Book Review: Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen

Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen

The famous American Catholic prelate Fulton Sheen wrote a theological biography of Jesus based on the Gospels and his own reflections. He goes through all the details of Jesus's birth, ministry, death, and resurrection with plenty of references to the prophecies and prefigurements in the Old Testament. He makes comments and gives insights into Christ's actions on earth and how they contribute to our salvation.

Sheen's main theme is the contrast of Jesus's life to our lives. We are here to live as best we can; Jesus came to die for us. Jesus lived in a dangerous time, under a Roman rule that drove Judaism into factions and a social structure that left the ill and the poor in desperate situations. He lived an itinerant life, gathering followers who did not fully understand what He was doing. His head disciple, Peter, was scandalized at the idea that Jesus would have to die an ignominious death, even though he recognized, thanks to grace, that He was the Messiah. Sheen gives a powerful testament to Christ, showing His uniqueness as the Son of God and His familiarity as the Son of Man. Jesus came that we might have life more fully, but the path to that fuller life led Jesus to the cross.

Occasionally, Sheen's commentary reads a little dated. He talks about the great threat of communism (the book was first published in 1952). He also takes a dim view of unfettered capitalism. Sheen uses the Knox translation for quotations from the Bible that sounds old-fashioned even though Knox translated in the 1940s. He uses a lot of "thees" and "thous" along with "Isais and "Jeremias" for "Isaiah" and "Jeremiah." The text does not sound contemporary, but that is okay in my view. Other readers may feel differently.

His writing style is so straightforward and honest. Even though he is theologically insightful, he doesn't bog down in terminology or abstract arguments. His explanations are easy to follow and provide a greater insight into Christ's life and mission.

Recommended--these are good reflections by a master communicator and theologian. 

Sample text:

Human infirmity touched Him so deeply, because deafness, dumbness, leprosy, insanity were the effects of sin, not in the person afflicted but in humanity. Because His death would remove sin which was the cause (though the final release from sickness and error would not come until the resurrection of the just), He said that it was just as easy for Him to heal one as the other. [p.203]

On the difference between Peter and Judas: 

Why, then, is one at the head of the list, the other at the bottom? Because Peter repented unto the Lord and Judas unto himself. The difference was as vast as Divine-reference and self reference; as vast as the difference between a Cross and a psychoanalytic coach. Judas said he had "betrayed innocent blood," but he never wished to be bathed in it. Peter knew he had sinned and sought redemption; Judas knew he had made a mistake and sought escape--the first of the long army of escapists from the Cross. Divine pardon presupposes but never destroys human freedom. [p. 372]