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The Year God Died: Jesus and the Roman Empire in 33 AD
A groundbreaking account of how the Roman Empire shaped the life and death of Jesus, overturning centuries of historical beliefs around the world—from the New York Times bestselling author of The First Clash.
“Skillfully guides readers on a journey through the complexity and tumult of the Roman occupation of first-century Judea and its inevitable collision with the Jesus Movement.”—Dr. T. J. Wray, professor of religious and theological studies and author of Good Girls, Bad Girls of the New Their Enduring Lessons
In late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius's closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified.
This profound connection between the lives of Sejanus and Jesus is the first of many revelations in this startling reexamination of the Roman world in which Jesus walked. With new evidence and meticulous research, Dr. James Lacey weaves a majestic and accurate description of who Jesus was.
The Year God Died contradicts longstanding historical beliefs to reveal the most comprehensive and accurate view of the New Testament. Lacey explains how the events in Rome drove events in Judea—which is directly linked to Jesus' crucifixion. He uncovers a vibrant and rich world, but one still coming to grips with the reality of Roman power. He introduces ten-year-old Boadicea, who is destined to lead Britain’s tribes in a great revolt against Rome. He depicts Varus marching his legions past a four-year-old Jesus on his war to Jerusalem. And he describes how Herod prospered by appeasing some of the most dangerous people in history—Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Augustus.
In this sweeping chronicle, Lacey dissects reams of misinformation to reveal, for the first time, Jesus, as he was born and lived within the grand spectacle of the Roman world.
“Skillfully guides readers on a journey through the complexity and tumult of the Roman occupation of first-century Judea and its inevitable collision with the Jesus Movement.”—Dr. T. J. Wray, professor of religious and theological studies and author of Good Girls, Bad Girls of the New Their Enduring Lessons
In late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius's closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified.
This profound connection between the lives of Sejanus and Jesus is the first of many revelations in this startling reexamination of the Roman world in which Jesus walked. With new evidence and meticulous research, Dr. James Lacey weaves a majestic and accurate description of who Jesus was.
The Year God Died contradicts longstanding historical beliefs to reveal the most comprehensive and accurate view of the New Testament. Lacey explains how the events in Rome drove events in Judea—which is directly linked to Jesus' crucifixion. He uncovers a vibrant and rich world, but one still coming to grips with the reality of Roman power. He introduces ten-year-old Boadicea, who is destined to lead Britain’s tribes in a great revolt against Rome. He depicts Varus marching his legions past a four-year-old Jesus on his war to Jerusalem. And he describes how Herod prospered by appeasing some of the most dangerous people in history—Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Augustus.
In this sweeping chronicle, Lacey dissects reams of misinformation to reveal, for the first time, Jesus, as he was born and lived within the grand spectacle of the Roman world.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2025
20 people are currently reading
3206 people want to read
About the author
James Lacey
38 books27 followersJames G. Lacey is the Marine Corps University’s Major General Matthew C. Horner Chair of War Studies, where serves as professor and course director for War, Policy, and Strategy, as well as Political Economy at the Marine Corps War College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from The Citadel and a Ph.D. in Military History from Leeds University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 28, 2025
4 stars for a revealing book about Jesus, the 4 Gospels in the New Testament, and how the Roman Empire affected his execution. The blurb: "In late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius's closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified."
The first two chapters are devoted to the author addressing two myths propagated by various "historians." The first myth is that Jesus was not a real person. He quotes various Roman sources mentioning Jesus and disproves this canard. The second chapter is more involved, as he sets out to prove that most of the 4 Gospels are authentic history. He agrees that parts of them are embellishments and untrue. He goes on to say that whole forests have been cleared by various authors advocating these two myths. He explains that while the Gospels were written after Jesus died, they were written by people who knew him and they were based on oral history recited repeatedly in front of audiences.
Some other misconceptions that he addresses: Joseph. father of Jesus was a poor carpenter. The author meticulously presents evidence that he was more likely a master stonemason or a master contractor.
Pontius Pliate was a indecisive ruler of Judea. But the death of Sejanus had put Pilate in difficult position and he had to walk a fine line so as not to offend Emperor Tiberius.
One quote: "By 30AD, it seems clear that Sejanus held it within his sway to appoint every governor and prefect within the Empire. Thus, there is very little doubt that Pontius Pilate was a creature of Sejanus, totally beholden to him for his position in Judea and whatever other ambitions he had once he returned to Rome."
I recommend this book to history and religion fans.
Thank You Amy Jackson at Random House Publishing Group Ballatine for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheYearGodDied #NetGalley.
Pub Date May 20 2025 |
The first two chapters are devoted to the author addressing two myths propagated by various "historians." The first myth is that Jesus was not a real person. He quotes various Roman sources mentioning Jesus and disproves this canard. The second chapter is more involved, as he sets out to prove that most of the 4 Gospels are authentic history. He agrees that parts of them are embellishments and untrue. He goes on to say that whole forests have been cleared by various authors advocating these two myths. He explains that while the Gospels were written after Jesus died, they were written by people who knew him and they were based on oral history recited repeatedly in front of audiences.
Some other misconceptions that he addresses: Joseph. father of Jesus was a poor carpenter. The author meticulously presents evidence that he was more likely a master stonemason or a master contractor.
Pontius Pliate was a indecisive ruler of Judea. But the death of Sejanus had put Pilate in difficult position and he had to walk a fine line so as not to offend Emperor Tiberius.
One quote: "By 30AD, it seems clear that Sejanus held it within his sway to appoint every governor and prefect within the Empire. Thus, there is very little doubt that Pontius Pilate was a creature of Sejanus, totally beholden to him for his position in Judea and whatever other ambitions he had once he returned to Rome."
I recommend this book to history and religion fans.
Thank You Amy Jackson at Random House Publishing Group Ballatine for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheYearGodDied #NetGalley.
Pub Date May 20 2025 |
February 11, 2026
3.9 "elegant, convincing, deepening" stars !!!
A ribbon of Excellence read for 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and our author/historian. The book was released May 2025. I am providing an honest review.
