The Aims of Jesus (Princeton Theological Monograph) by Ben F. Meyer

The Aims of Jesus (Princeton Theological Monograph) Reviews

• 
  Geoff

  This book was first published in 1979 and therefore doesn't interact with the latest in historical Jesus research. But the amazing thing about this book is that it anticipates so much and is used by so much of it. The introduction by NT Wright spells out the significance of this book - the strengths of Meyer's approach where still so many scholars are lacking. Like Wright, Meyer writes with a sharp wit which easily dissects the absurdities of earlier skeptics while still maintaining a critical eye on the value of the evidence at hand. On more than one occasion I found myself smiling at the provision of an argument which demolishes later scholars who seem ignorant of his writing. Much of this is contained in the first part of the book which deals with "hermeneutical issues."
  
  Meyer's thesis is that the best way to understand a historical figure is to try to work out what he was trying to achieve. This occupies the second part of the book. He begins by examining the career of John the Baptist, and observes that until John the Baptist's arrest John's gospel presents Jesus as working alongside John the Baptist in calling the nation of Israel to repentance and to be baptised. Meyer sees that John t Baptist is seeking to "prepare Israel for the impending judgement" - but not by forming a separatist community but in a way that challenged the establishment.
  
  Following John's arrest, Jesus appears to change tactics. Meyer then goes on to examine the public teaching (proclaiming the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God) and actions of Jesus, searching for evidence of congruence and dissimilarity with John the Baptist's aims. He then also examines the gospel records of Jesus' esoteric (or private) teaching and actions (with his disciples).
  
  In his conclusion, Meyer presents a comprehensive summary of Jesus' aims - to form the nation of Israel as an open community based on faith into which the Gentiles were welcomed. He deals with several objections (such as the delay of the parousia) and reviews his summary in a study of Jesus' continuity and discontinuity with 2nd Temple Judaism and early Christianity (in a way which anticipates later historical Jesus research).
  
  This book is relatively short for one on this topic. But it contains more rare words and syllables per word than most others. I can see why NT Wright liked it - it fits with his style. I consider it well worth the read - probably one of the few early historical Jesus books (i.e. pre-1980) that doesn't feel dated.
• 
  Geoff Ng

  In what is probably his more important work, Meyer cogently outlines a way forward in historical Jesus studies. The book's strengths are primarily methodological. Drawing from Bernard Lonergan's "critical realism," Meyer sets forth a method of historical investigation that eschews what he sees as the fatal flaw in most of modern criticism - the burden of anti-supernaturalist, anti-dogmatic, anti-establishment Enlightenment presuppositions on the gospel accounts. These, according to Meyer, make actual historical investigation of the gospels untenable. Meyer's own method sees the gospels as intending to record actual historical events, even if there are theological purposes to their being recorded. Thus, he posits, by taking what is recorded and critically analyzing the whole of what we have in the gospels, we are able to paint a fairly comprehensive picture of who Jesus was and what his aims were. Another fine feature of this book is that Meyer also exercises his methodology and, with an even hand and judicious exegesis of texts, concludes that Jesus' own aims were primarily centered on his mission being the reconstitution of a redefined eschatological Israel. (One clearly sees the roots from which NT Wright ultimately draws his conclusions in JVG.) Overall, the book is a strong contribution and continues to be relevant to anybody seeking a balanced critical perspective on historical Jesus studies. If anything, the greatest weakness of the book is that Meyer is a bit too succinct. His methodology could be expanded on in more detail and the conclusions he makes regarding Jesus' aims are left without much comment regarding any entailments or implications on other ideas, especially christology, which is a glaring lacuna. Despite this, and the fact that it is a bit dated in its interaction (it was written in 1979 and not updated), Meyer's book deserves serious consideration by any scholar or student seeking to converse with major modern approaches to the historical Jesus.
• 
  Norman Falk

  NT Wright: “If I had to choose one of the following books to take to a desert island, it would almost certainly be Ben Meyer’s The Aims of Jesus, a neglected work with more wisdom and learning per page than many other scholars could provide per chapter.”
• 
  Paul

  I was taught by this man. He knows biblical exegesis and deals with the problems of the last things, eschatology, well. Although I must admit, he is heavy...
• 
  Jameson Cunningham

  Challenging to read at times as it delves into wonky debates among historians. But its conclusions about what Jesus intended while on earth are solid and clear. (Heard about this book as recommended by NT Wright.)
• 
  Phil

  very very difficult to read but good if you're willing to mow through it.
• 
  Zach Waldis

  An important reevaluation of the quest for the historical Jesus focusing on Jesus' motivations and goals. It definitely proves the maxim that "brevity is the soul of wit!".