Christ the King Books

Clopper, the adorable narrator, tells about his experiences as Mary and Joseph's donkey. He tells of carrying Mary while they followed Joseph on a long journey. When they finally reached Bethlehem, the city was busy and he was tired, but they trusted God would provide a place for them to stay. Finally an innkeeper welcomed them to his stable. The animals slept until a strange sound woke them in the middle of the night -- a baby crying! Later a bunch of shepherds rushed into the stable. They told of angels and how they knew this baby was special ... "the Lord Jesus, the Savior of the world."

Illustrated by Ed Olson, the book contains sweet cartoon characters. Best of all, scrolls are drawn into the illustrations which quote Luke 2:1-20 fron the NIV Bible. Ed Olson has over 25 years experience in media production, including work with Disney, Warner Bros. and Sony.

What I Like: I love the parallel nature of the book -- a story at the bottom from Clopper's point of view and the actual Biblical accounts above. It's a wonderful reinforcement that Mary and Joseph were real people who really lived; that if they were real, then Jesus is real, too. And he really is the Savior of the world! The illustrations are cute and colorful.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review

The collaborative effort of children's author Emily King and illustrator Ed Olson, Clopper The Christmas Donkey tells the story of the greatest adventure of a hardworking donkey's life - escorting Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the dusty stable in which Jesus Christ would be born, and the subsequent news from angels that brought three shepherds to pay their respects. Clopper The Christmas Donkey is a cheerful, warmly illustrated picture book rendition of the story of Christmas and a welcome addition to Christmas season reading lists and collections.

This book creatively tells the story of the first Chirstmas from the donkey's perspective. Children and adults alike will be enchanted by the descriptive writing and beautifully warm illustrations. Actual scripture quotations are ingeniously set throughout the book. I am happy to pull this book out at Christmas time year after year and it makes a great gift!

Delighted to see this kind of book and the reviews it evoked. As one coming from the Alcoholics Anonymous scene, where secularism and universalism are more and more popular, any title like this which encourages us to look at God's Word and the teaching and accomplishments and coming of His son is a book that can be helpful.A New Way Out: New Path - Familiar Road Signs - Our Creator's Guidance; The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (Bridge Builders Edition); Why Early A.A. Succeeded: The Good Book in Alcoholics Anonymous Yesterday and Today .

I also have purchased and read Mr. Vincent's book Hray-Mah Jesus is Coming! My curiosity once more...This writing brought me to realize the Simplicity of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and I was a Christian before reading it, and feel now I am still a Christian but with new bright knowledge and perspective in what Jesus taught and shared to all humans. His book drew me to deeply read the Bible in desire of thirst for the truth, and I was amazed how the author enticed me to go read my own bible and read for myself the things Jesus left for each of us to easily discover. This was a great learning.

I found his writing style easily opened the scriptures so that I could understand and check from my own bible exactly what was being shared and revealed. I found the warning to be exactly as it was given and the closeness of the Lord's Return is at hand.

THIS BOOK IS FOR THOSE CALLING THEMSELVES AS
CHRISTIANS IN THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZRETH.


I am looking forward to reading his other books. Clearly, this is Christianity as it was really meant to be: Simple and direct...and based only on Jesus Christ of Nazareth as our Lord Savior. Amen!

I have also bought Mr. Vincents' book titled:

NINE MONTHS PLUS ONE DAY
Nine Months Plus One Day: By Robert William Vincent

This story brought me to wonderful warm tears. It reminded me of the wonder of motherhood and the mysteries within. I was amazed that a man could write in such depth to touch gently the within of a woman. It was fantastic! I became attached to the baby telling the story as if it were my own and within my own womb. I felt once again the warmth of motherhood and the feelings which pregnancy brings
upon a mother and her bonding with the child growing inside. I laughed at the humor and was awed at the depth I was drawn to perceive. The author's ability to comprehend is dramatic and his perceptions right on.

The illustrations are child-like perceptions that of themselves also depicted a story. Mr. Vincents' use of art he created is heartfelt.

I recommend this book to all women and especially to
all carrying a blessing. I believe this book could easily
be used as a tutor for teenage children for sharing how and why children are conceived and arrive into this world. In a true and comforting way of sharing the answers all children one day ask of their parents.

I admit, I have now read it at least four times through and still find warm tears and joy arrive each time. Wow!

Nine Months Plus One Day: By Robert William Vincent

I also have purchased and read Mr. Vincent's book Hray-Mah Jesus is Coming! My curiosity once more...This writing brought me to realize the Simplicity of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and I was a Christian before reading it, and feel now I am still a Christian but with new bright knowledge and perspective in what Jesus taught and shared to all humans. His book drew me to deeply read the Bible in desire of thirst for the truth, and I was amazed how the author enticed me to go read my own bible and read for myself the things Jesus left for each of us to easily discover. This was a great learning.