I am so glad that I shortlisted this book examining the connections between Rome and the Historical Jesus. I gained so much perspective, learned a great deal and deepened my Christian faith. The author presents a convincing and eclectic chronicling about the four Gospels and the life of Jesus within the context of the Mediterranean society and the relationship of Rome and the Holy Land. As a reader I was provided sociological and historical context in understanding Jesus as both human and divine. I am not going to do a deep dive as my own thoughts will not do this carefully researched and structured book justice.
I will tell you what was most helpful to me though was this:
-the doubts that secular New Testament scholars have fallaciously placed on the biography and divinity of Jesus
-a critique of the too popular and mythologizing work of Reza Aslan's Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (this was a three star work for me and I am now tempted to reduce that rating to two stars)
As a theistic Christian this book was very affirming, helpful and answered many questions for my own spiritual development. I do hope that he writes some more books in a similar vein.
What would have brought this book to five star status is further exposition, exploration as well as diagrams, maps and illustrations. (perhaps they will be in the final version of the book). I am also not a fan of the title.
A ribbon of Excellence read for 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and our author/historian. The book was released May 2025. I am providing an honest review.
I am so glad that I shortlisted this book examining the connections between Rome and the Historical Jesus. I gained so much perspective, learned a great deal and deepened my Christian faith. The author presents a convincing and eclectic chronicling about the four Gospels and the life of Jesus within the context of the Mediterranean society and the relationship of Rome and the Holy Land. As a reader I was provided sociological and historical context in understanding Jesus as both human and divine. I am not going to do a deep dive as my own thoughts will not do this carefully researched and structured book justice.
I will tell you what was most helpful to me though was this:
-the doubts that secular New Testament scholars have fallaciously placed on the biography and divinity of Jesus
-a critique of the too popular and mythologizing work of Reza Aslan's Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth (this was a three star work for me and I am now tempted to reduce that rating to two stars)
As a theistic Christian this book was very affirming, helpful and answered many questions for my own spiritual development. I do hope that he writes some more books in a similar vein.
What would have brought this book to five star status is further exposition, exploration as well as diagrams, maps and illustrations. (perhaps they will be in the final version of the book). I am also not a fan of the title.
July 20, 2025
Review of The Year God Died by James Lacey — ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)
James Lacey delivers another compelling and original take on ancient Roman history in The Year God Died. As always, Lacey approaches his subject with diligent research and a sharp eye for the details that other historians often overlook. His analysis of Roman provincial rule was particularly enlightening. I was fascinated to learn how Rome, while certainly not benevolent, often allowed local leaders some input in governance—something that added layers of complexity to its imperial reach.
What makes this book stand out is how it situates the death of Jesus within the broader political, economic, and cultural currents of the Roman Empire. Lacey sheds light on events like the financial crash of 33 AD, a lesser-known but critical piece of context that figures meaningfully into the narrative. It gave me a new understanding of the fragile state of the Roman economy and how that may have influenced decision-making in the provinces.
While I found the content rich and compelling, I would have appreciated a bit more historical perspective specifically focused on Jesus himself. The book concentrates more on the Roman context than on the life of Jesus, but that’s also what makes it so unique—it’s not another theological text, but a grounded historical exploration.
Lacey’s writing is intelligent yet accessible, and his perspective is always thoughtful. The Year God Died offers a refreshing and insightful look into the intersection of faith, politics, and empire. A must-read for anyone interested in Roman history, early Christianity, or the political climate of the first century.
Hard cover/audible
James Lacey delivers another compelling and original take on ancient Roman history in The Year God Died. As always, Lacey approaches his subject with diligent research and a sharp eye for the details that other historians often overlook. His analysis of Roman provincial rule was particularly enlightening. I was fascinated to learn how Rome, while certainly not benevolent, often allowed local leaders some input in governance—something that added layers of complexity to its imperial reach.
What makes this book stand out is how it situates the death of Jesus within the broader political, economic, and cultural currents of the Roman Empire. Lacey sheds light on events like the financial crash of 33 AD, a lesser-known but critical piece of context that figures meaningfully into the narrative. It gave me a new understanding of the fragile state of the Roman economy and how that may have influenced decision-making in the provinces.
While I found the content rich and compelling, I would have appreciated a bit more historical perspective specifically focused on Jesus himself. The book concentrates more on the Roman context than on the life of Jesus, but that’s also what makes it so unique—it’s not another theological text, but a grounded historical exploration.
Lacey’s writing is intelligent yet accessible, and his perspective is always thoughtful. The Year God Died offers a refreshing and insightful look into the intersection of faith, politics, and empire. A must-read for anyone interested in Roman history, early Christianity, or the political climate of the first century.
Hard cover/audible
March 22, 2025
This book didn't catch my interest as much as I thought it would. If you're new to theological writings about Biblical times this might be a good introduction. If you're used to more academic and exegesis type books this might not be as good of a fit. It is clear that the author is an expert on ancient Rome, in fact he spends most of the book talking about it, but some of his claims about Jesus and Joseph go against much of current religious academia research. Some of his claims seem more based on opinion that research or primary sources. When the author does reference Bible verses, it appears that he relied on English translations. There is no mention of him going back to Greek or Hebrew writings. Furthermore, at the citations at the end of the chapters, he lists the Bible verses he referenced but not which translation he used.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2025
I think I was a little out of my depth with this. I am definitely not an expert on the history of the Roman Empire, and don't have a ton of knowledge on Jesus' life and death besides the basics.
This didn't just cover the year Jesus died, but many years before his birth, during his life, and then his death. Most of what is covered is the history of the Roman Empire and how it influenced Jesus' crucifixion. While the history is definitely interesting, there are a lot of people to keep track of and it can a bit dry at time with all the info dumping. The author did a ton of research, which shows throughout the book. He defends his stance, and points out why other scholars who don't believe in Jesus or the resurrection may have interpreted their research wrong.
My biggest issue is with myself really. There was just so much I didn't know, and I think it would have helped me get into this more if I had. There were plenty of places and cities mentioned which used their names at the time that I needed to look up in order to understand better of where they were. And since I wasn't raised in a very religious household, I missed out on reading the Bible and learning more in depth about Jesus. Some things are explained, but there is definitely a lot that isn't, as it's assumed the reader is already aware of such things.
