Reviews

$Kermit\'s Sites$

Reviews and Endorsements of The Restitution of Jesus Christ (RJC) recorded in chronological order. STE=Servetus the Evangelical.

Professor Scot McKnight is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies and director of the Bible department at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to taking that position in 1994, he was Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago for about thirteen years. McKnight obtained his PhD under the tutelage of James Dunn, arguably the world's leading authority on Christology.

Athletic Scot McKnight is a very close friend of mine. He has authored about twenty theological books. His Jesus Creed is an award-winning best-seller. The online Theopedia article about him says, "McKnight specializes in historical Jesus studies as well as the Gospels and the New Testament. As an authority in Jesus studies, McKnight has been frequently consulted by Fox News, WGN, US News & World Report, Newsweek, TIME, as well as newspapers throughout the United States."

This smooth yet powerful-swinging professor of the golf links states eloquently and cleverly of The Restitution of Jesus Christ, "The wedge driven by Martin Kahler between the historical Jesus and the kerygmatic Christ was, according to Kermit Zarley, mishit. Instead, the wedge of misinterpretation needs to be driven between the New Testament's depiction of God's Son and the ecclesiastical Christ, the portrait of Jesus as redrawn by Christians under the influence of Platonic and Neo-Platonic philosophical categories. Readers of the New Teatment and historians of Jesus should recognize this important thesis. In addition, Zarley combines a high view of Scripture with a thoroughly human Jesus and lands with a square stance on a unique tee box--an evangelical form of unitarian theology. No one can read this book without being challenged."

Professor James Tabor has been the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte since 1989. Before that, he held positions at the University of Notre Dame (1979-85) and the College of William and Mary (1985-89). Dr. Tabor specializes in ancient Judaism and Christian origins. He is the author of several books, including bestsellers. He also conducts significant archaeological work in the Holy Land, is often consulted by the media, and sometimes appears on national television networks.

Dr. Tabor reviewed The Restitution of Jesus Christ on his TaborBlog on August 29, 2009, in an article entitled "Remembering Servetus--Past and Present." In it, he reminisces about the brilliant Michael Servetus and then says of The Restitution of Jesus Christ, "I obtained a copy and have to say I am much impressed. It runs 600 pages, is thoroughly researched and documented, and fully in touch with the massive amount of scholarly discussion currently available on the 'Christology of the New Testament'.... he has surely done his homework." Weeks later Tabor emailed a friend about my book, further saying of it, "this work by our modern Servetus is a mortal wound to the doctrine of the Trinity.... it is a towering work that will stand for a long time to come."

Bassam Zawadi is an active Muslim apologist and public debater who once lived in Houston, Texas, and now resides in Saudi Arabia. He reviews my book on his website at www.call-to-monotheism.com/servetus_the_evangelical_s_book__the_restitution_of_jesus_christ_

Following an introductory paragraph about my (now previous) anonymity, the following excerpts can be gleaned from this review:

"I initially didn't think much of this fellow and just thought he was some bored guy with nothing to do and just craved for attention. But then, I purchased his book "The Restitution of Jesus Christ" and with no exaggeration my jaw dropped in surprise after seeing the absolutely outstanding scholarship displayed in this book…. This was a book that I have been craving for so long and kept telling my self that needed to be written.

STE’s book is dated at 2008 and surveys the best scholarship has to offer on the topic of Christology … [it] is the biggest and best contribution to Biblical Unitarian apologetics that I have seen so far and stands brilliantly side-by-side with the works of Anthony Buzzard against those (who unfortunately are in the majority) who believe that the Bible propagates the notion of the Trinity.

My personal favorite is his detailed 30 page discussion on the Thomas calling Jesus "My Lord and My God" argument.

In short, buy this book immediately. The small amount of money you will be putting for the amount of knowledge you would be receiving in return is indeed a great bargain!"

Kevin Brown did an online review of my book. It consists of several parts and is entitled "Review: The Restitution of Jesus Christ"

Rick Purdy, Ph.D., Th.M., has served as an adjunct professor of religion and philosophy at several universities and colleges. He says of The Restitution of Jesus Christ, "I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in comprehending and responding to historical and contemporary alternative exegesis of classic Social Trinitarian and Christological texts and the general logic associated with the subjects."

Sir Anthony Buzzard (MA [Oxon.] MA Th., Hon. Ph. D) is the preeminent leader and patriarch of the modern, small but growing, Biblical Unitarian movement with which I am now associating myself. He recently retired after 24 years as a professor at Atlanta Bible College. I fully agree with his book, Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian (though I'm unsure of his treatment of adoni in Ps 110.1, a minor issue). I can't say that about hardly any theological book I've ever read. He says my RJC book is "a tour de force" with "extensive documentation." He adds, "Kermit Zarley has provided another powerful witness against the complex, Greek philosophical definition of God and Jesus which have prevailed since the great Church councils.... Zarley's work needs to be read by every pastor in the land. He calls the church to a complete reappraisal of one of its core doctrines. He shows that God is a single Person, the Father ... The implications of this invitation to reexamination of theology and Christology are huge."

Barbara Buzzard is the wife of Anthony Buzzard. On 3/1/10, she reviewed my book, RJC, in an online article.

The Journal is a newsletter produced by The Churches of God denomination. In issue #136, Art Mokarow provides a brief review of my RJC book. Here are a few excerpts from it: "The Restitution of Jesus Christ, after 25 years of research by Kermit Zarley,... has to carry some weight of truth.... detailed and precise ... garnering every new piece of knowledge produces an excitement and pleasure because the truth becomes obvious.... Kermit Zarley's book The Restitution of Jesus Christ is a must for basic Bible study."

Australian David Burke is a pastor and prominent teacher of the Christadelphian Church. It is a 150-year old, anti-Trinitarian denomination of 60,000+ members (mostly in the UK and Australia) that has always advocated Biblical Unitarianism--that Jesus is not God and only the Father is God. Burke has an online ministry--Bible Truth Discussion Forum. He recently completed a lengthy, online debate in writing, called "the Great Trinity Debate," with Rob Bowman, co-author of Putting Jesus in His Place. (Bowman made this challenge to all on the web, held an election for visitors to select his opponent, and Anthony Buzzard and Yours Truly finished in the top five.) In June, 2010, Burke emailed me, saying, "I have nearly finished reading your book, The Restitution of Jesus Christ. It is superb; probably the best book on the Trinity by a non-Trinitarian that I have ever read. Your approach is thorough and systematic, but your style is very readable." He said he plans to review my book soon; I assume on his website.

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