This translation of the life and teachings of Jesus creates an image of not only a great spiritual teacher, but of a real person. Eminent author and translator Stephen Mitchell's approach to the Gospels has been widely praised for its depth, clarity, and radiance. This is a stunning work for believers and non-believers alike.

I like his way of integrating Buddha, Tao, history, and biblical interpretations. It seems an updated version of Leo Tolstoy's The Gospel According to Jesus -- or that of Thomas Jefferson. I read parts each night for about two months and mulled over the concepts as I slept.

Reprinted 1993. Thomas Jefferson’s Gospel

attempts to remove all the parts of the gospels with which Jesus would not agree; what is left is actually quite powerful ( )

An inspiring scholarly look at the four synoptic gospels. The author succeeds in separating genuine Jesus accounts from the artificial "Jesus" stories inserted in the 400 years after his death by the early church. He notes the roots of institutionalized anti-Semitism added long ago, and the judgmental, condemnatory words that Jesus would not have uttered. Most poignant was his observation that people "believe" because they have not had the experience. Jesus had the experience of being one with God and tried to convey to others what he had felt. He taught the basic laws of the Torah: love for God and love for one's neighbor. The story of the good Samaritan was to illustrate that all are our neighbors. Much interwoven dialogue with Buddhist, Taoist, and Christian scholars make this a delight. ( )