This probably would have appealed to me more if I had had more understanding beforehand of the life of Jesus, but this will definitely appeal to those who enjoy history and religion, or anything to do with the life of Jesus.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This didn't just cover the year Jesus died, but many years before his birth, during his life, and then his death. Most of what is covered is the history of the Roman Empire and how it influenced Jesus' crucifixion. While the history is definitely interesting, there are a lot of people to keep track of and it can a bit dry at time with all the info dumping. The author did a ton of research, which shows throughout the book. He defends his stance, and points out why other scholars who don't believe in Jesus or the resurrection may have interpreted their research wrong.
My biggest issue is with myself really. There was just so much I didn't know, and I think it would have helped me get into this more if I had. There were plenty of places and cities mentioned which used their names at the time that I needed to look up in order to understand better of where they were. And since I wasn't raised in a very religious household, I missed out on reading the Bible and learning more in depth about Jesus. Some things are explained, but there is definitely a lot that isn't, as it's assumed the reader is already aware of such things.
This probably would have appealed to me more if I had had more understanding beforehand of the life of Jesus, but this will definitely appeal to those who enjoy history and religion, or anything to do with the life of Jesus.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2025
The Year God Died by James Lacey
Summary: What did the Roman Empire look like in the year Jesus died, 33 AD? The Year God Died approaches the four Gospels as historical texts and places them alongside Roman records to build a picture of the world the historical Jesus lived in.
I couldn’t think of a better book to pick up right after reading the New Testament and Tom Holland’s Dynasty. Lacey fills the pages with an accelerated but insightful tour of Rome’s expansive territory, showing how its politics, wars, and economic structures align with moments and settings from the Gospels.
One standout takeaway for me was that I’d always imagined Galilee as a poorer region and Jesus as living at a peasant level. But Lacey builds a compelling case that Galilee may have been more economically stable, thanks to Roman hegemony reducing regional conflict and funneling those previously stockpiled resources (once used for local wars) into infrastructure and skilled labor, including builders and carpenters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Lacey’s conclusions feel reasonable and grounded. I do think the book is most rewarding if you come in with some background in both Roman and early Christian history.
Summary: What did the Roman Empire look like in the year Jesus died, 33 AD? The Year God Died approaches the four Gospels as historical texts and places them alongside Roman records to build a picture of the world the historical Jesus lived in.
I couldn’t think of a better book to pick up right after reading the New Testament and Tom Holland’s Dynasty. Lacey fills the pages with an accelerated but insightful tour of Rome’s expansive territory, showing how its politics, wars, and economic structures align with moments and settings from the Gospels.
One standout takeaway for me was that I’d always imagined Galilee as a poorer region and Jesus as living at a peasant level. But Lacey builds a compelling case that Galilee may have been more economically stable, thanks to Roman hegemony reducing regional conflict and funneling those previously stockpiled resources (once used for local wars) into infrastructure and skilled labor, including builders and carpenters.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Lacey’s conclusions feel reasonable and grounded. I do think the book is most rewarding if you come in with some background in both Roman and early Christian history.
May 19, 2025
Thank you to Bantam and John Lacey for this ARC.
While non-fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, the title and subject matter of this one immediately caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did. 😉
🏛 What did you love the most?
Reading this felt like sitting down for a deep, personal conversation with the author. It’s an engaging and accessible look at both the historical legitimacy of Jesus and the larger political and cultural context of Ancient Rome. 📚 If you’re curious about the intersection of religion and history, this one delivers.
🏛 What to expect:
💬 Breaking the 4th wall narration
🗡️ Ancient Roman Empire setting
⛪ Christianity & historical theology focus
🏛 How was the pace?
The structure of the book is super approachable. Lacey starts by tackling the core question: Did Jesus exist as a real person? 🤔 Then he layers in historical context, covering political figures like Herod and the larger Roman world that shaped Jesus’s life and eventual crucifixion.
🏛 Do you recommend this book?
Yes! This is a thoughtful, well-researched deep dive that feels surprisingly easy to read. As someone already familiar with Jesus’s ministry, I still walked away with a deeper understanding of the world he lived in. If you’re curious about the historical underpinnings of early Christianity or love Roman history, definitely check this one out.
🏛 Perfect for fans of:
🖤 Mary Beard
🖤 Reza Aslan
🖤 Bart D. Ehrman
🏛 Mood: 🧠 Thought-provoking | 📜 Historical | ✝️ Spiritually curious
🏛 Read if you like:
📚 Exploring the roots of Christianity
🗡️ Ancient Roman politics and culture
🔍 Debunking myths with historical analysis
🗣️ Conversational, accessible non-fiction
While non-fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, the title and subject matter of this one immediately caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did. 😉
🏛 What did you love the most?
Reading this felt like sitting down for a deep, personal conversation with the author. It’s an engaging and accessible look at both the historical legitimacy of Jesus and the larger political and cultural context of Ancient Rome. 📚 If you’re curious about the intersection of religion and history, this one delivers.
🏛 What to expect:
💬 Breaking the 4th wall narration
🗡️ Ancient Roman Empire setting
⛪ Christianity & historical theology focus
🏛 How was the pace?
The structure of the book is super approachable. Lacey starts by tackling the core question: Did Jesus exist as a real person? 🤔 Then he layers in historical context, covering political figures like Herod and the larger Roman world that shaped Jesus’s life and eventual crucifixion.
🏛 Do you recommend this book?
Yes! This is a thoughtful, well-researched deep dive that feels surprisingly easy to read. As someone already familiar with Jesus’s ministry, I still walked away with a deeper understanding of the world he lived in. If you’re curious about the historical underpinnings of early Christianity or love Roman history, definitely check this one out.
🏛 Perfect for fans of:
🖤 Mary Beard
🖤 Reza Aslan
🖤 Bart D. Ehrman
🏛 Mood: 🧠 Thought-provoking | 📜 Historical | ✝️ Spiritually curious
🏛 Read if you like:
📚 Exploring the roots of Christianity
🗡️ Ancient Roman politics and culture
🔍 Debunking myths with historical analysis
🗣️ Conversational, accessible non-fiction
December 27, 2025
This book is on a topic and period of time I am immensely interested in, so when I first saw this book on social media I knew I had to read it.
