Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola and The Thomas Nelson Publishing Company deserve a well thought out, professional sounding review of their book 'JESUS, a Theography'. My heart, however, simply wants to yell out, "Read this book! It is SO GOOD! It is SO important to read this!" As I read through the text I frequently felt as if the wind was being knocked out of me because the revelations were that dramatic! Before I finished reading it I had already ordered two copies to share with others.

This book offers deep insight into the person of Jesus as God, Creator and, most significantly to me, as the man He fully was while on earth. It reveals the way the entire bible breathes the story of our living redeemer.

In the first chapter we see where Jesus was, in regard to creation, and how the process of creation itself speaks about Christ through metaphor, analogy and typology. Subsequent chapters go on to explain the exhaustive symbolism in the first testament and how everything in history reveals the person and character of Jesus.

Sweet and Viola explain numerous portions of scripture through indepth views of the Jewish culture. For instance, there is good reason why it was to shepherds of Bethlehem that the angels appeared with the news of Christ's birth.

Every aspect of the life of Jesus is examined and discussed in this book. The last chapter addresses Jesus' growing awareness of His Messiahship and how He has been revealed through the scriptures. Jesus is the new David, the new Adam, the new Moses, Joseph and Isaac. 'The Bible is the narrative of Jesus - the Christ, the Savior, the living Lord, and our All.'

I strongly recommend this book to everyone who wants to expand their knowledge of Jesus and deepen their relationship with Him. I am in awe of my love for Him because of what I have gained by reading this precious work.

Would you like a juicy biography of Jesus Christ? How about one that brought the entire sweep of the Bible to bear on the subject? Then, you have what you are looking forward to in "Jesus: A Theography" by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola and recently published by Thomas Nelson.

Unlike other volumes on the life of Christ, the authors here take us back to eternity past. They vividly paint the scene in Heaven as Jesus leaves to come to Earth for us too. You probably won't find that between the covers of others books on your shelves.

When the authors discussed Christ in both macro and micro version, they were providing great insights. Throughout the book they met a real need in giving a larger view. That is where many such volumes fail. They are able to wade through a sea of details to pull out the key ones that fill the canvass of the composite picture of God's Revelation. Remember, it is the synthesized view that most leads to understanding.

You also had to love how they unlocked Jesus from some of the ridiculous stereotypes that have been around at least as long as Hollywood has been making movies about Him. They made Him so alive. You see Him as He surely was—always without sin yet righteously angry, laughing, talking, loving, even being funny. They showed Him with emotion—properly controlled of course—but with emotion nonetheless.

You might not agree with every conclusion they make but His death, burial, and resurrection is given its rightful place and they have a strong Christology. To make it all even better they can both turn a phrase and separate the important from the not so important. I never heard of a theography before this book, but am now convinced that it is exactly what we need.

They make it clear that Christianity is Christ. This book is important and flat-out good. I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 .

i have a audio version of this book and was amazed at the information contained in the book. i decided to get a hard copy so I could go and look up different information. The book is a wondrful addition to my reference book and will be used often.

Usually when someone is looking for a good book on the life of Jesus Christ, they either select one written from a historical position, or one from a theological perspective.

Now you have a new option: a "theography."

"Jesus - A Theography" is the latest book by co-authors Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola (published by Thomas Nelson) which examines the life of Christ from both historical and theological perspectives.

Many biographies of Jesus open with that familiar setting of a stable in Bethlehem. From a theological perspective, some start in the pristine Garden described in Genesis. But the true biography of Jesus must begin before there was a beginning, which is where Sweet and Viola take us as a starting point.

From pre-creation, this talented writing duo begin in earnest to show how Jesus Christ is the center of all scripture, not just the New Testament. Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!" (John 5:39 NLT), and the writers do a scholarly job of showing how all of scripture does, indeed, point to Jesus.

The scholarship of this book isn't just for scholars, although serious students of the Bible will enjoy this edition that comes replete with a sizeable notes section. Readers who are younger in the faith and newer to the Bible can find this book readable, understandable, and insightful; however, the content will sometimes require a little slower reading for processing and digesting than the simplistic topical books that are so common today.

"Jesus - A Theography" does a masterful job of revealing to us Christ in all of scripture, thus deepening our view and understanding of Jesus. If you want a deeper knowledge of Christ from a significant study from scripture as a whole, this volume by Sweet and Viola could be the perfect pairing with several cups of coffee and an open Bible.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Jesus in the Old Testament?!

Jesus: A Theography

By Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

There are some Christians who forget (or do not know) that Jesus was first and foremost a Jew. Even fewer probably are aware that Jesus was with God "in the beginning". It's not enough for Christians to only read the New Testament (what the authors call the "Second Testament") to know who Jesus was. It is equally important to their faith to read the Old Testament (what the authors call the "First Testament")." Consequently, if you read Scripture in a way that doesn't point to Christ, you don't have Christianity; you have a religion".

The authors tell the story of Jesus from beginning, Genesis, to the end, Revelation. "All the books of that canon [the Bible] contribute to the plotline of God's covenantal relationship with humanity through Jesus".

What I found so remarkable about this book is that not only did the authors show me how Jesus was in the First Testament, but that they did it in layman's terms. One does not have to be a seminary student or graduate to understand this book.

The story is also a love story for us. Not only a love story between God and His Son, but between God and His Creation. God wanted us humans to know Him better through His Son and His Son through the Holy Spirit as recorded in His Word, the Bible. It is also an account of God's plan for His Creation. His way of communication to us is through His Word.

I thought I had a pretty good understanding of who Jesus was through my studying of the First (Old) Testament. One of the things I learned from this book is how God tells us about Jesus in the Creation story. Briefly, Day One: His birth, God created light; Jesus is referred to as "the light"; Day Two: His death, the separation of what is above and what is below; separation from the world (beneath) and the things of God (above), we are to die to those things of the world. Day Three: His resurrection, God gathered the waters together and the dry land together, land produced fruit on the third day, the first signs of life. Three is the number of resurrection: Jesus was resurrected on the third day. Day Four: His Ascension, God created the sun (Jesus was the embodiment of God's light), moon is the embodiment of the church. Fourth day Jesus ascension. Day Five: His Indwelling Life, God created birds and fish, higher life forms the result of more light. Christian symbols: fish, dove for Holy Spirit. Day Six: His Rule, God created man in His image, Adam, first man, Jesus, second Adam; just as God gave Adam rule and authority over the whole earth, so did He give Jesus rule and authority over the whole earth. Day Seven, His rest, the Sabbath. Jesus Christ is the rest of God. "It is finished", John 19:30.

This is just one example of how the First (Old) Testament speaks of Jesus, and only a brief summation. There is so much good information in this book, it's hard to reduce it. It is far better to read the book instead of taking this short review. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants the know more about how Jesus was with God in the beginning and how Jesus fulfilled God's plan for His Creation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."