Life of Christ by James Stalker

Description

James Stalker presents the story of Jesus Christ with background and cultural details in a readable harmonized format. He begins just prior to the birth of Christ filling in the details regarding the Roman Empire and Caesar Augustus mentioned in the biblical account. He continues through the story of Christ masterfully weaving together the three synoptic Gospels and John to form a concise account of Christ life. Along the way he stops to fill in details gleaned from historic discoveries and gives informed assumptions of individuals such as Herod, the Magi, and Mary. He also makes attempts to suggest potential developments in gaps in the biblical account, as with the considerable gaps in Jesus’ youth. However, when doing so he carefully avoids postulating too in depth and admits both the limitations and dangers involved in such ventures.

Stalker’s Life of Christ is entirely readable in one or two sittings and paints the landscape around Christ incarnation in sharp and interesting detail. It is this feature that proves very helpful in gaining a quick and beautiful picture of Christ’s life from beginning to end. While it should never replace the account of that found in the Gospels, the author has succeeded in presenting a clear and rich window into the life of Jesus who has alter the course of human history. After over 100 years since first being published (1880), The Life of Christ remains just as relevant today.