Lacey fights against many misconceptions used throughout history to try and discredit Jesus and His story as savior of the Earth. These go all the way from His very existence, His status as a child and His resurrection. This book combs through evidence to dispel many myths surrounding Jesus’ life in the Roman Empire. As well as combat myths, Lacey delves deep into the political atmosphere in the Roman world in 33 AD and why the crucifixion of Jesus was carried out.
There were times where the writing style was repetitive, and also could have benefitted from illustrations, maps and the like. However, this is an incredible book that showed me the historical background of the period surrounding Jesus’ life in Judea, Galilee and other areas that traveled. Lacey goes into great detail to try and cover every aspect of His daily life and what circumstances led to His ministry and following. I recommend this book to everyone, especially Christians that are interested in the backdrop and surroundings of the most important person to ever walk the Earth.
God bless.
Lacey fights against many misconceptions used throughout history to try and discredit Jesus and His story as savior of the Earth. These go all the way from His very existence, His status as a child and His resurrection. This book combs through evidence to dispel many myths surrounding Jesus’ life in the Roman Empire. As well as combat myths, Lacey delves deep into the political atmosphere in the Roman world in 33 AD and why the crucifixion of Jesus was carried out.
There were times where the writing style was repetitive, and also could have benefitted from illustrations, maps and the like. However, this is an incredible book that showed me the historical background of the period surrounding Jesus’ life in Judea, Galilee and other areas that traveled. Lacey goes into great detail to try and cover every aspect of His daily life and what circumstances led to His ministry and following. I recommend this book to everyone, especially Christians that are interested in the backdrop and surroundings of the most important person to ever walk the Earth.
God bless.
August 4, 2025
This does reflect the title accurately- so many non-fiction of the last 20 years do not. It's extreme detail for the years of Jesus's preaching and the year of his death in a history sense within the geographic and real/ physical world he occupied/lived.
It is a difficult read (extremely) and even more so if you have little knowledge of the government, culture, and especially the problem with entail/heir of/for the new Emperor when the last ultimate leader died within this period of after the Republic and at the newer high points of a pax Romana period. The more minutia and "eyes" of Rome you KNOW, the more you will understand the specific history of affect/effect for fallouts. Even unto the farther reaches of the Empire, like the Middle East/ Syria etc. Knowing all the older first century names and divisions will help you too. As I have read Roman circa in the 100's of books during my life- I understood a whole lot about Augustus, Tiberius, Livia or Julia or Agrippa fallouts to begin with beyond the sects within Jesus's homeland and the places that surrounded his life.
PART 1 was the best part of the read for me. I learned that more than 60 years ago but not as well detailed. Protestants who see the Bible as the one and only true source of all knowledge needed- need to read that chapter/ part about 7 times. Maybe 8. It tells of who wrote the four Gospels. How, when, where, and who also were their first/ second sources or were they witness themselves etc. Very, very good parsing here of what, why, who and where there exists different takes between them or varying narrator eyes context. Also some details which tend to oppose each other. Beyond that, there are sources listed for historical proofs or credible documents kept until this day etc. Not only for the Gospels either- but for many of the astronomical or battle or coups of revolt, or other clearly recorded events in these exact years. Within the languages and "eyes" of their own times too. What people "KNEW" to be true, was not what people now "KNOW" to be true, whatsoever. That perception and cognition to KNOWING were so varied from now that this aspect was probably not stressed enough in the book.
I could go very long about this book but I won't. Glad I read it. I was reminded of something I knew but had forgotten. That Jesus in extreme high probability knew and spoke Greek to officials and nearly any Roman intersect. And they were many, many more Jewish adults who did speak Greek- probably 75% plus- more than you'd think or guess. All Jewish men of any level of work or learning had to speak Greek. Probably Joseph as a builder, carpenter absolutely had to speak Greek too beyond the home Aramaic.
Well worth the read. Especially for all Christians this is immensely educational and filled with insight to "eyes" of His time. Part 1 is exceptional- 5 stars. The other Parts may have some opinion pushing the data or facts- more than can be proved at this juncture, IMHO.
Sejanus being killed and the newest massacre of any upcoming noble close to the throne mattered. But Pontius Pilate in ANY year he took that job had to be just as "careful" of backbite if he did the wrong thing. I think the author plays that assassination too large in the picture. Within just a few more years Herod would be gone too. You ALWAYS had to watch your back / association in any way for the Emperor's current first a friend/now an enemy fallout. There were many murders with Tiberius who was merciless beyond what a serial killer would be today. He killed the great majority of his relatives and all of the closest in the highest bloodlines or who were upcoming popular. Including their children. Not in easy ways either.
Later after reading some other reviews: It seems that Lacey is correct about whole forests being leveled by people in print wanting to refute an historical Jesus or a Bible/4 Gospels being written ONLY by the men with their names. The one and two star people who also know much less about Roman law and process than they believe they do- are in those grove of paper users. Or digital users now. They honestly DO protest too much. Jesus lived.
It is a difficult read (extremely) and even more so if you have little knowledge of the government, culture, and especially the problem with entail/heir of/for the new Emperor when the last ultimate leader died within this period of after the Republic and at the newer high points of a pax Romana period. The more minutia and "eyes" of Rome you KNOW, the more you will understand the specific history of affect/effect for fallouts. Even unto the farther reaches of the Empire, like the Middle East/ Syria etc. Knowing all the older first century names and divisions will help you too. As I have read Roman circa in the 100's of books during my life- I understood a whole lot about Augustus, Tiberius, Livia or Julia or Agrippa fallouts to begin with beyond the sects within Jesus's homeland and the places that surrounded his life.
PART 1 was the best part of the read for me. I learned that more than 60 years ago but not as well detailed. Protestants who see the Bible as the one and only true source of all knowledge needed- need to read that chapter/ part about 7 times. Maybe 8. It tells of who wrote the four Gospels. How, when, where, and who also were their first/ second sources or were they witness themselves etc. Very, very good parsing here of what, why, who and where there exists different takes between them or varying narrator eyes context. Also some details which tend to oppose each other. Beyond that, there are sources listed for historical proofs or credible documents kept until this day etc. Not only for the Gospels either- but for many of the astronomical or battle or coups of revolt, or other clearly recorded events in these exact years. Within the languages and "eyes" of their own times too. What people "KNEW" to be true, was not what people now "KNOW" to be true, whatsoever. That perception and cognition to KNOWING were so varied from now that this aspect was probably not stressed enough in the book.
I could go very long about this book but I won't. Glad I read it. I was reminded of something I knew but had forgotten. That Jesus in extreme high probability knew and spoke Greek to officials and nearly any Roman intersect. And they were many, many more Jewish adults who did speak Greek- probably 75% plus- more than you'd think or guess. All Jewish men of any level of work or learning had to speak Greek. Probably Joseph as a builder, carpenter absolutely had to speak Greek too beyond the home Aramaic.
Well worth the read. Especially for all Christians this is immensely educational and filled with insight to "eyes" of His time. Part 1 is exceptional- 5 stars. The other Parts may have some opinion pushing the data or facts- more than can be proved at this juncture, IMHO.
Sejanus being killed and the newest massacre of any upcoming noble close to the throne mattered. But Pontius Pilate in ANY year he took that job had to be just as "careful" of backbite if he did the wrong thing. I think the author plays that assassination too large in the picture. Within just a few more years Herod would be gone too. You ALWAYS had to watch your back / association in any way for the Emperor's current first a friend/now an enemy fallout. There were many murders with Tiberius who was merciless beyond what a serial killer would be today. He killed the great majority of his relatives and all of the closest in the highest bloodlines or who were upcoming popular. Including their children. Not in easy ways either.
Later after reading some other reviews: It seems that Lacey is correct about whole forests being leveled by people in print wanting to refute an historical Jesus or a Bible/4 Gospels being written ONLY by the men with their names. The one and two star people who also know much less about Roman law and process than they believe they do- are in those grove of paper users. Or digital users now. They honestly DO protest too much. Jesus lived.
August 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and James Lacey for this ARC which I received for an honest review.
This book is written by an historian who is clearly not a Christian, and as such I think it remarkable he gives such an even handed and fair assessment of the Biblical New Testament documents. In the first part of the book he lays out his assessment of the biblical documents and how he treats them as any other ancient documents. In other words, just the same. He doesn't discount them because they are religious texts nor does he hold them to a higher standard than other documents such a Pliny, Josephus, Tacitus, Julius Ceasar etc. He treats each of the gospels as an individual document and as such he sees that there are four different documents regarding the life of Jesus, not one document that has been compiled into a larger document, the Bible. As a Christian I appreciate this even handedness. In fact, I think it's rare (though I could be wrong) for these text to be treated this respectfully outside of Christendom.
Going into this book, and as a history lover, I thought I had a pretty good idea of the Roman world and how it impacted Judea. I guess I didn't know as much as I thought. The author takes a good chunk of time to explain the Roman world, their economy, the impact of Augustus and Tiberius, the political wrangling at that time and how that spilled over to Judea. He makes a case that the execution of Sejanus had a direct impact on the execution of Jesus. (Who's Sejanus? Read about this interesting man in the book. And now I may have to go down a rabbit hole and find out more off line). He spends time explaining who Herod was, his family background and his impact on the area. We learn background on Pontius Pilate and how Sejanus had an impact on him, pre and post execution.
All of this is quiet interesting, and is directly related to the chapters on Jesus. Chapter 15, The Birth of Jesus, is worth the cost of the book, and if you read nothing else in the book, don't skip this chapter!! We learn that Jesus step-father, Joseph, was a tekton, This is a word that goes beyond "carpenter" as we usually see translated (a relic from the King James Bible when many things that a tekton made was made of wood, so it was naturally translated as carpenter. Tekton could also refer to a one who builds, a stone mason, or as we would say today, a general contractor. This explains a lot about Jesus. I always wondered how a poor carpenter could have supported his family in the small town of Nazareth. Well! Rome again, and more specifically their legions, put down a rebellion in Sephoris prior to or close to the birth of Jesus. They utterly destroyed that city. But it was only a couple of miles from Nazareth and was rebuilt. They needed tektons to do that. So Joseph and his sons likely made their living there.
Also, he gets into Bethlehem, Joseph's home town, a couple of miles from Jerusalem. There was a LOT of building going on in Jerusalem. Recall Herod was beautifying the Temple and building other massive things around there. An ideal place for Joseph to get work. I could go on much longer, but I think I've spoiled enough of this chapter, though this is just a small sample.
Several chapters later we get into Jesus's final week. Here is where we see that the author truly is speaking from a non-Christian point of view, but that actually helps. He explains what, to me had a been a mystery, why Jesus was acclaimed by the crowd on Palm Sunday but they later called for his death on Friday morning. Why was Pilot, the Sanhedrin and Herod Antipas shuffling Jesus back and forth? What was their motivation? All explained.
If I hadn't been gifted this book as an ARC I would have had to buy it. It's worth every penny.
This book is written by an historian who is clearly not a Christian, and as such I think it remarkable he gives such an even handed and fair assessment of the Biblical New Testament documents. In the first part of the book he lays out his assessment of the biblical documents and how he treats them as any other ancient documents. In other words, just the same. He doesn't discount them because they are religious texts nor does he hold them to a higher standard than other documents such a Pliny, Josephus, Tacitus, Julius Ceasar etc. He treats each of the gospels as an individual document and as such he sees that there are four different documents regarding the life of Jesus, not one document that has been compiled into a larger document, the Bible. As a Christian I appreciate this even handedness. In fact, I think it's rare (though I could be wrong) for these text to be treated this respectfully outside of Christendom.
Going into this book, and as a history lover, I thought I had a pretty good idea of the Roman world and how it impacted Judea. I guess I didn't know as much as I thought. The author takes a good chunk of time to explain the Roman world, their economy, the impact of Augustus and Tiberius, the political wrangling at that time and how that spilled over to Judea. He makes a case that the execution of Sejanus had a direct impact on the execution of Jesus. (Who's Sejanus? Read about this interesting man in the book. And now I may have to go down a rabbit hole and find out more off line). He spends time explaining who Herod was, his family background and his impact on the area. We learn background on Pontius Pilate and how Sejanus had an impact on him, pre and post execution.
