nighthawk
How Jesus Became Christian
Posted on: 11/21/2008 13:04
I recently finished Barrie Wilson's How Jesus Became Christian. I'm interested in seeing if anyone else has read this book, and if so, what they thought of it.
While I found the book interesting, I felt it did not quite support itself adequately. For instance, his basis for claiming that Jesus preached strict Torah observance is questionable; while it is possible to interpret the parables in Matthew as directing people to action in order to receive salvation, it appears that the inverse can be read. Jesus can be read as saying that when one has gained righteousness, through grace, one will act accordingly. His claim that Jesus was a very Jewish Messiah - fully human and political - falls short when his main source is James Tabor's The Jesus Dynasty. The debate regarding Jesus' claims about apocalyptic subjects is hardly over and done with, but the book doesn't give this more than a cursory glance; it's essentially taken for granted that Jesus believed he was living in the times just before God would put someone back on the Throne of David, sweeping the unrighteous out of the way.
His treatment of Paul was a little underwhelming as well. By concentrating the majority of his energies on Galatians, his argument feels blinkered. Even if we accept his contention that Galations was an anti-Torah (and thus basically anti-Semitic), how does it fit in with the rest of Paul's letters? Was it an early tract written with the zeal of a new convert? This is where my knowledge of Paul's letters reveals itself as inadequate.
One of the main pieces of his Cover-Up Thesis is the contention that Acts is almost entirely historical fiction, written with the express purpose of legitimizing Paul's Christ Movement by reconciling it with James' Jesus Movement. To Wilson, the two movements were strikingly different; the James-led Jesus Movement (later known as the Ebionites) were the keepers of the real message of Jesus; strict Torah observance and hope for the soon-to-arrive Kingdom of God. Paul's Christ Movement, on the other hand, is treated as an invention by Paul based partly on his roadside religious experience in which he claims to have been communicated with by the risen Christ, but mainly created with the intention of an easy-to-follow and easy-to-sell message. Perfect for spreading throughout Hellenized Judaism, Romans and other Gentile communities. To Wilson, the pieces of Acts which are seemingly contradicted by the content of some of Paul's letters indicate that Acts has no real historical basis and was the genesis of the Jesus Cover-Up plot; a pernicious tactic to eliminate the rival Jesus Movement and Judaism.
One thing that the book does fairly well is demonstrate the development of anti-Semitism in early Christianity. This is not an incredibly new subject, and Wilson doesn't really add much to this subject, though it was the first I had heard of Marcion, whom Wilson believes followed Paul's intentions to the logical conclusion by advocating the elimination of any references to Judaism in Christianity.
The Jesus Cover-Up Thesis is presented as explaining how Christianity could become so anti-Semitic even though Jesus was a Jew. If one accepts his premise of just who Jesus was in the first place, it does do a remarkable job of explaining this development, though it could use some shoring up in places. I had some difficulty, however, in accepting his image of Jesus and this is why I recommend this book, but cannot heartily endorse it's thesis.
Comments
paradox3
Posted on: 11/21/2008 13:13
Hi Nighthawk,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have the book (requested it for my birthday), but I have not read it yet...P3
stardust
Posted on: 11/22/2008 22:18
Nighthawk
This is one of my favorite topics although it drives me nuts. Its too complicated and convoluted.....lol. I've read a number of book reviews and other forum comments this p.m. We've had good discussions on Paul before on the WC but I'm none the wiser. My theology or biblical knowlege is badly confused and its getting worse, not better. I won't buy the book because nothing is going to help me...lol. I hope some people have read the book and will comment here.
Here are two links. There is lots of discussion on the net, way too much to post here.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Posted on: 11/22/2008 22:26
Haven't read that book yet but am quite interested.
Wilson's book, for the most part, got reasonably good reviews on Amazon.ca
I did read a book with a similar title but different focus -
When Jesus Became God - Richard Rubenstein
It is essentially the story leading up to the Nicean Council - well done.
nighthawk
Posted on: 11/22/2008 22:31
Thanks Stardust, I did read the compassionatespirit.com review. I agreed with the reviewer on the point that Wilson doesn't really explain what was radical about Jesus, even though he uses that term for him often. Jesus comes across as just one more of a long line of Jews who were reacting to Hellenization and hoping for the Kingdom of God.
It was an interesting read, but lots of little arguments and details remain open to question.
stardust
Posted on: 11/22/2008 23:20
Nighthawk
I just checked the Jewish website again....O my Lord...nobody is going to understand a word of it. I sure can't read Hebrew. This rabbi or whoever is a believer in Jesus so I thought I might learn something new. I swear I read some Eng. pages but I don't see them now. I came back to delete the link but I'd better leave it on in case someone is reading it. Some articles I read on forums were informative but they could be construed as being anti semetic ( or hate literature) on the WC so I think I had better not post them. Here is the article or similiar that the Jewish website came from. It explains a little bit perhaps.
Quote from a Forum:
I assume this is sort of a book review from reading the book?
According to historical scholarship [sources: see at the bottom of this post] he practised what corresponds to today’s Orthodox Judaism all his life. His followers were called Netzarim – that is Hebrew [it means offshoot (of a olive tree)] and is a name in the Jewish Bible that is used for Messiah.
During the first century those who practised Judaism were very devoted their religion. Just like King David and all other Jews throughout history they practised Torah (Instruction) – the Instructions of the Creator – with joy! The most prominent university professors in this field Prof. Elisha Qimron , author of the most authoritative treatise on 4Q MMT, demonstrates that all three of the major sects of first century Judaism followed both written and oral Torah.
Louis Feldman (”The Omnipresence of the G*od-Fearers,” Biblical Archaeology Review, 1986.09-10, p. 45, 58ff) observes: “the Jews were apparently extraordinarily successful in winning converts”
Year 7 B.C.E Ribi Yehoshua were born in Bethlehem. His father name was Yoseif and his mothers name was Miriam. His parents were practising Jews.
According to world-recognized authorities in this area Ribi Yehoshua was a Pharisee (a Torah-practising Jewish group - who according to 4Q MMT practised both written and oral Torah). As the earliest church historians, most eminent modern university historians, our web site (www.netzarim.co.il) and our Khavruta (Distance Learning) texts confirm, the original teachings of Ribi Yehoshua were not only accepted by most of the Pharisaic Jewish community, he had hoards of Jewish students.
He took care of sick and made it popular to pray in what corresponds to today’s Orthodox synagogues. The genealogically non-priest, Hellenist “Wicked Priest” Temple-Sadducees felt that their power was threaten by Ribi Yehoshua. They decided to get him crucified by the Romans. The Romans convicted and crucified Ribi Yehoshua year 30 C.E.
Ribi Yehoshua’s followers Netzarim were expelled from Jerusalem 135 C.E: together with all other Jews. The first Christian bishop Markos replaced the fifteenth leader of Netzarim. This Christian bishop didn’t have permission to do this. What the Paul the apostate and later the founder of Christianity did was to take some concepts that Ribi Yehoshua had taught; they distorted the concepts and included them in the religion which they practiced – Hellenism – the religion of the Greeks. (Sources: See Ecclesiastical History (EH IV.v.1-4; EH V.xii.1) )
Anyone educated in this field knows that the only sect of Judaism that had rabbis was the Pharisee and even the Christian NT described him as a rabbi. Parkes, Bagatti, Wilson, Charlesworth; all world-recognized authorities in this area leave no doubt that Ribi Yehoshua was a Pharisee, of the school of Hileil - who was also Pharisee. There is no serious dispute about that among scholars in the field. Ribi Yehoshua taught in "synagogues"; which were a strictly Pharisee institution.
Following the teachings of the Judaic Mâshiakh (Messiah) Ribi Yehoshua – that is doing one’s utmost to practice the 613 commandments of Torah - also brings the inner joy, purpose and happiness of working intimately with him to bring about, and participate in, the Messianic era, enjoying a higher level of communion with ha-Sheim - the Creator - as party to Yirmeyâhu's (Jeremiah’s) New Covenant.
If you want to learn about the Historical Ribi Yehoshua, whom Orthodox Jews can live with (witness the Netzarim Jews in Raanana, Israel, members in good standing in an Orthodox synagogue), you must start with books like How Jesus Became Christian by Prof. Barrie Wilson (most bookstores) and Who Are The Netzarim? (publ.
www.schuellerhouse.com) by Israeli Orthodox Jew, Paqid Yirmeyahu Ben-David.From Anders Branderud
Geir Toshav, Netzarim in Ra’anana in Israel (www.netzarim.co.il) whom is followers of Ribi Yehoshua – the Messiah – in Orthodox Judaism