The surprising genius of Jesus : what the gospels reveal about the greatest teacher

How the Story of the Prodigal Son Illuminates Jesus’s Genius When someone thinks of Jesus, “genius” is not likely the first word that comes to mind. But when studied in detail, Jesus’s teachings and interactions with others combined high levels of knowledge and insight, verbal skill, and simplicity―showing his genius. In The Surprising Genius of Jesus , Peter J. Williams examines the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to show the genius, creativity, and wisdom of Jesus’s teachings. He used simple but powerful stories to confront the Pharisees and scribes of the day, drawing on his knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures to teach his audience through complex layers and themes. Williams challenges those who question whether Jesus really was the source of the parables recorded in the Gospels, pointing readers to the truth of who Jesus is and why that matters for them today. Clear and Insightful: Accessible for general readers with in-depth footnotes for those wanting to learn more Biblical: Comprehensive, interscriptural analysis of the story of the prodigal son Written by Peter J. Williams: Author of Can We Trust the Gospels? and principal of Tyndale House, Cambridge "The story of the two sons in Luke 15:11-32 is extremely clever both at its surface level and through the way it echoes all the major stories of Genesis. No one but Jesus could have told this story, and we should have a new appreciation for the depth of his teaching and recognize that he must be more than merely an extraordinarily gifted teacher"-- Provided by publisher