A panel of Protestant, Catholic
and Jewish scholars and theologians found much to praise March 9 in what
several called a "remarkable" new book, Pope Benedict XVI's "Jesus of
Nazareth: Holy Week -- From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the
Resurrection."
The panel -- convened by teleconference in anticipation of the global
release March 10 of the second in the pope's "Jesus of Nazareth" series
-- was unanimous in its assessment that the book would benefit readers
of every faith and at nearly every level of theological and scriptural
understanding.
"I would have no hesitation putting this book on the syllabus for my
students, who are mostly Baptists," said Craig A. Evans, a professor of
New Testament at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. "My
impression is that Protestants who are fairly well read and have some
sense of the historical Jesus will be astonished at how Protestant and
evangelical (Pope Benedict) sounds."
Benjamin Witherington III, a professor of New Testament for doctoral
studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., and a member of
the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland, said the
book "could not have happened before the Second Vatican Council" and
would greatly contribute to Christian unity at the scholarly level.
"Catholic and Protestant exegetes have come closer and closer together
in their understanding of the historical Jesus" since Vatican II,
Witherington said, adding that the pope's new book "helps with the
understanding of Jesus from the historical and critical view, but also
helps us with faith."
The book focuses on the key events of Jesus' final days, including the
cleansing of the Temple, the Last Supper, his betrayal, his
interrogations before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate, his crucifixion
and his appearances to the disciples after his resurrection.
Much of the discussion also centered on the book's statement that the
condemnation of Christ had complex political and religious causes and
cannot be blamed on the Jewish people as a whole.
The pope also said it was a mistake to interpret the words reported in
the Gospel, "His blood be on us and on our children," as a blood curse
against the Jews. He said those words, spoken by the mob that demanded
Jesus' death, were a cry for reconciliation, not vengeance, if read in
the light of faith.
Rabbi Jacob Neusner, a professor of the history and theology of Judaism
at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., and author of "A Rabbi
Talks With Jesus," said he had been corresponding with Pope Benedict for
25 years about the historical Jesus.
He called the book's statements on the Jewish people in relation to
Jesus "courageous and very learned" and said they could have "a lot of
impact" on negative attitudes toward Judaism.
"I think any Jewish reader can benefit from" reading the book "and it will do a lot of good in general," Rabbi Neusner added.
Capuchin Father Thomas G. Weinandy, executive director of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Doctrine, said the book
also offers insights into "the close, fruitful relationship between
Scripture and doctrine."
"Scripture gives light to doctrine, but doctrine also serves as a guide that helps us understand the sacred texts," he said.
Calling the book "not just an academic exercise," Father Weinandy said
he thought the book would be accessible to "lay readers who think
Scripture and theology are beyond them." The pope presents Jesus as
"someone the people of the world are dying to meet," he said.
Brant Pitre, a professor of sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary in
New Orleans, said the pope's book showed his commitment to Vatican II's
call for the renewal of biblical studies, "which in his opinion has not
yet taken root."
Pitre said Pope Benedict has sometimes been portrayed "as the pope that
is trying to turn back the clock on Vatican II," especially when he
reinstituted celebration of the Latin Mass in the extraordinary form.
"But when you look at what he has done with sacred Scripture, you see
that the idea he was somehow opposed to Vatican II is baseless," he
added.
During a question-and-answer period, one person who said he was a rabbi
asked if Pope Benedict's stand indicated a move toward the view that the
mention of the "blood curse" -- contained only in the Gospel of Matthew
-- was not correct.
Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, founder and publisher of Ignatius Press,
U.S. publisher of the second "Jesus of Nazareth," said the pope "does
acknowledge certain contradictions" between various Gospel accounts of
the passion and death of Jesus.
"But he sees that as an even greater witness to the integrity of the
Gospels," because it made clear that the writers of the Gospels "did not
get together to make sure they were saying the same thing," said Father
Fessio, a longtime student and friend of Pope Benedict.
Father Fessio said the initial printing of the second "Jesus of
Nazareth" was 1.2 million in seven languages worldwide, including 90,000
in the United States, 200,000 in Germany and 300,000 in Italy.