book review: Jesus: A Theography

author: Lenoard Sweet & Frank Viola
title: Jesus: A Theography
date: 2012
publisher: Thomas Nelson

I have just finished reading Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola Jesus: A Theography, and it's already on my list to re-read. Jesus: A Theography combines theology and history in a fresh way. If you are used to reading bits and pieces of Jesus’ life and ministry, in Old Testament references, or the different Gospel accounts, this book brings them all together in a marvelous tapestry.

There is a lot to digest in this book. Sweet and Viola do much more than re-tell the story of Jesus’ life. They trace Jesus actions and explore His character as they are revealed from Genesis to Revelation. 

This is a beautiful book showing Jesus in portions of the Bible where you might not have noticed Him before. It's a book that helps us read the Bible and see Jesus with fresh eyes and consequently love and appreciate Jesus as a person more than an idea or a doctrine.

One complaint is I would have preferred footnotes to endnotes. But that's pretty minor - I simply have to use two bookmarks.

The book is lengthy and will take time to read through. It has taken much lonmger than most books, part of that is the time needed to reflect on some of the ideas in the book. Jesus: A Theography isn't a difficult book to read, but it will be more challenging than most books.


I received this book from the Thomas Nelson Publishing House through the Book Sneeze program in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required and the views expressed in my review are my own.