Barrie is an historian specializing in early Christianity. Today we now know that there were many different movements within the first few centuries, each claiming to be Christian. James’ Jewish group differed from Paul’s Christ religion and both differed from Gnostic Christianity which saw Jesus as a teacher of insight. None was dominant. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gnostic writings add an intriguing overlay. The books selected are those that open up new ways of understanding the historical development of Christianity. Each in its own way has created a paradigm shift.
I wrote...
Searching for the Messiah: Unlocking the "Psalms of Solomon" and Humanity's Quest for a Savior
By
Barrie Wilson
What is my book about?
An award-winning historian of religion examines the role a “messiah” plays in Western culture, from its pre-Christian roots to modern interpretations of a savior. Over the centuries, people have longed for a messiah, whether a religious figure such as Jesus, a political leader, or even in popular culture. The messianic quest emerges most acutely during difficult times when people experience a sense of powerlessness and desperation. But the concept of a messiah—a savior—has its root in the writings of ancient Judaism and early Christianity, evolving from an anointed leader to universal savior. Wilson turns to a little understood pre-Christian text, “The Psalms of Solomon,” which set the stage for messianic expectation just prior to the birth of Jesus.
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The Books I Picked & Why
The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity
By
James D. Tabor
Why this book?
A well-written, well researched book by a prominent American archeologist and New Testament scholar that examines what we can now reliably know about the Jesus of history. Tabor carefully sifts through the conflicting evidence in the gospels, written 40-70 years after the death of Jesus, and illuminates his discussion with contemporary archeological finds. A paradigm changer in our search for the historical Jesus, not the Christ of faith.
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The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity
By
Hyam Maccoby
Why this book?
If we only had Paul to rely on for our knowledge of Jesus’ life, all we’d know is that he was born, was Jewish, had brothers and died. Written by a British academic, The Mythmaker is a break-through book that shows how Paul created Christianity by developing a mythology/theology about the significance of the death of Jesus as a Christ. Maccoby’s thought is further developed in my book, How Jesus Became Christian (2008) that demonstrates how different Paul’s religion was from that of Jesus.
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Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew
By
Bart D. Ehrman
Why this book?
Ehrman’s many books are worthy of study, especially this one which shows how Christianity developed over the first three centuries. The older view, that there was one mainstream church surrounded by many smaller deviant sects or “heresies” has now been discarded. Prior to Constantine, there were many groups all claiming to be Christian and no one was dominant. Each battled for supremacy. Only in the 4th century CE did one faction emerge as dominant, the group favored by two Roman Emperors, Constantine and Theodosius.
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Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews, A History
By
James Christopher Carroll
Why this book?
Judaism and Christianity have been intertwined for centuries, right from the start as the Jewish Jesus was crucified by Roman authorities. The late 1st century CE Gospel of Matthew developed anti-Jewish sentiments. Some 50 years after the death of Jesus, this writing portrays a Jewish mob saying that Jesus’ death should be upon them and their children, a charge that has reverberated through the centuries and is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands. This book examines the interplay between Christianity and Judaism throughout the centuries into modern times.
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The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity
By
Jeffrey J. Butz
Why this book?
According to the gospels, Jesus had 4 brothers – James, Jose, Simon, Judas – and at least two sisters (who are not named). What happened to these individuals after Jesus’ crucifixion? Butz explores the Jewish movement that stemmed from Jesus’ brother, James. James led Jesus’ followers from the time of Jesus’ death up until his own death in 62 CE. A leader who knew Jesus his whole life, James regarded Jesus as a Jewish teacher. He differed radically from Paul, who never met the Jesus of history. This book explores the original movement that originated from Jesus.
