In Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus, Elaine Pagels delves into the Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Based on critical literary and historical analysis, these books were written anonymously 40 to 70 years after Jesus’ death. But, Pagels says, their intent was not to document history or write a biography but to “spread good news about faith in Jesus.”

With Sunday school, an illustrated Bible, hymns and Christmas songs, children learn about Jesus’ life from start to finish. But the Bible isn’t so linear. It was “a huge effort to pull all four Gospels together, as if they tell a single story,” Pagels explains. These books have some similarities and curious differences. For example, Matthew and Luke mention the birth of Jesus, but Mark and John do not. Matthew says the Magi follow the new star that proclaims the birth of the new king. Luke has no star and no Magi, but local herdsmen visit baby Jesus asleep in the manger.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke share similar content, order of events, and wording, which suggests they may have used common sources. However, the authors and the audiences were different. Mark, who wrote the earliest surviving account, was a devout Jew who believed in one God. Luke was a Gentile and became a (Jewish) convert. John, who Pagels calls the “radical revisionist writer,” is the one who explicitly says Jesus is the Son of God, whose sacrificial death atoned for the sins of the world. All of them use words of the Jewish prophets and the Psalms to prove Jesus’ life was foretold in Scriptures.

In 325 CE, Emperor Constantine gathered 300 bishops to formulate the Nicene Creed, the core Christian beliefs about the nature of God and the divinity of Christ—the basis of the Gospel of John. Over the decades that followed, church leaders and councils decided which doctrines and stories fit this overarching message. Of the many stories of Jesus that existed, few were chosen as scripture; the rest were destroyed.*

The Gospels remind us how Jesus lived, with love, compassion, and support for everyone. And, as Pagels declares, “In a world filled with challenge, oppression, and suffering, their stories shift—often suddenly—into hope.”

Miracles and Wonder is both the keystone and cornerstone to Pagels’ other books on early Christianity and the Gnostics. As a historian and religious scholar, she thoughtfully considers the historical mystery of Jesus and his message while adding personal stories and reflections on her life’s work.

Thanks to Doubleday for the ARC.

Elaine Pagels taps her years of wisdom in religious studies to take another look at Jesus. By referencing other theologians and religious studies authors, she bring some new insights about a man that continues to be misunderstood. We get a sense that the "unorthodox" gospels and communities that created them provide some new clarity for Jesus-followers.

For instance, using the Hebrew, the trinity, in its earliest form is most likely:
The Father
The Son
The Mother (the Hebrew world for breath of god is Ruah, a feminine word). This can be found in the early desert communities.

As ever, Pagels is terrific. Like her other books, “Miracles and Wonder” can be for anyone: a person of faith as much as a nonbeliever; a Biblical scholar as much as a layperson furthest removed from the Judeo-Christian tradition. It showcases a lifetime of learning, yet Pagels wears her knowledge ever so lightly, and the questions she asks are those that would occur to both the first-time reader of the Bible as well as those well-versed in the “historical Jesus” canon, in which this book participates. She is never vainly polemical, never bombastic—as is so often the case with people who write about the Bible, from whatever perspective. Recommended for anyone.

