Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus

From the award-winning author of The Gnostic Gospels, Elaine Pagels, comes a captivating new account of the life of Jesus that explores the mystery of how he inspired a religion that reshaped the world. In the culmination of a decades-long career, Pagels embarks on her most ambitious subject - the life of Jesus himself.

Miracles and Wonder unfolds like a historical mystery, with each chapter addressing a fascinating question. Why is Jesus said to have had a virgin birth? Why do we say he rose from the dead? Did his miracles really happen and what did they mean? The story Pagels tells is thrilling and tense, as not just Jesus, but his desperate, hunted followers come to life. They were writing in wartime and under occupation, she reminds us, endangered for spreading the gospel of a man who was executed as an insurrectionist.

Some of the most electrifying details in the Gospels, Pagels writes, may have been crafted by his disciples to avoid persecution and explain inconvenient facts. So Jesus wasn't illegitimate; instead, his mother conceived by God. Jesus' body wasn't humiliatingly tossed into a common grave; he was seen alive and whole by his followers. He wasn't a failed messiah; his kingdom lives in us.

Drawing on a lifetime of study and Pagels' own personal journey, Miracles and Wonders beautifully depicts this lost world and captures Jesus's enduring power to inspire and attract. Pagels changed our understanding of the origins of Christianity with her work on the Gnostic Gospels, and now, in this culmination of her distinguished career, she explores the life of Jesus with the same depth and insight.

The story Pagels weaves is one of mystery and intrigue, as she delves into the historical and cultural context of Jesus's life and ministry. She reminds us that the Gospels were written in a time of war and occupation, when the followers of Jesus were in constant danger for spreading his message. The details they included, Pagels suggests, may have been carefully crafted to protect themselves and their leader.

Yet, despite the challenges they faced, Pagels shows how Jesus's followers were able to preserve his message and inspire a movement that would reshape the world. She explores the miracles and wonders associated with Jesus, examining them through a historical lens and considering their significance in the context of his life and teachings.

Pagels' own personal journey also infuses the narrative, as she reflects on her own experiences and the ways in which the life of Jesus has continued to captivate and inspire her over the course of her career. Her deep understanding of the Gnostic Gospels and the early Christian tradition lends a unique perspective to her exploration of Jesus's life and legacy.

In Miracles and Wonders, Pagels has crafted a work that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply engaging. She invites readers to embark on a journey of discovery, uncovering the mysteries and complexities of Jesus's life and the enduring impact of his message. Whether you are a scholar of early Christianity or simply curious about the life of this influential figure, Miracles and Wonders is sure to captivate and enlighten.

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