Jesus and Marx: From Gospel to Ideology

Year 1979
Type Book
Genre political theology
Tradition Reformed
Original language French

For For readers interested in the relation of the gospel to Marxism and liberation theology; not for a reader wanting a neutral survey of either.

Should I read this?

For the general reader: 3 of 5 worth your time
For the researcher: 4 of 5 important
Difficulty: 3 of 5 demanding

A critique of 1970s Christian Marxism by a lifelong reader of Marx, arguing that the gospel was being made into an ideology.

How it proceeds

Philosophic 3 of 5
Scriptural 3 of 5
Experiential 1 of 5
Sociological 4 of 5
Historical 2 of 5

Independent intensities, 0–5 — what the work is made of, not how good it is.

Published by Centurion in 1979 and translated by Joyce Main Hanks as Jesus and Marx: From Gospel to Ideology (Eerdmans, 1988). Ellul, who taught Marx's thought for three decades and called Marx one of his two great influences, criticises the Christian Marxism of the 1970s, including some forms of liberation theology, for turning the gospel into a political ideology. He sets against it his own reading of the gospel's freedom from all powers.

Report an Issue or Suggest an Edition

Catalog IDW.181WVP.A

Tags: