide also includes an ample introduction explaining the background for understanding Pope Benedicts approach and how to use this guide as an easy-to-use glossary that defines important terms and identifies key people discussed in Jesus of Nazareth .