THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST: A 21st Century Update of James Stalker

His treatment of the life of Jesus Christ helped readers follow the Gospel record as a connected historical account rather than as a collection of isolated episodes. Stalker emphasized the development of Jesus’ ministry, the calling and training of His disciples, His teaching and miracles, the increasing hostility of His religious opponents, His final journey to Jerusalem, His death, resurrection, and triumph. This twenty-first-century update brings the central purpose of Stalker’s classic work to modern readers while preserving its strong historical emphasis and its determination to present the earthly life of Jesus Christ as a coherent whole.

THIS IS NOT A REPRINT OF JAMES STALKER’S ORIGINAL WORK.

More than a century has passed since Stalker wrote his account of the life of Jesus Christ. While the biblical events on which his work was based have not changed, much of the language, literary style, historical discussion, cultural explanation, and method of presentation belong to the nineteenth century and are not always immediately accessible to twenty-first-century readers.

This edition is a thorough modern update of Stalker’s treatment of the life of Christ. I have preserved his central purpose of following the life and ministry of Jesus historically and chronologically while completely rewriting the language, organization, chapter titles, headings, explanations, and overall presentation. The goal is to enable modern readers to move naturally through the Gospel history—from the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and early life, through His baptism and the beginning of His ministry, across His approximately three and a half years of preaching and teaching, and finally to His arrest, execution, resurrection, appearances to His disciples, and ascension to heaven.

Wherever possible, I have retained Stalker’s ability to keep the reader focused on the movement of the Gospel narrative while expanding the biblical foundation of the discussion. The historical-grammatical method governs the interpretation throughout. The Gospel writers are allowed to speak according to their own historical settings, vocabulary, grammar, context, and intended meaning. Scripture remains the final authority for understanding who Jesus was, what He taught, what He accomplished, and why His earthly ministry stands at the very center of the Christian faith.

My prayer is that this twenty-first-century update will help a new generation encounter the life of Jesus Christ with greater clarity, follow the chronological development of His ministry with greater understanding, and gain a deeper appreciation for the One whom Scripture identifies as the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and the Savior of mankind.