What Did Jesus Do?: Gospel Profiles of Jesus' Personal Conduct - Softcover

F. Scott Spencer is Professor of New Testament at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Virginia and is the author of The Portrait of Philip in Acts: A Study of Roles and Relations and Acts. He is the Chair of the New Testament section for the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion.ission for the Study of Religion.

"Spencer provides an informative, lucid, and often witty discussion of how Jesus conducted himself and interacted with others in his first-century world. He treats matters of relevant interest to Christians today and engages the challenges they inevitably face in taking the life of Jesus as a model of discipleship. The book is both academically responsible and fun to read—this popular focus and chatty style should make it a real treat for readers in churches and classrooms alike."—-Mark Allan Powell, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Mark Allan Powell)

"In posing the question, "What would Jesus do? This very readable book provides a fresh perspective on Jesus as a norm for contemporary behavior. Spencer attempts to create a bridge between 1st and 21st century ethics by focusing on gospel portraits of Jesus' own personal conduct."—Gail R. O'Day, A.H. Professor of New Testament and Preaching, Chandler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (Gail R. O'Day)

"As a New Testament scholar and a Christian, F. Scott Spencer meets halfway those Christians who, though largely unfamiliar with biblical scholarship, are eager to ask "What would Jesus do?" as a guide for their own ethical actions. Spencer's cleverly titled book, What Did Jesus Do?, is not a scholarly reconstruction of the historical Jesus but a portrayal of the narrated actions of the composite (not harmonized) canonical Jesus, especially actions that might be labeled "personal ethics," in the context of the first-century Mediterranean world. Thus while Spencer shares an interest in ethical guidance with his audience, he aims to challenge his audience to be guided by a Jesus understood within his own (ancient) context rather than a fabricated twenty-first-century North American Jesus who too easily confirms without challenging accepted values."—Elizabeth Struthers MalbonProfessor of Religious StudiesCenter for Interdisciplinary StudiesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Elizabeth Struthers Malbon)

"In Trying to Grapple with ethical dilemmas, this lively and helpful book takes as its starting point the slogan often heard today: " What would Jesus do?" Spencer, who is a professor of New Testament at Baptist Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, respects the earnest spirit of the question but is aware that the answer has to be comples. He focuses on the four Gospels and gives attention to how they portray the conduct and teaching of jesus, especially in regard to personal ethical issues. The author selects six key topics: family, friends, body, money, work, and issues of honor. In each case he offers a thoughtful grappling with the gospel materials and draws out the inherent values and perspectives in a way that respects the complexities of the text but also communicates with a modern lay reader."—Father Donald Senior C.P., The Bible Today, Nov. Dec. 2003 (Father Donald Senior C.P. The Bible Today)

“A lucid, engaging look at the personal life and conduct of Jesus of Nazareth, this book plays off the popular ‘what would Jesus do?’ question. Spencer offers an informed, honest, and challenging alternative: ‘What did Jesus do?’ This book will be an effective resource for classes in both biblical studies and ethics. It also could be used in adult church educational contexts.” —Choice (CHOICE)

"What Did Jesus Do? is a balanced and perceptive book that provides a detailed examination of Jesus' behavior as recorded in the four Gospels. Spencer offers numerous insights into the mind of the most fully human being that has ever lived...The highest compliment one can pay to any writer of a book about Jesus is that it brings us closer to its subject. What Did Jesus Do? is scholarly yet surprisingly pastoral. No reader can fail to be enriched and enlightened by Spencer's easy prose and fearless probing into the perfect life that Christ lived." -Prism, March/April 2004

“What is unique here is the author’s attention to Jesus’ actions and deeds in and around other persons as authoritative for ethical conduct rather than his sayings or pronouncements. Spencer offers balanced and incisive and balanced conclusions at the end of each chapter that serve both to render a viable portrait of the ethical Jesus and to effectively navigate the reader through and, at times, provocative ethical deliberation. Spencer’s handling of Jesus work ethic is particularly well done, as it sheds some necessary and accurate light on the character of first century Judaism vis-a-vis Sabbath observance. In the end, this volume represents an incisive approach to a complex subject that is adroitly handled by the author, who, as he might say, “drops the gauntlet” on the evasive yet intensely popular question: What would Jesus do?” – John W, Daniels Jr., Flagler College, Review of Biblical Literature, July 2004 (John W. Daniels Review of Biblical Literature)

“...happily offers both rigorous scholarship and a ‘good read.’... This volume is highly recommended not only for biblical scholars narrowly defined, but also for ethics classes, adult study groups, college students, seminarians, and pastors.”-The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 67, 2005

“...well-written and thoughtful...suitable for pastors, teachers, and educated laypersons....the book is filled with many insightful, engaging, and often humorous interpretations of the Gospels. Spencer admirably fulfills his aim by providing a lucid summary of what the Gospel writers report that Jesus did. This book will serve as an excellent resource for those interested in the relationship between the canonical portrayals of Jesus and contemporary ethical reflection.” –Theology Today, 4/05 (Theology Today)

"Spencer provides an informative, lucid, and often witty discussion of how Jesus conducted himself and interacted with others in his first-century world. He treats matters of relevant interest to Christians today and engages the challenges they inevitably face in taking the life of Jesus as a model of discipleship. The book is both academically responsible and fun to read—this popular focus and chatty style should make it a real treat for readers in churches and classrooms alike."—-Mark Allan Powell, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Sanford Lakoff)