Synopses & Reviews
Jesus Wars reveals how official, orthodox teaching about Jesus was the product of political maneuvers by a handful of key characters in the fifth century. Jenkins argues that were it not for these controversies, the papacy as we know it would never have come into existence and that today's church could be teaching some-thing very different about Jesus. It is only an accident of history that one group of Roman emperors and militia-wielding bishops defeated another faction.
Christianity claims that Jesus was, somehow, both human and divine. But the Bible is anything but clear about Jesus's true identity. In fact, a wide range of opinions and beliefs about Jesus circulated in the church for four hundred years until allied factions of Roman royalty and church leaders burned cities and killed thousands of people in an unprecedented effort to stamp out heresy.
Jenkins recounts the fascinating, violent story of the church's fifth-century battles over "right belief" that had a far greater impact on the future of Christianity and the world than the much-touted Council of Nicea convened by Constantine a century before.
Review
“Are you hungry for a rip-roaring tale of theological intrigue filled with conspiracies, Byzantine plots, murder, and mayhem? Or are you longing for a solid, informative, and accurate history of the development of Christian orthodoxy? If your answer is yes to both, Philip Jenkinss Jesus Wars...is your book.” Christianity Today
Review
“Jenkins manages to explain very clearly why people in the early Christian era were so passionately concerned with issues of high theology.” The Economist
Review
“Jenkins condenses centuries of church and imperial strife with admirable clarity...” Booklist (starred review)
Review
“In showing general readers how he finds fresh ideas and the resurrections of past teachings invigorating to religious studies, Jenkins provides an accessible book . . . the book enlightens readers on the backstory to current Christian divisions . . . ” Library Journal
Review
“Jenkins...has done a remarkable job of documenting this little-understood slice of history. Theres lots of excitement and plenty of intrigue, and Jenkins does a fine job in his recitation of this strange story.” Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Jenkins tells the fascinating, violent story of the Church's fifth century battles over right belief that had a far greater impact on the future of Christianity and the world than the much-touted Council of Nicea convened a century before.
Synopsis
For the last two thousand years, Christians have struggled to resolve a paradox that is central to their faith: that Jesus was fully human, and yet also fully divine. During the Church Councils of the fifth century, it seemed very likely that the Church might formally abandon its belief in the humanity of Jesus and describe him solely as a divine being. More than simply being a question of philosophy, the debate over Christ's divinity spilled out of the churches and into the battlefield.
In Jesus Wars, religious historian John Philip Jenkins tells the fascinating story of this conflict. Readers will encounter incredible characters, treacherous conspiracies, court factions and rebellions, culminating in a full-scale civil war over the nature of Jesus Christ that tore the Roman Empire apart for decades.
Philip Jenkins obtained his Doctorate in History from Cambridge University. Since 1980, he has taught at Penn State University, and currently holds the rank of Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of the Humanities in History and Religious Studies. His book The Next Christendom was named one of the top religion books of 2002 by USA Today. His articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the Boston Globe. Jenkins's radio appearances include NPR's "All Things Considered," and "Fresh Air" with Terri Gross.
"Jenkins ... has done a remarkable job of documenting this little-understood slice of history. There's lots of excitement and plenty of intrigue, and Jenkins does a fine job in his recitation of this strange story."
- Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
In Jesus Wars, highly respected religious historian Philip Jenkins (The Next Christendom) reveals in bloody detail the fifth century battles over Christianitys biggest paradox: the dual nature of Jesus Christ, as both fully human and fully divine. Jesus Wars is a must for the bookshelf of those who enjoy the work of Jared Diamond, Karen Armstrong, N.T. Wright, Elaine Pagels, and Alister McGrath, as well as anyone interested in early Christian history.
About the Author
Philip Jenkins, the author of The Lost History of Christianity, Jesus Wars, and The Next Christendom, is a Distinguished Professor of History at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion. He has published articles and op-ed pieces in The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Washington Post and has been a guest on top national radio shows across the country.