Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite

In Scripting Jesus, Michael White, famed scholar of early Christian history, reveals how the gospel stories of Jesus were never meant to be straightforward historical accounts, but rather were scripted and honed as performance pieces for four different audiences with four different theological agendas. As he did as a featured presenter in two award-winning PBS Frontline documentaries (“From Jesus to Christ” and “Apocalypse!”), White engagingly explains the significance of some lesser-known aspects of The New Testament; in this case, the development of the stories of Jesus—including how the gospel writers differed from one another on facts, points of view, and goals. Readers of Elaine Pagels, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, and Bart Ehrman will find much to ponder in Scripting Jesus. |

The greatest story ever told was honed like any good performance, on the road in front of audiences. Acclaimed scholar L. Michael White challenges us to read the gospels as they were intended—as performed stories of faith, not factual accounts—and illuminates the agendas that motivated each of their authors. A fresh account of the gospels that have shaped centuries of Christian belief, Scripting Jesus offers important insight into how we can understand Jesus’s story today.

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“Scripting Jesus combines sober analysis of a broad range of complex issues relating to Jesus and the Gospels with creative appropriation of texts, traditions, and images from the ancient Roman world. White has produced a valuable resource for teachers, rabbis, ministers, and students who want clear exposition informed by a fresh appraisal of primary sources and spirited engagement of recent scholarly debate.” - Carl R. Holladay, Charles Howard Candler Professor of New Testament, Emory University

“No one interested in the telling of a story, especially those taken by the Gospel stories of Jesus, will be able to put down Scripting Jesus. White helps the reader of the Gospels by reading carefully, closely and deeply. He draws our attention to the cast of characters in each Gospel; pulls out the “habits” of each Gospel writer; and shows how all of them is scripted. But he doesn’t leave the scripting to the canonical Gospels-- he draws the reader to the legendary Gospels. [He accomplishes] all of this with vivid awareness of the ancient story telling in the Greco-Roman world. This book will engage the listener as well as the teller of tales.” - Kent Harold Richards, Executive Director and Professor of Old Testament, Society of Biblical Literature.