How (Not) to Interpret Jesus
A Video Review of
The Greatest Story Ever Retold: Envisioning Jesus Narratives from Gospels to Film
John Anthony Dunne
Paperback: Baker Academic, 2026
Buy Now: [ BookShop ] [ Amazon ]
Joel Wentz is the producer of our podcast, and he also runs his own YouTube channel where he posts video reviews of books and other book-related commentary. We are excited to begin sharing Joel’s videos here on our site, and encourage you to subscribe to his YouTube channel, and if you are able, also to support his work on Patreon.
Video description:
There have been hundreds of films made based on the Gospels, and every film is a complex act of interpretation. Some of these interpretations are thoughtful, considered, and defensible, while others are less so. But every act of reading is ALSO an act of interpretation! Sometimes our own reading is deeply influenced by non-biblical traditions and ideas without our realizing it. This book leverages the interpretive act of filmmaking as a lens for analyzing our own interpretations as readers. Is it helpful? 00:00 – Intro
01:09 – What This Book is Doing
05:14 – What This Book Does Well
09:08 – What This Book Could Do Better
11:03 – Final Thoughts & Recommendation
Joel Wentz
Joel Wentz is currently the Executive Pastor at Missio Dei Church in Portland, Maine. He previously served in college campus ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. In addition to reading and writing, his passions include tabletop gaming, music, and coffee. His favorite book genres are epic fantasy and epic theology. He lives in Portland, Maine with his wife and son, and his personal writing and podcast are at: joelwentz.com
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