All of this is quiet interesting, and is directly related to the chapters on Jesus. Chapter 15, The Birth of Jesus, is worth the cost of the book, and if you read nothing else in the book, don't skip this chapter!! We learn that Jesus step-father, Joseph, was a tekton, This is a word that goes beyond "carpenter" as we usually see translated (a relic from the King James Bible when many things that a tekton made was made of wood, so it was naturally translated as carpenter. Tekton could also refer to a one who builds, a stone mason, or as we would say today, a general contractor. This explains a lot about Jesus. I always wondered how a poor carpenter could have supported his family in the small town of Nazareth. Well! Rome again, and more specifically their legions, put down a rebellion in Sephoris prior to or close to the birth of Jesus. They utterly destroyed that city. But it was only a couple of miles from Nazareth and was rebuilt. They needed tektons to do that. So Joseph and his sons likely made their living there.
Also, he gets into Bethlehem, Joseph's home town, a couple of miles from Jerusalem. There was a LOT of building going on in Jerusalem. Recall Herod was beautifying the Temple and building other massive things around there. An ideal place for Joseph to get work. I could go on much longer, but I think I've spoiled enough of this chapter, though this is just a small sample.
Several chapters later we get into Jesus's final week. Here is where we see that the author truly is speaking from a non-Christian point of view, but that actually helps. He explains what, to me had a been a mystery, why Jesus was acclaimed by the crowd on Palm Sunday but they later called for his death on Friday morning. Why was Pilot, the Sanhedrin and Herod Antipas shuffling Jesus back and forth? What was their motivation? All explained.
If I hadn't been gifted this book as an ARC I would have had to buy it. It's worth every penny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance copy of this work of history that discusses how problems and changes in Rome effected people and places all over the empire, especially in Judea during the time of Jesus.
I am not the kind of person that thinks about the Roman Empire that much. I am also not a person that thinks about religion that much. I grew up Roman Catholic, but none of it ever stuck with me. I never felt the interest, the awe or the majesty, nor the discriminations that came with being religious. However, history and religious history has always been fascinating to me. One can't understand this modern world without understanding the past and the beliefs that are shaped by the past. War, antagonism, feuds and spats, all come from somewhere, sometimes the dumbest of reasons, sometimes for slights, sometimes because of horrendous acts. Acts that continue to mess with the world in many ways, in every aspect. Which is why I believe I found this book so interesting. Two subjects I know a bit about, coming together in a way I never thought about, and really giving me insight and raising questions in my mind that I never thought I had. The Year God Died: Jesus and the Roman Empire in 33 AD by educator and writer James Lacey, details how the world was so much bigger and had more influence in the story of Jesus, maybe much more than any have thought.
The book begins almost like a thriller with a particularly gruesome murder of Lucius Sejanus, a confident of the Emperor of the time. These events become clearer as the book progresses. The author goes into an aside about how, unlike other subjects, in writing about Jesus a writer must prove in many ways that there was historical records mentioning Jesus. This leads to a quick look at the different way scholars look at the period, bringing in not only biases, but ideas from now into the past, trying to change messages to fit a more critical time like our own. Roman history is covered, the wars, the rebellions, and the actions of far flung colonies rising up against the rule of Rome, and how Roman authorities were always quick to overreact in many ways, causing many, many problems later. The book also goes into Roman dealings with Jerusalem, all culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus.
This was not the book I expected, but I really enjoyed it quite a lot. This covered so much not only Roman history, history of the area, but the past and even current and past scholars who have written about these times. Lacey has done an incredible amount research and has posited many theories that too me make sense. I am sure that there are others, but scholars, and true believers that might have a problem with some of this book. However as I have gotten older I have begun to realise that true answers take a lot of work, and maybe more than one book to find an answer.
Lacey is also a very good author, able to make very complex history with names, and places that might be new to some, understandable and fit the narrative. I learned quite a bit about Roman life, times, and the times of Jerusalem, and the many who lived there. A very rewarding read, one I would recommend to history readers and those with a knowledge or interest in what could have been.
I am not the kind of person that thinks about the Roman Empire that much. I am also not a person that thinks about religion that much. I grew up Roman Catholic, but none of it ever stuck with me. I never felt the interest, the awe or the majesty, nor the discriminations that came with being religious. However, history and religious history has always been fascinating to me. One can't understand this modern world without understanding the past and the beliefs that are shaped by the past. War, antagonism, feuds and spats, all come from somewhere, sometimes the dumbest of reasons, sometimes for slights, sometimes because of horrendous acts. Acts that continue to mess with the world in many ways, in every aspect. Which is why I believe I found this book so interesting. Two subjects I know a bit about, coming together in a way I never thought about, and really giving me insight and raising questions in my mind that I never thought I had. The Year God Died: Jesus and the Roman Empire in 33 AD by educator and writer James Lacey, details how the world was so much bigger and had more influence in the story of Jesus, maybe much more than any have thought.
The book begins almost like a thriller with a particularly gruesome murder of Lucius Sejanus, a confident of the Emperor of the time. These events become clearer as the book progresses. The author goes into an aside about how, unlike other subjects, in writing about Jesus a writer must prove in many ways that there was historical records mentioning Jesus. This leads to a quick look at the different way scholars look at the period, bringing in not only biases, but ideas from now into the past, trying to change messages to fit a more critical time like our own. Roman history is covered, the wars, the rebellions, and the actions of far flung colonies rising up against the rule of Rome, and how Roman authorities were always quick to overreact in many ways, causing many, many problems later. The book also goes into Roman dealings with Jerusalem, all culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus.
This was not the book I expected, but I really enjoyed it quite a lot. This covered so much not only Roman history, history of the area, but the past and even current and past scholars who have written about these times. Lacey has done an incredible amount research and has posited many theories that too me make sense. I am sure that there are others, but scholars, and true believers that might have a problem with some of this book. However as I have gotten older I have begun to realise that true answers take a lot of work, and maybe more than one book to find an answer.
Lacey is also a very good author, able to make very complex history with names, and places that might be new to some, understandable and fit the narrative. I learned quite a bit about Roman life, times, and the times of Jerusalem, and the many who lived there. A very rewarding read, one I would recommend to history readers and those with a knowledge or interest in what could have been.
July 18, 2025
This book serves as an interesting rebuttal to other authors whose work may have been lacking with regard to the life of Jesus in the context of ancient Roman Palestine. I would give this book 5 stars except that some parts of it dragged for me (especially in Part II - The Roman World), but that may only have been because I've read a lot about ancient Rome in the past. It's unfortunate there is no index. Except for a footnote late in the book, Bart Ehrman is not mentioned. Yet one may appreciate this author's view of textual critics who masquerade as historians. From page 33: "...textual criticism, which has some utility when studying literary works, almost always falls short when applied to historical studies, as a historical instance either took place or it did not; it cannot be voided by claiming the text does not mean what it says." Reza Aslan and his book 'Zealot' are mentioned repeatedly and brutally criticized (see Part V - The Galilee that Jesus Knew, chapters 17-18). There are many interesting points in the book. For example, on page 169, Lacey mentions the controversial quote from Jesus, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword," and explains that the earliest Greek versions of the New Testament used the word 'machaira,' which was a large knife used to separate cuts of meat (not a literal sword). Lacey states his audience would have understood Jesus to be issuing a call to piety, not war, and in a footnote references Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." There are many interesting points such as this, and the effect can be one of feeling as though one is in the presence of a professional historian at last, rather than the amateurish anti-Christians who seems all too eager to undermine Christianity even if they must cut corners or claim falsehoods in order to accomplish this. Lacey's evidence presents the ancient Galilee region of Jesus's days as probably much more prosperous than many realize (with much more literacy than many realize, as well). At a minimum: For anyone interested in Jesus, the Resurrection debate, or ancient Roman Palestine, this is a must read.
August 11, 2025
I have a bias against non-fiction, finding most academic works tedious. It often seems that authors are more interested in showing off their knowledge than in engaging the reader. This is absolutely not true for Dr. Lacey's The Year God Died: Jesus and the Roman Empire in 33 AD. Dr. Lacey's journey to producing scholarly books comes from a background as a retired U.S. Army infantry officer and a professor at the Marine Corps War College. After retiring from the military, he worked on Wall Street and for Time Magazine. These experiences honed his skill, allowing him to write in an informative, engaging manner that captures the interest of those drawn to his subject.
This work covers the life of Jesus from a historical and political point of view. Relying only on available texts from that period and refraining from miracle texts, he offers an in-depth view of a world dominated by Roman civilization. The later section of the book covers the week before the crucifixion. Of special interest for me was the introduction of a political alliance between Sejanus, a major power figure in Rome, and Pontius Pilate. When Sejanus was executed (a way of removing disgraced individuals), Pilate was trapped in a situation with no acceptable outcome. Perhaps he was not the villain history has made him out to be, but merely a pawn. This is just one example of how Dr. Lacey's work gives the reader a chance to reexamine the life of Jesus of Nazareth through the lens of Roman history and power politics.
I mentioned violence as one of the book's markers. The descriptions of war and methods of punishment are graphic but not included for the purpose of catering to a fetish. Some parental guidance is suggested.
Full Disclosure: I received this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.
This work covers the life of Jesus from a historical and political point of view. Relying only on available texts from that period and refraining from miracle texts, he offers an in-depth view of a world dominated by Roman civilization. The later section of the book covers the week before the crucifixion. Of special interest for me was the introduction of a political alliance between Sejanus, a major power figure in Rome, and Pontius Pilate. When Sejanus was executed (a way of removing disgraced individuals), Pilate was trapped in a situation with no acceptable outcome. Perhaps he was not the villain history has made him out to be, but merely a pawn. This is just one example of how Dr. Lacey's work gives the reader a chance to reexamine the life of Jesus of Nazareth through the lens of Roman history and power politics.
I mentioned violence as one of the book's markers. The descriptions of war and methods of punishment are graphic but not included for the purpose of catering to a fetish. Some parental guidance is suggested.
Full Disclosure: I received this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.
March 13, 2025
Any historian undertaking work on the first three centuries of the Common Era bears a significant burden to take care that his historical claims, as distinguished from those claims made as a matter of faith, be well supported. That is unfortunately not the case here. For instance, he makes the case that the four Gospels were in fact written by their titled authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. He bases this claim on a statement by Papias of Hierapolis around the year 100 that he had known the Apostle John and the daughters of the Apostle Phillip. Conjecture follows conjecture as Lacey attempts to build a historical case that proves this. This is not, by far, the wildest conjecture. According to Lacey, Joseph was not a poor carpenter but a sort of general contractor with projects stretching down to Bethlehem . He says Jesus would have had significant masonry experience basing this in part on Jesus' statement about the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. Not only is this a wild conjecture but Lacey completely misses the fact that Jesus is quoting from Psalm 118. He has little knowledge of Judaism of the time. He for instance claims the male apostles, following Jewish law, would not have accepted the "testimony" of the women who
the Gospels say saw an empty tomb. In point of fact, the only time women were not accepted as witnesses was in court. There was otherwise no impediment in believing them .
Lacey takes the reader far afield covering in detail Roman history around the Empire including Boudica's rebellion in Roman Britain as well as campaigns in Greece and what is now modern day Turkey. I cannot recommend this book to anyone that has even the most remote interest in this vital period.
the Gospels say saw an empty tomb. In point of fact, the only time women were not accepted as witnesses was in court. There was otherwise no impediment in believing them .
Lacey takes the reader far afield covering in detail Roman history around the Empire including Boudica's rebellion in Roman Britain as well as campaigns in Greece and what is now modern day Turkey. I cannot recommend this book to anyone that has even the most remote interest in this vital period.
April 25, 2025
I’ve read a few scathing reviews of this yet-to-be-published nonfiction book. I’m not sure if the reviewers are being deliberately obtuse or if they are doing exactly what James Lacey claims many people do—discounting the historicity of Jesus and the New Testament because one-third of the global population claim he is the son of God.
But Lacey, who is the author of The Washington War: FDR’s Inner Circle and the Politics of Power That Won World War II and The First Clash: The Miraculous Greek Victory at Marathon and Its Impact on Western Civilization, as well as co-author with Williamson Murray of Moment of Battle: The Twenty Clashes That Changed the World, is a widely published defense analyst.