I found his writing style easily opened the scriptures so that I could understand and check from my own bible exactly what was being shared and revealed. I found the warning to be exactly as it was given and the closeness of the Lord's Return is at hand.

I have found this book re-kindled my relationship with Jesus Christ.

At first, as I started to read the book I wondered what was this author trying to do or say?
When suddenly, it hit home as I was thirsty to go read for myself to see if what was written was within the bible. I discovered it certainly was!

His style of writing is refreshing and new in that I felt he was sitting next to me talking me to go search and learn about Jesus ON MY OWN!

He is not preaching a new religion, but opening scripture and applying it as to every religion on this Earth, and showing they have left the FIRST LOVE. At least I discovered how simple it is to know and serve the Lord Savoir Jesus Christ of Nazareth every single day. I found reading my bible was greater joy and I was able to comprehend precepts and concepts that in the past merely slipped away. No one has ever shown me before that I also was able to see, hear and ask myself and know God answered.

Jesus is the Son of God and the Living Lord Saviour who died on the Cross to save me and anyone who seeks Him, and He was buried and arose alive from the grave to overcome for each of us the sting of death and so we can live with God after we leave this Earth and our earthly bodies. I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as ONE GOD!
....................................................................

A FRIEND WROTE TO ME THE FOLLOWING: I add this because its RIGHT ON!
Truley:
I found his writing style easily opened the scriptures so that I could understand and check from my own bible exactly what was being shared and revealed as I read his first Hray Mah book. I found the warning to be exactly as it was given and the closeness of the Lord's Return is at hand. No christen writer I have read before has so deeply touched my thoughts and brought me with a deep thirst to seek the Living Word from scripture on my own reading as this author. The Fruits of the Spirit flow in gentleness in his writings, and he asks every reader to test his Fruits of the Spirit exactly as Jesus told us to do.

THIS BOOK IS FOR THOSE CALLING THEMSELVES AS
CHRISTIANS IN THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZRETH.

I agree: Jesus is Coming!

As I see it:
The Bible is for the FAITHFUL.....
Without Jesus one has no faith and thus no way to comprehend or share correctly the BIBLE. Without FAITH anything that comes out and talked about the WORD by the unfaithful is incorrect.

WE are free from the PAINS OF DEATH....NOT FROM DEATH ITSELF

Scriptures technically teach nothing to those without the Spirit:
THE TEACHER IS THE SPIRT....and the Spirit is Jesus, and without Jesus as Lord there is no knowledge of the scriptures. Thus as it is written they speak as fools who have not the Lord and Comforter. Trying if possible to fool those WHO DO KNOW THE LORD.

Basically..........Jesus revealed NO ONE CAN FULLFILL THE LAW....That is why Jesus overcame the Law and gave us FAITH and the doorway of His Shed Blood rather than the Law which NO ONE CAN LIVE BY.
......................................................................

From this Reviewer:

THIS BOOK IS FOR THOSE CALLING THEMSELVES AS
CHRISTIANS IN THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZRETH.


I am looking forward to reading his other books. Clearly, this is Christianity as it was really meant to be: Simple and direct...and based only on Jesus Christ of Nazareth as our Lord Savior. Amen!

I have also bought Mr. Vincents' book titled:

NINE MONTHS PLUS ONE DAY
Nine Months Plus One Day: By Robert William Vincent

This story brought me to wonderful warm tears. It reminded me of the wonder of motherhood and the mysteries within. I was amazed that a man could write in such depth to touch gently the within of a woman. It was fantastic! I became attached to the baby telling the story as if it were my own and within my own womb. I felt once again the warmth of motherhood and the feelings which pregnancy brings
upon a mother and her bonding with the child growing inside. I laughed at the humor and was awed at the depth I was drawn to perceive. The author's ability to comprehend is dramatic and his perceptions right on.

The illustrations are child-like perceptions that of themselves also depicted a story. Mr. Vincents' use of art he created is heartfelt.

I recommend this book to all women and especially to
all carrying a blessing. I believe this book could easily
be used as a tutor for teenage children for sharing how and why children are conceived and arrive into this world. In a true and comforting way of sharing the answers all children one day ask of their parents.

I admit, I have now read it at least four times through and still find warm tears and joy arrive each time. Wow!
Nine Months Plus One Day: By Robert William Vincent

Or Kindle Edition:
NINE MONTHS PLUS ONE DAY

Book 2 of Ellen G. White's Conflict of the Ages series, which completely cover God's dealings with our world and the universe at large; past, present, and future. "Prophets and Kings" focusing mainly on Israel's monarchy and Old Testament prophets. As stated in my previous reviews, all 5 volumes are a must read. If I were to choose a least favorite, this would probably be it, the reason for a 4 rather than 5 star rating. Still, probably the best commentary on this Biblical period you'll ever find.

One of the absolute finest books that I have ever read. I recommend this book to administrators.

Incredibly interesting book on biblical history. Author has exceptional detailed facts and descriptions. Fascinating book, I'll read more from this author.

This book features poetry of Hughes for children. The poetry carefully uses language geared for children, uses repetition more than images. This results in text that conveys to children as much the careful, artful use of language as "fine poetry". The illustrations by Bryan are a superb counterpoint to the text - again geared intentional towards children - but showing excellent use of color and a realism appealing to adults.

This book succeeds in being truly for children without being sacchrine or insulting. Don't think of this as an "ethnic" book, it is far too good to be marginalized.

This book not only captures the beauty of Langston Hughes for young readers but also portrays the beauty of African Heritage within the powerful meaning of the story of Christ's birth. I ended up buying two copies on my first round because it was such a wonderful piece of work for both chidren and adults!

This is a classic, a black Bible, great for gift-giving.

I love this Bible - the large print is fantastic, just what I was looking for and the Bible is user friendly. I recommend the purchase.

This book is great and has very helpful information to motivate one in their calling as a Home Teacher! I would recomend this book for a new convert or a life long member!

This a a subject that has not been written on often in the church. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). A wonderfully motivational and clever book on how members of the church can reach out and minister to other members through priesthood hometeaching. Includes stories, examples, teaching situtations and a sample seminar on the subject.

In The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity, historian James Tabor weaves through a smattering of selective biblical narratives and archeological evidence an exceedingly speculative tale about a Messianic Movement John the Baptist and Jesus launched to overthrow the religious and political establishments of their day. According to Tabor, after their deaths, their revolutionary movement was continued on by Jesus' brother James, other members of Jesus' royal family and the twelve disciples.

Tabor claims that because Jesus came from the royal bloodline of King David, He believed He not only had an earthly dynasty, but also a calling from God to preach repentance of sins and the "imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God" on earth to topple the injustice of His day. Thus, in an attempt to fulfill His earthly mission, Tabor says Jesus orchestrated His life around the Hebrew Scriptures so that His life was a fulfillment of them.

However, Tabor argues that Jesus' true message and mission was purposely suppressed by the biblical writer Luke, and was eclipsed by the Apostle Paul who, Tabor says, redefined Jesus' message because of a mystical experience he had on the road to Damascus. Thus, Tabor contends that there are two Gospel messages imbedded in the New Testament text. And sadly, Tabor says, the Christian church failed to recognize Jesus' true message because it embraced Paul's erroneous Gospel message of a divinized Jesus, born of a Virgin Mary, who resurrected from the dead and came to offer eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus, thus making the resurrection of Jesus the lynchpin of the Christian faith.

But Tabor says that Jesus' apostles never claimed to have seen Jesus resurrected from the dead after He died by crucifixion because they never believed Him to be anything other than a man who had an illegitimate birth who came from a royal bloodline and therefore was the rightful heir to an earthly throne. Tabor points out that while they deeply grieved and mourned His death, they in no way ever claimed to have seen Him in a resurrected body after His death. In addition, Tabor denies that explaining Jesus' empty tomb was ever an issue. He says in all likelihood, Jesus' mother and sisters came very early in the morning and removed Jesus' body from the tomb in which it was temporarily placed, and placed it in a permanent tomb which is why Mary Magdalene found the temporary tomb empty. Moreover, Tabor hypothesizes that it was most likely placed in the royal family's tomb which he believes might very well be the Talpiot tomb recently discovered. If the Talpiot tomb is the tomb of Jesus' royal family, and the ossuary box inscribed "Jesus son of Joseph" contains the bone particles of Jesus, then Tabor says, Jesus' body and final resting place has finally been found, and the greatest mystery on earth has been solved.

It is clear that Dr. Tabor accepts and conducts his research with the a priori assumption of naturalism, the metaphysical doctrine that states that all that is real is what one finds in nature, because Tabor offers only natural explanations for the events of Jesus' life when he reads the evidence. As a naturalist, Tabor excludes a priori the supernatural (the existence of God and miracles) as being viable explanations for the claims that Jesus had a supernatural birth and resurrected from the dead, and in doing so, conducts his research through a limited framework for mining the truths of history. Since naturalism has to date not been proven to be the true metaphysical reality, but rather is one that also must be taken on faith, the naturalistic explanations Tabor offers is only one possible explanation. I wonder how Dr. Tabor would explain how Jesus orchestrated Caesar Augustus issuing a decree that a census be taken of the Roman world getting Mary and Joseph to move from Nazareth to Bethlehem so that He could fulfill the prophecy about the Messiah's birth taking place in Bethlehem as stated in Micah 5:2 while He was still in his mother's womb. Is it possible that the ordered universe in which we live filled with highly sophisticated creatures called humans who have the extraordinary ability to reason might better be explained by the metaphysical reality of Theism? Tabor refuses to even explore the idea.

If Jesus' only mission was to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, and if His Apostles really believed that Jesus did not rise from the dead, is it really reasonable to believe that eleven of the twelve disciples willingly submitted themselves to grisly deaths for a dead man who had an earthly mission? One might expect that at least one of them might have renounced Jesus' earthly mission out of a very real and human fear of being barbarously tortured to death. What about their radical character transformations? After Jesus' death, they initially scattered out of fear. However, something happened to them later that made them proclaim Jesus' message fearlessly and boldly until their heinous deaths. What was it? And how does Tabor explain Paul's extraordinary conversion from Christian persecutor to that of the greatest evangelist of the Christian faith? While Tabor affirms that Paul had a "mystical experience," does he ever pause to determine what that experience was? Perhaps a more viable explanation is that both Jesus' disciples and Paul really believed that Jesus rose from the dead because they actually saw Him in His resurrected, immortal body after his death as did 500 other people.

Tabor says, "When you get closer to the truth, everything begins to fit." I agree. However, when one looks at the undeniable facts of Jesus' death, empty tomb, the conversions of persecutor Paul and skeptic James, and the disciples beliefs of a resurrected Jesus, one begins to understand the truth of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection proving Him to be the Son of God and Savior of the world begins to fit!

James D. Tabor's book on the birth of Christianity is one of the better and more scholarly books of late that tries to redefine Jesus by trying to piece together lost or difficult to understand materials. At times his expertise in archeology and early sources is on display, but at others he is admittedly stretching to get his theories to work. These theories must "work within the parameters of a scientific view of reality." So obviously we must look somewhere else to understand why Christianity got its' start than what the bible, and its' early proclaimers preached. The traditional reason is the bodily resurrection of Jesus himself. This of course is brushed off by Tabor with "Dead bodies don't rise..." Books and theories of how Christianity began without a resurrection have been around for many centuries, yet none seem to get traction, and this one seems no different.
His primary explanation for the resurrection is that probably Mary, Jesus' mother, and his half brother James moved the body to another tomb and tricked the apostles. Jesus, being such a charismatic leader, bequeathed his new religious dynasty to his half brother James, who did not, according to Tabor, preach resurrection. He posits that the apostles and Paul created the myth of a resurrection and appearances by Jesus, and that these only gained acceptance later in the church after James was martyred.
Tabor's evidence to support the idea that the resurrection and the appearances by Jesus weren't accepted right away is the fact that Mark's gospel originally ended at 16:8 without any resurrection appearances, and the unproven Q document. Q supposedly did not have these elements either, but since we don't have any copies of it, that is difficult to prove. Mark's gospel has strong implications that there were resurrection appearances several times where Jesus predicts his resurrection. Otherwise why would Mark include them? Mark is usually very brief, and expects the reader to unpack things for themselves. If the resurrection appearances were common knowledge at the time Mark was written, then there really isn't that big of a mystery here, since he did tell us that Jesus had risen. Later authors probably added an ending for Mark to make it seem more fitting with the other 3 gospels. Tabor implies the other gospels and Paul invented or incorporated later mythical resurrection and appearances. This point is strongly negated by recent scholarship that the creed stated in 1 Corinthians 15 dates very early, and is most likely from before Paul's conversion just 2 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. 1 Corinthians dates to about 55 AD and in it Paul is reminding them of the saying he passed on to them when we was with the Corinthians a few years before. More importantly, in Galatians 1 and 2 Paul at least twice went to Jerusalem to confer with the other apostles. The first time about 3 years after Paul's conversion and about 5 years after the crucifixion, Paul meets with Peter and James, Jesus' brother to verify the gospel he had been preaching. It is here where the creed in 1 Corinthians 15 was most likely received by Paul. The creed must have been formulated and circulating before then, likely within months to at most 3 years after the crucifixion. The fact that many skeptical scholars are now agreeing with this point seriously undermines the idea that James was somehow spreading a very different strand of Christianity than Paul and the other apostles. The creed is fundamentally important in that it affirms the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances so close to the events they tell of. This is not much later as Tabor tries to imply.
Tabor also claims that the second century Gospel of Peter should be accepted along with the first century canonical gospels, and then states that the resurrection appearances cannot be reconciled. Very few scholars think the Gospel of Peter is reliable enough to be on the same footing. Tabor commits the fallacy that differing reports are wrong reports. As anyone knows eyewitness accounts do vary, and details will be different, otherwise collusion is charged. Scholars for nearly two thousand years have been able to see the core of the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection appearances as reliable, and how to correlate the seemingly differing details into a coherent whole. Another example of this is when he states that in Acts 1:4 that Jesus told the apostles not to leave Jerusalem, and then Tabor claims the sightings of Jesus in Galilee contradict this. This is easy to explain, some of the apostles went to Galilee after the crucifixion, but returned to Jerusalem, and that is when Jesus told them this. Tabor's biggest gaffe is where he uses a 16th century vision to claim that Jesus is buried in a grave in Galilee. This seriously handicaps his other very scholarly contributions in this book.
Tabor's volume is worthwhile for its insights about archeology, but not for its explaining away of the beginning of Christianity. There has yet to emerge a good enough reason why the eyewitnesses of Jesus' resurrection appearances died for their testimony. If Tabor is right, they died in vain for a lie that they themselves would have to have known. Many die for a belief which may be false, but not a group of individuals for eyewitness testimony they know is false. We know from this that the apostles truly believed they encountered Jesus resurrected in a physical body. This is still the best explanation why these witnesses boldly proclaimed Jesus' message to the world, and began what we call Christianity.

The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity

I am only about half way through the book, but I am finding it very informative and accessable. The author does not convert theory into fact at the turn of the page, allowing the reader to develope their own conclusions. Too often when reading early Christian history I find the author has a personal agenda trying to convice me of his/her own beliefs, whereas James Tabor raises possibilties, asks questions and explores consequences without imposing his own conclusions upon the reader. I am really enjoying the book and recommend it to anyone with an open mind.

This book served its purpose. The good professor got published. Beyond that, it isn't worth much.

If we are to believe Dr. Tabor, Jesus and his cousin(?) John the Baptist believe they were the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy that said two Messiah's, one from the priestly line (John) and one from the royal line (Jesus) would appear in 28 A.D. and usher in the Kingdom of God on earth. He then talks about how after Jesus' death, his brothers, James, Simon, and (I think) Jude carry on in leading the Real Jesus Movement until about 400 A.D. Nothing about Jesus was divine and because of this, if we could just recapture this Real Jesus Movement, we could sit with the Jews and the Muslims and hold hands around a camp fire and sing Kum Ba Yah.

He never addresses the question of what the Real Jesus Movement was moving about after both of their leaders were dead and the prophesy that they counted on was proven false. He also completely denies the resurrection, so he completely ignores the most remarkable human movement in history, namely the Early Church.

There is no reason to debate the details of this book because the overall premise is so lacking that getting into details is a waste of time. In fact it is almost as big a waste of time as reading this book.

The Jesus Dynasty by James Tabor is a stirring account of the real history of Jesus, his royal family and the birth of Christianity. Well, at least it's real in the same sense as a well-scripted, Hollywood movie is real. Much like a movie, Tabor carefully edits out scenes from the gospels that don't fit his story, and is adept at using outside props (in many cases, archaeology) to make his account of the events seem much more likely than it actually is. When we peel away the outside trimmings and look for what is actually there, we see The Jesus Dynasty for what it is, an effort to cast a well documented story in a new conspiratorial light to better a fit the worldviews of Tabor and selected readers.

Tabor acknowledges early on that the gospel accounts of the New Testament are our best and earliest sources on the life of Christ and the events in question (p.42) . Yet for the rest of his book, he refers to them as authentic when they fit the details of his conspiracy, and dismisses them as full of error when they don't. He discredits the different gospels at times, but will turn around and base part of his theory on the specific Greek wording that one of those gospels use. It is very difficult to follow. At many points you see Tabor claim that Matthew, Luke or John is not trustworthy. But then you see him reconstructing the life of Jesus using specific parts of these gospels as evidence, and you become very confused. Tabor manages to believe every passage that supports his theory from the gospels is authentic and only the ones that don't could possibly be in error. Tabor also claims any specific passage from the gospels or the book of Acts that contradicts his theory is a suppression of the truth or a later interpolation, which he tries to use as further evidence for his theory. Unfortunately, he can't have it both ways.

What was most intriguing to me during this book was how little evidence Tabor actually had for the unique parts of his theory. Much of his theory is actually very close to the traditional account, but at certain points he diverges from tradition into his own speculation. He believes Jesus and John the Baptizer hatched a plot based solely on the assumption that they would have spent time together and could have come up with it. He believes that contrary to church tradition and the gospels he used as sources, Jesus' brothers were among the apostles. He tried to connect the dots by assuming Jesus' mother Mary might have been remarried to a specific man, who had a name that could be translated differently, who had a son named James, who then might've been Jesus' brother. When the sources don't line up to his theory, he discredits them.

A perfect example of Tabor's faulty approach to reconstructing Jesus' life can be seen by looking at how he handled the issue of Jesus' resurrection. He admits in his chapter on the resurrection that "historians are bound by their discipline to work within the parameters of a scientific view of reality" (p.233), a clear acknowledgment of anti-supernatural bias. Even though most would acknowledge that a historian's job is to attempt to find the most credible explanation for the facts before them, Tabor lays down an extra criterion: it must conform to a scientific view of reality. Let's be clear, not everyone holds a "scientific view of reality" which claims matter and energy are all that exist, and things like minds, friendship, love, and miracles are all non-existent. Even though these things are commonly understood, since they can't be quantified or proved scientifically, they are not real in a "scientific" view. Tabor however chooses to lay down that set of rules as he looks at the evidence of the resurrection, one that can't help but skew his interpretation of the events.

He then claims that Jesus was temporarily buried, and then later reburied somewhere else. What in the gospels suggests temporary burial and a later reburial? There is nothing to support this idea from the gospels. Rather it is an attempt to work around them. Ironically, this is not a new idea. It is essentially a revised version of the old "wrong tomb" theory in which the reason that followers mistakenly think Jesus was raised is because they guessed the wrong tomb. (This theory has been long ignored because if it was true it would have allowed those opposed to the disciples an easy way to shut them up, by revealing that Jesus was still dead and buried in a tomb and pointing it out). Even though nothing in the gospels claims that the place of Jesus' burial was temporary (the closest reference is in John where they buried him in a tomb "nearby" since the Sabbath was approaching), Tabor bases his explanation of the resurrection on this fact. That is a very big presumption without any real evidence.

When he has to deal with Jesus' appearances to his disciples, he claims they were simply visiting the new burial site in Galilee. No explanation is given of how they managed to get Jesus all the way to this new site in Galilee without anyone noticing or making it difficult on them. This theory also doesn't explain all the numerous appearances to the disciples, only one specific appearance in Galilee, and that through a broad interpretation of the text. This ignores another critical fact. Even though visiting the grave of a dead messiah would be more likely to instill fear of punishment and retribution rather than confidence, Tabor believes this combined with a pep talk from James, is all it took to turn the disciples into courageous martyrs willing to die. (We should note that no evidence has ever been given of those who died for what they knew was a lie and this is what Tabor is assuming if his story was true, for records exist that the disciples were martyred proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead.) Tabor dismisses the appearance of Christ to Paul as merely a vision, and ignores Paul's testimony about the resurrection (from 1 Corinthians 15 in the New Testament) by simply writing off Paul as biased, off-base, and not trustworthy. He conveniently ignores this most important passage about the resurrection from the New Testament and that it has widespread acceptance among critical scholars. In this passage, Paul copied from church creeds that date to within a year of the crucifixion and resurrection events, showing that the earliest church did believe Jesus actually rose from the dead. He also dismisses the testimony of Luke, despite Luke being generally credited by scholars as being an excellent historian, because this interferes with his conclusions.

Even without accepting all of what is stated in the gospels or the New Testament as truth, most historians have come to accept a set of minimal facts regarding the resurrection. Tabor does not even accept all of these, disputing the disciples' experiences of the risen Jesus and their subsequent life change, as well as accounts of appearances to the previously skeptical Paul and James, and the life change in those individuals. Credible historians who, like Tabor, aren't quick to accept divine activity still give the actual evidence in support of the resurrection much more respect than Tabor seems to. That should not be surprising, since, as he clearly described, a resurrection does not fit into Tabor's worldview, why should we expect to see the evidence for it respected in his script?

As a whole, we just have to take Tabor's word, or an occasional small citation from a source removed from the events by a few hundred years, on too many things. When taken at first glance, or via a quick read, The Jesus Dynasty seems to be a vivid and real account of the life of one of history's most important figures. But much like a Hollywood movie, when you go "behind the scenes" to check what is really there, you see more in The Jesus Dynasty that represents a staged production than a historical reality.

This a a really good book. It's information shared from a different era but it is still pertainent for today's youth and much needed. In the dateing arena.

This book is exceptionally well written. I would recommend to anyone waiting for the Lord to provide someone to love. It is honest and real about the struggle we all must face when finding the person who God has for us.

I read this book over and over again in high school. Now that I am graduating college and getting married soon, I find that her principles, based on Scripture, stand the test of time.
Some people call her book dated. But the concepts are not.

In a dark world, Elisabeth Elliot's timeless words shed much needed light on the subject of sex, relationships and waiting on God. I read this book over 22 years ago while in my mid thirties and it literally changed my life. Not only is this book a must read for singles of any age, but I highly recommend it for mature teenagers! Elisabeth Elliot's works will never lose their impact! I've loaned or purchased this book for countless women and newly engaged couples over the years and have gotten great feedback!

Passion and Purity is by far the most helpful book I have ever read on "learning to bring your love life under Christ's control" (its subtitle). Elisabeth Elliot honestly and touchingly pens her love story with Jim Elliot (who was later martyred while ministering to the Waorani Indians in Ecuador). They spent five years knowing they were in love, yet not knowing whether it was God's will for them to remain single permanently. Their struggles and forbearance during that time form the backdrop for the truths Elliot shares throughout the book.

Most of all, this book is about God. The horizontal principles it instills are secondary. The "passion" is human, but most of all it is passion for God, a burning passion that filled the lives of both of these two young people. Their desires to follow and please Him were stronger than love, and stronger than death.

But this commitment to Christ flowed into their relationship with each other, governing their passion and giving them the grace and strength to maintain purity. Elisabeth Elliot does not hesitate to give simple, straightforward advice about the way relationships should look, of what women should expect from men, and of what men should expect from women - advice that would doubtless be offensive to many. Yet it is so true and valuable, so clear and full of light.

She writes, "I do not want to be guilty of Pharisaism... It is the heart's direction that is always the central issue... It was the principle of love that constrained Jim and me to tread so lightly, to hold each other at arm's length, knowing we belonged first to Christ, wanting Him to have our hearts' affections before all others" (132).

I've read many of Zecharia Sitchin's books on the Sumerians and Annunaki, and I have to say I don't regret broadening my horizons a little and reading this book by Laurence Gardner. I have another on order, and will probably read others. He focuses on the beliefs of the Templars, being one himself, and ties in the ancient practice of alchemy and how it originated. While the two men's views differ here and there, I appreciate the consistency of the similarities. This book focuses acutely on religious practices, and the time lines of actual events. I recommend it to anyone thirsty for as much perspective on this subject as they can get.

Give us a break Mr.Gardner. This is agenda-driven propaganda masking as informed scholarship. The author belongs to that movement that seeks to redefine man as a product of genetic manipulation by extra-terrestrials or inter-dimensional beings. This premise itself is not unreasonable, but Mr Gardner is dissimilar from Von Daniken, Stichin, et al in that he has a specific axe to grind.

We are the creation of a reptilian master race, the dragons of Lucifer. There never was a divine ideal for man, no vision for us to the children of God. No, humanity was simply a breeding experiment by an intellectually superior species. So there was no Fall, only liberation. The Grail Kings are serpent/human hybrids who are our rightful rulers and teachers. Theirs is the Holy bloodline. Jesus was one of them. Methinks the author also believes the same about himself.

In reality, this book is an apology for a type of satanism. It is choc-a-bloc with convoluted half truths which might impress readers who are cynical of religious orthodoxy. But this is not the blind leading the blind. The author clearly knows what he is doing. He's made his bed and he's lying in it. I'm not getting in with him.

Mark Gibbs
Author, The Virgin and The Priest

As both an author and reader of fiction, I was impressed with Genesis of the Grail Kings. Maybe it is because I have always enjoyed a book that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. In a nutshell, the characters are believable and yet a little out of the ordinary and the story line interesting. Give this book a try.
I have also written a book about the cloning of Jesus, but my main story line is ten years in the life of a little girl who was "chosen by God" to be the next Madonna in the second coming of Christ.
Tommy Taylor
Author - The Second Virgin Birth

Gardner's "non-fiction" book is based on the idea that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had children and their descendants became European royalty. Other books have the same idea. Gardner diverges into the world of science fiction or crazy people when he begins writing about aliens and a super human race. I'm fairly open minded, and while anything is possible, I began to doubt Gardner's credibility and motives. Not necessary reading.

I was blown away by this book. I always felt there was something we were not being told. When I actually got into the book, I was saying, yes, yes, yes, I knew it! Everyone from the age of 5 up needs to read this book. It will enlighten and sometimes frighten, but in the end it will give you knowledge. You will finally be able to think for yourself and start asking questions that the Church does not want us to ask.
After reading this book, I felt for the first time in my life that everything was starting to make sense.

Fredriksen wrote this after the first pile of books by prominent members of the infamous Jesus Seminar were published (most importantly Crossan's books). Her conclusion, the non-Eschatological Jesus is not accurate. Of course the case isn't closed yet, but someone like Fredriksen, a well respected scholar by individuals such as Geza Vermes, E.P. Sanders and N.T. Wright, who has digested the writings of various Jesus Seminarians and other scholars, to come to this conclusion is quite important.

As a matter of fact she falls in line with Sanders and his views on Judaism in the first century of the Current Era. In this category I would put John P. Meier and Geza Vermes as well. Wright, although firmly eschatological, has some position in between (this is not to say Wright is a liberal though, he has written probably the most formidable defenses of the bodily Resurrection of Jesus).

Although unlike Sanders, she figures Jesus death for different reasons. Rather than it being the Temple incident, she figures it was the reception Jesus received from the masses in Jerusalem. Well, to me it seems like scholarly nitpicking. Meier, Sanders, Vermes and Fredriksen differ on the details, and continue the confusion people have when the study the Historical Jesus. In other words, that Fredriksen's Jesus is somehow newer or more accurate than any other scholars. As a matter of fact, the introduction of Meier's masterly A Marginal Jew Volume I corrects this conception. The Historical Jesus is a scholarly and scientific invention, not the real Jesus of first century Palestine or the Christ of Faith (Vermes seriously confuses this in his books).

Although this particular study does not present anything substantially new, it does continue the pummeling of the Jesus Seminar and Marcus Borg's modest suggestion of a non-Eschatological Jesus.

