Book Review – Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Authors: Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Format: Hardcover
Page Count:  256
Publisher: Crossway
Publication year: 2008
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1581349750
ISBN-13: 9781581349757

I wanted to extend a word of thanks to my Biblio-Blogging buddy Nick Norelli for providing me with a copy of Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears’ Vintage Jesus:  Timeless Answers to Timely Questions.

This isn’t your Grandpa’s theology book.  Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears bring a fresh approach to timeless Christian doctrines about Jesus in a way that is sure to resonate with those (especially non-Christians and new Christians) in their twenties and thirties.  Driscoll’s engaging, but sometimes shocking style is on display at various points throughout this work.  Even if you’re amongst those who have criticized Driscoll in the past for his sometimes raw and edgy language, I’d ask that you give him the benefit of the doubt and give this book a chance.

This work is divided into twelve chapters.  Each of these chapters answers an important question about the life and work of Jesus.  The questions are as follows:

•    Chapter 1:  Is Jesus the Only God?
•    Chapter 2:  How Human Was Jesus?
•    Chapter 3:  How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
•    Chapter 4:  Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
•    Chapter 5:  Why Did Jesus’ Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
•    Chapter 6:  What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
•    Chapter 7:  Did Jesus Rise from Death?
•    Chapter 8:  Where Is Jesus Today?
•    Chapter 9:  Why Should We Worship Jesus?
•    Chapter 10:  What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
•    Chapter 11:  What Differences Has Jesus Made in History?
•    Chapter 12:  What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

In each chapter, Driscoll unpacks one of the twelve questions.  He engages them in several ways.  First of all, he explores how culture (modern & historic) has responded to these questions.  Second, he presents a Christian response to each question, utilizing the Bible, church history, and sound Christian doctrine and theology.  Gerry Breshears’ contribution to this work shines through in the “Answers to common questions” found at the end of each chapter.  Here Dr. Breshears offers solid Biblical and historical answers to additional questions that are commonly asked about the subject matter discussed in the chapter.  Additionally, I appreciated the subject index, scripture index, and notes found at the end of this book.  It’s nice to see well devised references and indexing in a work of this size.

I highly recommend this recent work from Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears.
They’ve done a great job of presenting the timeless truths about the person and work of Jesus Christ in a way that will make sense to those entrenched in our modern culture, whose view of Jesus is often confused at best.  In addition to this book, I’d also recommend another recent book by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears titled:  Death by Love:  Letters from the Cross.  This new work has a unique format in which Mark Driscoll responds to a member of his church in a pastoral letter that explains how Jesus’ work on the cross is sufficient for the sin or issue they’re struggling with.

Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill church [www.marshillchurch.org]] in Seattle.  He is also co-founder and president of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network [www.acts29network.org].  Mark has penned an ever-growing list of books including:  A book you’ll actually read series, Vintage Jesus, Death by Love, and Vintage Church (January 31, 2009).  Mark is married to his high school sweetheart Grace.  They have been blessed with 5 children.

Gerry Breshears is Professor of theology and chairman of the division of biblical and theological studies at Western Seminary.  Other books by Dr. Breshears include Death by Love:  Letters from the Cross, Vintage Church:  Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (January 31, 2009), and Personal Doctrinal Statements.

You may download a PDF of this book review here: