I have just finished reading Meier's fantastic first volume. I picked it up at my university library after hearing many great things about it and thought I would check it out.

This book, while scholarly, is extremely fun to read. Meier does not beat around the bush, but is extremely forward in his methodology and the meat of each chapter. He carefully examines all points, and even discusses some of the fringe scholar's findings, such as Barbara Thiering. It never gets dull as we uncover findings about this marginal Jew that influenced the world.

From my reading I did not feel like his Catholic background contributed to any flaws in the text. If you happen to be Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox he addresses subjects that would be important to them though. Such as Mary's perpetual virginity, which he discusses lucidly and with poise. Obviously it is a much later idea that was not held universally for the first four hundred years of Christianity, and therefore not essential for the Church.

But my one complaint is that the "footnotes" are endnotes, and it got annoying of having to flip back and forth while reading. Other than that this is a finely researched book, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn about Jesus, theist or naturalist. Especially if they desire to be informed on where mainstream Biblical Criticism is, because often the representatives of the "New Atheist" movement (Dawkins, etc) are poorly informed when it comes to Biblical Scholarship or Theology. And Meier's contribution is essential reading.

As an Eastern Orthodox Christian though, I would highly recommend this text to other Orthodox. I often find that because of Orthodoxy's mystical tendencies we often forget how human Jesus really was. Or even how Jewish he was.

I think like all things it is necessary to have balance, and the more we can learn from Jesus the better we can be as people. I think that in the current quest for the "historical" Jesus, all scholars have something to bring to the table, whether it be Wright, Borg, Meier, Crossan or Sanders. But of course, at the same time, this cannot obscure the living relationship that Christians have with Jesus, whether they fall to the Left or Right.

At this moment there are 18 reviews (now 19) on volume 1 but no one has reviewed book 2. If this was such a great read how come no comments on book 2? I note that this book has an Imprimature. This is a good sign!

The introduction is excellent and represents current thinking on historical scholarship.

I would also recommend James Dunn.