A Mystical Portrait of Jesus: New Perspectives on John's Gospel

by Demetrius Dumm and Demetrius Dumm OSB

Book Overview

The poetic and symbolic nature of John's gospel betrays the weakness of historical-critical and other scientific" methods of scriptural exegesis: Although valuable for the insights they do provide, scientific methods are not sensitive to the spiritual dimensions of biblical revelation.

Father Dumm therefore offers something more than the traditional chapter-and-verse commentary. Understanding that all of the gospels were written after...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814627609
• ISBN13: 9780814627600
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Liturgical Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Meaningful book on John's Gospel by a thoughtful man...

Here is the beginning of the Chapter "Love Gives All." Just two sentences that say so much: "The story of the crucifixion and death of Jesus is summed up perfectly in the words of John: 'Having Loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end' (13:1). This is a little like being reminded at Christmas time that Jesus will die on the cross. There is a mystery to the life of the man Jesus, part of it for me is that it was so short. We were given only three years of his ministry to look at for wisdom and saving grace. In this book Demetrius Dumm uses the text of John with his comments to help us as a guide through a reading of John. The author goes through various scenes in John in the first Chapter bringing a studied review with good thoughts on the subject at hand. The author likes the Gospel of John, and he helps the reader through it and thereby instills an appreciation. One could say this is a book that shows and helps teach an appreciation for the scripture. Here's how he calls a scene: "Scene Four (19-25b-27) 'Woman, here is your Son...Here is your Mother' (19:26-27). This starts off a discussion of Mary and the Beloved Disciple in a manner that "transcends their historical significance." Those are Father Demetrius Dumm's words concerning transcending. The writer is a Professor of New Testament at Saint Vincent Seminary, where he has held that position for 50 years. No beginner, he. No stranger, either, in things that are a mystery. The jacket says this is a spiritual study. The theme is of the story of Jesus as a man of timeless eternity. I suppose most readers know about the Gospel of John, to some extent. Here is a chance to extend one's understanding of the mystical and learn of God's love for us in "...the divine Word experienced (in) the love of God..." As the author writes in his exploration of the Chapter "That They May Be One" using the reference "Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth", that Jesus gave his life and unveils the reality of God's unconditional love for us. "...We are called to live in the presence and warmth of the Father's incredible love to to trust the hidden goodness in life, just as Jesus lives in the Father's bosom and listens to his heartbeat." This paperback with an intriguing picture of Jesus in color on the cover by Georges Rouault guides the reader through John, the book of the Bible, in a manner that is studied and teaches about reading John in a studied manner. This is an interesting, and even intriguing book. Jesus came into a world where he was not generally welcomed. There is the journey of the Word from creation, "through the Law and the Prophets and Wisdom writings." Yet, the experience of the Johannine community of the first century showed how difficult it was for him to be accepted by so many of his own people who encountered him. If the reader is searching for or interested in a meaning in life beyond what worldly wisdom can offer, this is a book that will point in a direc