cover image Jesus Did It Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments for Christians

Jesus Did It Anyway: The Paradoxical Commandments for Christians

Kent M. Keith, . . Putnam, $19.95 (197pp) ISBN 978-0-399-15326-6

The Paradoxical Commandments took on a life of their own after Keith wrote them as a Harvard sophomore more than 30 years ago. They became almost a law unto themselves for doing good despite people and circumstances. They were used by religious leaders across the globe, including Mother Teresa, to illustrate truths found in the Christian Bible. Now Keith writes his third book on the Paradoxical Commandments, this time relating them to Christian faith and the Bible. Keith, a person of faith himself, knows that people search for meaningful lives, and he uses his Paradoxical Commandments to help provide such meaning. Each chapter lists the commandment, then draws on a teaching of Jesus or other figures in the Christian Bible to help explain it. He uses the biblical stories of the prodigal son, David, Moses, Job and the "good Samaritan," among others, to illustrate the commandments. Keith's presentation is simple and straightforward, his links between each commandment and the Bible easy to understand if a bit obvious. This is a pleasing introduction to the Paradoxical Commandments, as well as an easy-to-swallow introduction to the Christian Scriptures. Study guides for each chapter move into deeper discussion and reflection. (Oct.)