— with thanks to Doubleday for an ARC via NetGalley

Many thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Elaine Pagels excellent new book Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus. Pagels, the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University, has examined writing related to the New Testament in her other books. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of reading The Gnostic Gospels, which focused on writings from the early days of Christianity that were somehow stored in a cave for nearly 2,000 years. This book challenged my thinking about the New Testament as Pagels explores the theology and beliefs that were ultimately left out of the New Testament, which I hadn’t really known about before. I attended Catholic school for my entire k-12 education experience, and bible stories were an integral part of my education. It was fascinating to learn that there were decisions about which writings were included in the final draft, and that these writings were left out, as Pagels explains, due to considerations for Christianity’s growth and evangelism. In Miracles and Wonder, Pagels revisits some of these texts, but also examines the Gospels that most Christians are familiar with in order to explore the life and continued interest in Jesus. Als like The Gnostic Gospels, Miracles and Wonder opened my eyes up to reconsider the stories related to Jesus’ life and times.
In addition to being a thought-provoking book that challenges our assumptions and ideas about who Jesus actually was and what the purpose of these stories about his life mean, the book was also a personal exploration for Pagels, who starts the book with questions about why Jesus and his message still resonate with so many people after more than 2,000 years. As Pagels frames this question in different ways, it really challenged my own thinking about Jesus and his significance to others. She not only explores his life and time, but at the end of the book examines how the idea of Jesus has changed over time and especially how his life, times, suffering and death hold resonance for new Christians in other cultures, particularly for people who have been colonized, enslaved, or have experienced other instances of social, cultural, and physical violence. This last chapter, focused on how new converts, artists, and filmmakers have engaged with the idea of Jesus, was probably my favorite in the book. It was fascinating to see how different cultures and groups identified with elements of Jesus’ life or message. One of the more powerful moments is when Pagels explores James Cone’s, the founder of Black Liberation Theology, family’s experience with Jesus as someone who shared the experience of suffering due to discrimination and facing eventual state violence due to his beliefs. Other cultures and groups that Pagels mentioned identified with similar elements of Jesus’ beliefs and acceptance of those who were on the periphery of society. For example, Pagels explains how the Piro people of Peru were initially viewed as Pagans who would not receive equal status with their European colonizers or the Mestizos, yet, once they began to convert, Christianity provided them with not only the “good news” of Jesus’ message, but also with an improved status in society. Although it is sad that their original culture was ultimately displaced by their colonizers, it was still interesting to see how accepting a belief enabled them to move up in society’s standing. Pagels also examines popular depictions of Jesus in the 20th and 21st centuries, and explores how these conceptualizations of Jesus helped to further challenge our understanding, but also held personal meaning to the artists and directors. It was a fascinating chapter.
Other chapters look at different elements of Jesus’ life, his message, the miracles attributed to him, his death and resurrection, ultimately looking at both the historical context of these events, but also trying to make sense of when these events were written and possibly copied or revised by the early Christian followers. I also found these chapters to be really fascinating, especially for someone who grew up hearing these stories since I was really young and having them become such a part of my learning experiences. In school, I think we always tried to examine the meaning of these stories, looking for the moral or message, and what these events might have conveyed about how to live and treat others. However, I really appreciated Pagels’ scholarship and research in examining the historical context as well as some of the texts from the Gnostic Gospels that were ultimately left out of the New Testament. Furthermore, it’s important to understand that some of the Gospels and other books of the New Testament were written down many generations after Jesus’ death, and the stories were passed down or revised before being recorded and included in the New Testament. As Pagels explains, this most likely led to some creative license and enhancing elements of Jesus’ life. In addition, she provides some context to the struggles of the early church, and how the occupation of Judea (modern day Israel) and suspicion and persecution of early Christians led to adding details and events to these stories. What I enjoyed most, though, in Pagels’ analysis of the Gospels was how she drew parallels between these stories and other stories from the Old Testament and noted some of the tropes and archetypes found not only in the bible, but in other ancient literature. She notes similarities between Jesus’ birth and miracles he is credited with performing to those of King David, as well as the biographies of Roman emperors. This was something I also thought about when I first read Eliot’s Wasteland, which explores death and regeneration particularly looking at the myth of the holy grail. It’s interesting to think about Jesus’ life and death in this context as well, especially considering that his birth and death are placed near holidays celebrating the changes in seasons, and in particular, his resurrection, celebrated as Easter, has elements of regeneration and growth. This part of the Pagels’ book, that focuses on the Crucifixion and Resurrection, touched on the metaphorical meaning, and how it relates to the spiritual rebirth or the idea of an eternal spirit, not necessarily a physical body. I think that this was always apparent, that these events are metaphorical and allegorical, yet she also provides historical context about the nature of crucifixion in ancient Judea, and what most likely happened to Jesus’ body at the time.
I also didn’t realize that Jesus was like a political rebel at the time, and that his actions and followers most likely disturbed the Roman occupiers, along with the traditional Jewish leaders in Judea. As Pagels notes in the book, there were some uprisings against the Roman occupation, which were put down violently, using public crucifixions on roads into and out of town to serve as reminders to those who transgress the state. Surprisingly, Pagels explains that these rebels were never usually taken down from their punishment, left to serve as food for carrion birds and other wild animals. She also notes that there are few instances of crucified bodies found in ancient Judea, suggesting that Jesus may not have actually been buried. Nevertheless, as Pagels explains in both earlier chapters and the end of her book, the Gospel writers took creative license to share the message and meaning of Jesus’ life and help spread the word and philosophy of Christians. Similarly, other groups have taken that message and adapted it to meet their own needs or find meaning in times of struggle or change. I found this book to be fascinating and compelling to read. Although many of the stories and events were familiar to me from attending Catholic school, I think that this book could be appealing to those who don’t have as much knowledge or experience with the Gospels and Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Furthermore, I found the historical context and details surrounding ancient Judea to be incredibly helpful in thinking about the challenges that a person like Jesus might have faced. It’s almost ironic to think about how rebellious Jesus and that he was challenging not just the status quo, but also the political authority of the Romans. Yet, Pagels also notes how the stories of Jesus healing others and performing miracles showed him interacting with those who were on the periphery of society or were considered outcasts. He was willing to take care of the sick, to spend time with people we might consider mentally ill today, and to minister to the poor and downtrodden. This was a really great book, and I’m glad I’m reading it during the time of Lent, a time of contemplation and sacrifice, when we try to live a little more like Jesus. This book is a great reminder of the wonderful aspects of Jesus’ life and a great read. Highly recommended!

I'm still reflecting on the light Pagels casts on the historical Jesus. As always, impeccable scholarship brought to inform non-scholars about religious thinking on the interpretation of Jesus' life through the lens of the Gospels, taking into account how long after Jesus death each was written, and how this interpretation has changed throughout history.

Miracles and Wonder by Elaine Pagels is a captivating exploration of the historical and cultural impact of Jesus. Pagels invites readers on a journey through ancient texts and modern interpretations to uncover how a humble man from Judea became a transformative figure in global history. She examines the layers of storytelling, interpretation, and cultural adaptation that shaped the narratives of Jesus’s life and his enduring significance. With a sharp historical lens and thoughtful insight, Pagels reveals the intricate ways early followers shaped Christian beliefs to address their struggles and inspire a growing movement. The book artfully bridges the gaps between history, theology, and personal faith, making it accessible and thought-provoking for a wide audience. Rich in scholarship yet deeply human in its reflections, it highlights the mystery and wonder that have kept Jesus a figure of fascination for millennia. I highly recommend this compelling work for anyone curious about the enduring legacy of Jesus and the evolution of faith.