The author's description of the context is easy to swallow. The Roman occupiers collaborative with the
Jewish religious elite to oppress everyone else.
His description of Jesus as a peasant or day laborer nobody
is also easy to swallow.
Where I could not go with the author is his conclusion that
Jesus was a Jewish Zealot Nationalist whose goal was to overthrow Rome the
Jewish scribes by force. For one thing, I don't think
this is supported by the gospel readings he purportedly relies on. Nor is it automatic
that any person who opposes the system of domination would want to do so with
swords and clubs. Not every rebel is a Barabbas or Spartacus.
I think in the end the author's assumptions
reveal much more about himself than his subject, but that's probably true of
any Jesus biography.
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