Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West

From the New York Times bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus comes a surprising history of Jesus’ most radical commandment, tracing how this extraordinary duty to love even those who are strangers to us has shaped our world and our lives.

From the earliest of times up through Greek and Roman antiquity, moral thinkers prioritized generosity toward friends and family. Even Old Testament exhortations to love your neighbor said little about the suffering of those beyond your own community.

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