The Death of Christ: The Bible and Popular Culture vs Archaeological and Historical Evidence

This study explores the world around the time of Jesus' death, including the larger background and context to some of the major power-brokers of the Roman Empire in Jesus' day. It also considers the nature of Jesus' radical resistance to the Roman Empire and seeks to contextualize it through comparison with other resistance movements.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

This comprehensive study delves into the intriguing question of what the world was like and what was happening in it around the time of Jesus' death. It also aims to provide a broader historical context for Jesus, portraying him as a non-citizen resident of the Roman Empire living in Judaea and Galilee during the 20s and 30s AD. The book explores the larger background and context of some of the major power-brokers of the Roman Empire during Jesus' time, including Emperor Tiberius, his ambitious Praetorian Prefect Sejanus, the governor of Judaea Pontius Pilate, and the client king who ruled Galilee, Herod Antipas. It further delves into the historical and cultural background of various characters portrayed in the gospel accounts, such as the treacherous informant Judas Iscariot, the tax collector turned apostle Matthew, and the gruff centurion whose servant Jesus was said to have healed. Additionally, the study examines the nature of Jesus' radical resistance to the Roman Empire and seeks to contextualize it within the broader framework of other resistance movements.

Attempts to recover the historical Jesus have traditionally focused on placing him in his immediate context of ancient Galilee, Judaea, and the Jewish community to which he belonged. However, this book takes a different approach by providing the Roman historical background to the time and place of Jesus' ministry and death. By casting Jesus' ministry into relief against the much larger picture of the greater Roman world of which he was a part, the book reveals the radical nature of his message and actions.

The study explores various aspects of Roman society and culture during the time of Jesus, including political, social, economic, and religious developments. It sheds light on the political tensions between the Roman Empire and the Jewish community, the role of the Roman governor in Judaea, and the cultural influences that shaped the lives of Jesus and his followers. The book also discusses the historical context of the gospel accounts, including the authorship, dating, and reliability of the texts.

Overall, this study offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of Jesus and his historical context. It provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of the world around Jesus, helping readers to appreciate the complexities of his ministry and the broader historical forces that shaped his life and death.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399088770