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Jesus the Magician by Morton Smith ➤ Harper & Row 1978 First Edition
Jesus the Magician by Morton Smith Harper & Row 1978
Title: Jesus the Magician
Author: Morton Smith
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper & Row 1978
Edition: First Edition
ISBN 10: 0060674121
Size: 6.25 X 9.5 * 222 pages
Synopsis: From the Jacket: "Who do men say that I am!"
To this, the most famous question of Jesus, the author of The Secret Gospel replies, "It depends whom you talk to."
To his followers and evangelists, Jesus was much like our common perception of him today: a man come from heaven, going about doing good works, preaching the good news, and working miracles.
But there is another, unsettling Jesus, only barely glimpsed through the centuries- long censorship by the Christian church, according to Morton Smith. This is the Jesus the majority of his contemporaries knew: Jesus the Magician.
To support this startling contention, history scholar Smith marshals all the available evidence, including but not limited to the Gospels. Smith succeeds in describing just what was said of Jesus by "outsiders," those who did not believe in him.
Dr. Smith deals in fascinating detail with the inevitable questions his argument suggests. What did people of that time mean by "magician"? What was the nature of magic? Who were other magicians, and how did their magic compare with Jesus' works? What facts led to the general assumption that Jesus practiced magic? And, most important, was that assumption correct?
In documenting his reply to this last question, Professor Smith challenges the accepted Christian view at every point. By examining the language of miracles and demons in the New Testament and explaining the actual historical meaning of the mythological world in which Jesus lived, Smith provides strong evidence for the case of Jesus as magician.
The ramifications of Jesus the Magician give new meaning to the word "controversial." This book recovers a vision of Jesus that two thousand years of suppression and polemic could not erase. And- what may be the central point of the debate sure to follow-Jesus the Magician strips away the cultural veneer surrounding Christianity since the days of Constantine and faces Christians themselves with the flesh-and-blood person of their ultimately enigmatic Savior.
Morton Smith is Professor of Ancient History at Columbia University. In 1958, Dr. Smith discovered in the Judean desert a fragment of a letter from Clement of Alexandria, speaking of a Secret Gospel by St. Mark and of Jesus' secret rites. The story of that astounding find was told in Dr. Smith's book The Secret Gospel. He is also the author of several other books.
Overall Condition: Very good: The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. There is no obvious damage to the cover the dust jacket (if applicable) is included for hard covers. There are no missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. It may have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover as well as very minimal wear and tear; see images.
Secure shipping bubble-wrapped in a new box.
2026--U.S. shipping for this (Two Pounds Media Mail) is $5.22 with tracking.
Multiple items will be combined for the lowest shipping price.
International Shipping cost is based on the destination so inquire before buying. Mobile users must scroll to the bottom and click on 'use desktop site' to bring up the Ask a Question link which sends me an email.
(PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.)
==========================================================================================================================
Just about all the books are USED books. Some have been used more gently than others. Some have been in libraries and have typical library extras. Some are so old and/or interesting that they are being offered for the sake of preservation regardless of the condition they are in. If the condition of the book is very important to you, please feel free to click the 'Ask seller a question' link and I will tell you more.
=========================================================================================
Title: Jesus the Magician
Author: Morton Smith
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper & Row 1978
Edition: First Edition
ISBN 10: 0060674121
Size: 6.25 X 9.5 * 222 pages
Synopsis: From the Jacket: "Who do men say that I am!"
To this, the most famous question of Jesus, the author of The Secret Gospel replies, "It depends whom you talk to."
To his followers and evangelists, Jesus was much like our common perception of him today: a man come from heaven, going about doing good works, preaching the good news, and working miracles.
But there is another, unsettling Jesus, only barely glimpsed through the centuries- long censorship by the Christian church, according to Morton Smith. This is the Jesus the majority of his contemporaries knew: Jesus the Magician.
To support this startling contention, history scholar Smith marshals all the available evidence, including but not limited to the Gospels. Smith succeeds in describing just what was said of Jesus by "outsiders," those who did not believe in him.
Dr. Smith deals in fascinating detail with the inevitable questions his argument suggests. What did people of that time mean by "magician"? What was the nature of magic? Who were other magicians, and how did their magic compare with Jesus' works? What facts led to the general assumption that Jesus practiced magic? And, most important, was that assumption correct?
In documenting his reply to this last question, Professor Smith challenges the accepted Christian view at every point. By examining the language of miracles and demons in the New Testament and explaining the actual historical meaning of the mythological world in which Jesus lived, Smith provides strong evidence for the case of Jesus as magician.
The ramifications of Jesus the Magician give new meaning to the word "controversial." This book recovers a vision of Jesus that two thousand years of suppression and polemic could not erase. And- what may be the central point of the debate sure to follow-Jesus the Magician strips away the cultural veneer surrounding Christianity since the days of Constantine and faces Christians themselves with the flesh-and-blood person of their ultimately enigmatic Savior.
Morton Smith is Professor of Ancient History at Columbia University. In 1958, Dr. Smith discovered in the Judean desert a fragment of a letter from Clement of Alexandria, speaking of a Secret Gospel by St. Mark and of Jesus' secret rites. The story of that astounding find was told in Dr. Smith's book The Secret Gospel. He is also the author of several other books.
Overall Condition: Very good: The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. There is no obvious damage to the cover the dust jacket (if applicable) is included for hard covers. There are no missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. It may have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover as well as very minimal wear and tear; see images.
Secure shipping bubble-wrapped in a new box.
2026--U.S. shipping for this (Two Pounds Media Mail) is $5.22 with tracking.
Multiple items will be combined for the lowest shipping price.
International Shipping cost is based on the destination so inquire before buying. Mobile users must scroll to the bottom and click on 'use desktop site' to bring up the Ask a Question link which sends me an email.
(PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.)
==========================================================================================================================
Just about all the books are USED books. Some have been used more gently than others. Some have been in libraries and have typical library extras. Some are so old and/or interesting that they are being offered for the sake of preservation regardless of the condition they are in. If the condition of the book is very important to you, please feel free to click the 'Ask seller a question' link and I will tell you more.
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