Questions, answered plainly
The things people usually ask first.
Why does Jesus speak in the first person?
It is a teaching device, not a claim to speak for him or to know his mind. The first person keeps the attention on what he said and did, rather than on commentators. Everything he says here about his own words is tied to a gospel you can open, and every historical claim carries a numbered source. Where the evidence is disputed, the book says so in plain words.
Is this an attack on Christianity?
No. The book makes three promises before it starts, and the third is: I am not trying to take your faith. It separates what Jesus taught from what was added later, and in every century it names the people who lived what he taught, often against the church of their own day. It is written for people who take him seriously.
Who is behind this?
The Lessons of Jesus is an independent project. It is not a church, a ministry or a charity. The book asks you not to trust its author at all. Every verse is linked and every historical claim has a source, so you can check it without trusting anyone.
Why is it free?
Because the point is for it to be read. Nobody should have to pay to find out what is in their own Bible.
Can I share it, print it, or teach from it?
Yes. Copy it, print it, share it, and teach from it, whole or in part. The only thing we ask is that nobody sells it.
What are the three books?
The Real Story is forty short lessons on what Jesus actually taught and what was built on top of it over twenty centuries. Understanding the Old Testament has a chapter for every book of the scriptures he grew up on: what happens in it, where it fits in the story, who wrote it, and how he read it. Understanding the New Testament has a chapter for every book written about him after he died: what it says, who wrote it and for whom, and how close it stays to what he taught. Each stands on its own, so you can start with any of them.
What is the difference between the books and this site?
Every lesson and chapter is on this site in full, on its own page, with its sources at the bottom. Every lesson and chapter also has the longer history behind it in the Go deeper sections, which are only here. The e-books and PDFs are the same text without them, ready to take with you.
Which Bible do the books quote?
The Real Story quotes short phrases from several standard translations. The two Understanding books quote only the World English Bible, a modern translation in the public domain, so no one needs permission to copy them. Where it prints God’s name as Yahweh, they print the LORD, as most English Bibles do. The verse links on their pages open the World English Bible.
I found a mistake.
Please tell us at hello@lessonsofjesus.com. This book promised you it could be checked, so corrections are welcome.