The Death of the Messiah, From Gethsemane to the Grave, Volume 2: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four Gospels (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library)

I used this book extensively in an exegesis paper on Luke's account of the Death of Jesus that I wrote this term. There is no book like it - and you want to own it. In paperback this book is a complete steal.Brown was a serious higher-critical scholar. If you're looking for something that avoids some of the difficult aspects of the crucifixion accounts (notably variations in the accounts) this is probably not the book for you. But if you're looking for seriously scholarly analysis of the crucifixion accounts then you can do no better. While individual commentaries on the four Gospels do offer some advantages, this book is second to none when it comes to comparing the accounts as well as Brown's insight into why the author might have recorded the story as he did.There are two key aspects that make this book as strong as it is.1) Despite his higher-critical method, Brown's faith comes through constantly. This is not a person out to dispel and destroy the Gospel accounts. Rather, this is the work of Christian scholar who takes the text to be his authority.2) Brown avoids heavy use of technical language and lots of Greek. Although not a light read, knowledge of Greek and/or a seminary education is not necessary to make use of this book.If you want to read about the Passion of our Lord, this and volume 1 are it.

Any work by the late Fr. Brown is worth the read for it reminds you how much you don't know about the texts you are familiar with especially the passion narratives.

"The Death of the Messiah" is the most exhaustive commentary I have ever seen on the Passion Narrative. While the books are usually reserved for seminary students, some undergrads such as myself have had to drudge through the 2,000 pages of material. Hard as it may be to get through the chapters, every page is very informative into both the literary history of particular passages, as well as the physical probality that such events actually occured during the life of Jesus.

Brown is always masterful.

Superb analysis and clearly written

Excellent

Raymond Brown is great.

I will add to the reviews of part I and give this 5 stars. These volumes alone could be the complete life work of a scholar, so thorough a job Fr. Brown has done. The scope of his learning - the sheer number of footnotes - is mindboggling. I found the 2-volume series completely engrossing, but it still took 2 months to complete.As stated in other reviews, these books analyze every single verse - indeed, every single word - of the Passion narratives. Furthermore, in volume 2, the reader is treated to 9 appendices that are self-contained scholarly articles in their own right. Also, useful for preaching purposes, at the end of Vol 2 is a cross-reference between every verse of the Passion and the page in which it is analyzed.The only people who will be disappointed in this book are Bible literalists and John Dominic Crossan. Crossan really comes in for well-deserved criticism in volume 2, especially in Brown's analysis of the Gospel of Peter. Brown finds Bible criticism that does not admit the possibility that Jesus had extra-human powers to be foolishly limiting (which indicts Crossan), but is flexible enough to acknowledge that some Biblical stories, like Matthew's report of the dead rising from their graves upon Jesus' death, are not historically true.I guess the other group who will not be happy will be fans of Luke's gospel. Although he never explicitly criticizes it, one gets the feeling Fr. Brown found Luke too wishy-washy for his tastes.Finally, was there a better non-fiction stylist of the English language than Father Brown? His ability to take an extremely complicated subject, with multiple viewpoints, and present a coherent exposition of his understanding was rarely equalled. His stylistic tools should be studied as models of clarity in any field, not just theology.So if you are looking for a good Bible study of the Passion sequence, start here. There are so many footnotes here that, even if you disagree with Brown, he had already provided you with the reference to support your belief.

This is a mammoth book, a very detailed look at a pretty short - if very significant - section of Jesus' life. It stops short of the Empty Tomb, which is disappointing, but up to there is very comprehensive, and though written by a Christian, it is comes across as an objective review (spoiler: for example, he concludes the guards on the tomb are likely made up). All that said, it is not an easy read. It is a long book, and the academic style is very dry.

This may have been my carelessness, but, in ordering this title, I was unaware that I'd selected volume 2 and not volume 1. The author always writes with great clarity and is very readable, but I'm not a theologian and feel unwilling to tackle this book without the groundwork I'd have found in the first volume. I think the Amazon listing for this book should have given more details.Since I have not read this title I can't rate it honestly. I'm just assuming that I would think as highly of it as I have other books by Brown.

Brown's work on the new testament is the best work i've ever seen.

I ordered this for my cousin who is in a nursing home. He just received it today and tells me it is in Excellent condition. He was very happy with it.