Being that Fredriksen is Jewish, I was impressed she did not have the bitter polemics against Christianity or Christian theology that Vermes' (otherwise excellent) books contain. Do not be overwhelmed or discouraged, the quest for the Historical Jesus is not a failure, it has yielded some very important insights into the world of early Christianity and its enigmatic source of belief, Jesus of Nazareth.

Paula Fredriksen's exceedingly well-written and carefully reasoned text asks a simple question: Why was Jesus crucified? The answer she is seeking must withstand the methodological rigours of the historian's craft. Simply put, she searches for the answer to this question by examining the social and cultural context in which Jesus found himself. This approach does not negate speculation, but any such must plausibly fit the available data, including information from outside the synoptic gospels, such Josepheus and other sources. For Ms. Fredriksen the puzzle is why Jesus' death by crucifixionn and thus a very public death. That particular mode of death was reserved for those believed to be a threat to public order, in short, Rome. Jesus' life and teachings fail to answer this question directly. Ultimately, Jesus was threatening not because of anything he said, or even did, but because of the reception he received by the masses. It was they who elevated Jesus to the status of the Messiah. Thus, Pilate moved: to deflate the supporters of Jesus, and to satisfy his opponents. Of course, this too is speculative -- Pilate's decision to execute Jesus, rather than have him quitely "removed," ultimately rested on his "bet" that Jesus' supporters would be quelled, and not energized to rebellion. Perhaps in the immediate context, Pilate was right, but in the long-term his "strategy," if we may refer to the death of our Lord in this way, was way wide of the desired mark.

Fredriksen tries to answer one big question: why was Jesus crucified? Why wasn't he just quietly done away with by the Romans or the Jewish religious establishment? What did he do that merited the most extreme and public form of execution?

In the course of examining this question the author looks and evaluates the sources for Jesus's life and teaching -- mostly the New Testament and Josephus -- and identifies what is most plausible from often conflicting stories. She conventionally relies on Mark as the most reliable of the Gospels, but suprisingly cites John as the better source for the events in the last few hours of Jesus's life. She comes up with a persuasive rationale for the rapid spread of Christianity after Jesus's death and she spends a lot of time looking at whether Jesus and his teachings conflicted with orthodox Judiasm. She reminds us frequently what we do not know -- which is a lot more than we do know.

None of the author's conclusions are revolutionary or unique amidst the vast literature about Jesus, and specialists might want a little more depth. But for the average reader this is as good a book as you find about Jesus's teachings and the environment in which he taught. Not the least of its virtues are good maps of the Mediterranean, ancient Judea and surroundings, and a plan of the temple in Jerusalem. Interesting notes at the end of the book outline contrary views and characterize her sources.

Smallchief

The search for the historical Jesus seeks to understand Jesus as his contemporaries understood him. Historians endeavor to separate the theological issues (esp. later theology) from the historical. Thus, some historians dismiss the reported miracles as the imagination of gospel writers or as explicable in natural terms. Numerous questions arise in the gospel accounts that challenge reconciliation with known facts. Where do the prophets say that the messiah shall be called a Nazarene? Or, how are the disparate birth narratives to be reconciled? Some scholars have tended to explain such difficulties as historical errors or as story lessons that are not to be taken literally.

The reader should not expect a fundamentalist view from the author. In her search for why Jesus died and why he died the way he did, she attempts to understand the times and explain the circumstances surrounding Jesus in terms of the historical and cultural setting. The gospel claims are secondary or incomplete. If Pilate wanted Jesus dead what would the reasons have been? Fredriksen's conclusions may not exactly agree with contemporary theology but her endeavor does challenge the commonly held views with a look at the larger historical events and the complex relationship between Rome and Judea/Galilee.

Paula Fredriksen succeeds where so many of her colleagues fail: recapturing the Jewishness of Jesus. She accomplishes this feat simply by placing him within his Jewish context, accompanied of course by very in-depth and rigorous research into the historical settings of Judea and Galilee, collectively known to us as Palestine. She quite correctly criticizes scholars such as Crossan who Hellenize Jesus by making him into some sort of wandering Cynic sage, although at other times she is quite dismissive of arguments contrary to her own. However, given the scope of the subject and the limited time involved, perhaps we may forgive such a tendency as perhaps inevitable. ALthough I agreed with her main thesis, she immerses herself in overly rank speculation towards the end. I personally do not feel it necessary to posit John's itenerary rather than the Synoptics to explain why Jesus' followers were not crucified. Also, although all scholars do this, I seriously question the tendency to speculate far beyond what is necessary to explain the limited facts we have. Of course, some speculation (one might even say "much") is inevitable given the subject matter and the questionable nature of many of the facts involved, but to seek to explain every bit of questionable evidence just to fully flesh out one's theory seems wholly unnecessary to me. Either way, though, if you are interested in the actual Jesus of history, then you would be hard pressed to do better than this book.