In other words, he has done a lot of historical research and when he says that we should treat the New Testament and other sources contemporary to that time as genuine accounts then I believe him. We would do no different for Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great. What he’s doing, most importantly, is letting us see the life of Jesus in the context of the Roman Empire in 33AD, helping us to understand how things came to be that Jesus was executed how and when he was. You can agree or disagree with some of his arguments (that Joseph (and, therefore, Jesus, was more likely a general contractor than a carpenter, for example) but his argument for why Pontius Pilate allowed Jesus to be crucified seems valid to me.
In general, I found the book very interesting and learned a lot I didn’t know, and I have read a lot and taken a lot of classes on all things Christian from Hebrew to ethics. If you’re interested in that time in history or if you are a Christian, I highly recommend this book.
But Lacey, who is the author of The Washington War: FDR’s Inner Circle and the Politics of Power That Won World War II and The First Clash: The Miraculous Greek Victory at Marathon and Its Impact on Western Civilization, as well as co-author with Williamson Murray of Moment of Battle: The Twenty Clashes That Changed the World, is a widely published defense analyst.
In other words, he has done a lot of historical research and when he says that we should treat the New Testament and other sources contemporary to that time as genuine accounts then I believe him. We would do no different for Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great. What he’s doing, most importantly, is letting us see the life of Jesus in the context of the Roman Empire in 33AD, helping us to understand how things came to be that Jesus was executed how and when he was. You can agree or disagree with some of his arguments (that Joseph (and, therefore, Jesus, was more likely a general contractor than a carpenter, for example) but his argument for why Pontius Pilate allowed Jesus to be crucified seems valid to me.
In general, I found the book very interesting and learned a lot I didn’t know, and I have read a lot and taken a lot of classes on all things Christian from Hebrew to ethics. If you’re interested in that time in history or if you are a Christian, I highly recommend this book.
August 21, 2025
I am both excited by, and frustrated by, James Lacey's The Year God Died. Let's get right down to it. This book centers around the idea that the politics of Rome and surrounding regions from 25BC to 33 AD play a large role in determining the fate of Jesus Christ. Lacey makes that point clear and provides a full book worth of historical evidence to back that point up. The argument he makes here is as concise as historical Roman politics can be. And, as a Christian, I value understanding this historical context. I don't take issue with the facts or opinions he provides here, as I feel that they have been well-researched and sourced appropriately.
However, Lacey makes several subtle (or something obvious) jabs at other writer's work that I felt to be a bit aggressive. In particular, I found his dismals of the works by Reza Aslan to be harsh and condescending. That being said, I understand the challenges that come with speculating about event that took place 2,000 years ago with limited information. Most, if not all, commentary on this topic is speculation. Ultimately, I felt the work portrayed has strong overtones of being infallible, when there is no way to prove with 100% certainty the authentic of one's opinions on this topic.
Lastly, I felt that the ending was rushed. Mainly, because there wasn't one. The death and rising of the Jesus from the dead is not the end of the story. But the story abruptly ends there.
Overall, I learned a lot of information from the book and I can credit James Lacey for conducting thorough research on the topic. However, my position about the life of Jesus feels unchanged, neither stronger nor weaker, as a result.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and James Lacey for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, Lacey makes several subtle (or something obvious) jabs at other writer's work that I felt to be a bit aggressive. In particular, I found his dismals of the works by Reza Aslan to be harsh and condescending. That being said, I understand the challenges that come with speculating about event that took place 2,000 years ago with limited information. Most, if not all, commentary on this topic is speculation. Ultimately, I felt the work portrayed has strong overtones of being infallible, when there is no way to prove with 100% certainty the authentic of one's opinions on this topic.
Lastly, I felt that the ending was rushed. Mainly, because there wasn't one. The death and rising of the Jesus from the dead is not the end of the story. But the story abruptly ends there.
Overall, I learned a lot of information from the book and I can credit James Lacey for conducting thorough research on the topic. However, my position about the life of Jesus feels unchanged, neither stronger nor weaker, as a result.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and James Lacey for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2025
The Year God Died
By James Lacey
This is an interesting take on the historical Jesus. But it is much more than that. In fact the life of Jesus is only a relatively small part of this book. Instead the author gives us an in-depth history lesson on what life was really like during the expansion of Roman influence throughout Europe and the Mediterranean areas leading up to and including Christ's lifetime.
As with any ancient history, there is existing information to be pieced together – but also much that is missing. Lacey builds the case for the Roman provinces (of which Palestine was one) being not poor and illiterate, but actually comfortably well off and educated. If this is true, the idea that Jesus was a poor peasant and revolutionary does not hang together.
Mr. Lacey also gives us much information concerning the political goings on which led to the awkward handling of Jesus trial and execution. He provides background on Pontius Pilate, Herod, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious court) – all the persons who contributed to Christ's death. He also lays out how Jesus was able to: (1 plan for the donkey to be available for his ride into Jerusalem; 2) plan the last supper; and 3) know in advance who would betray him. He explains the possible roles played by Josephus of Arimethea and Nicodemus as "inside men" helping Jesus.
All together this is a thought-provoking work. Mr. Lacey's research and conclusions leave the reader with a much clearer picture of the times, no matter what your beliefs are about Jesus.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By James Lacey
This is an interesting take on the historical Jesus. But it is much more than that. In fact the life of Jesus is only a relatively small part of this book. Instead the author gives us an in-depth history lesson on what life was really like during the expansion of Roman influence throughout Europe and the Mediterranean areas leading up to and including Christ's lifetime.
As with any ancient history, there is existing information to be pieced together – but also much that is missing. Lacey builds the case for the Roman provinces (of which Palestine was one) being not poor and illiterate, but actually comfortably well off and educated. If this is true, the idea that Jesus was a poor peasant and revolutionary does not hang together.
Mr. Lacey also gives us much information concerning the political goings on which led to the awkward handling of Jesus trial and execution. He provides background on Pontius Pilate, Herod, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious court) – all the persons who contributed to Christ's death. He also lays out how Jesus was able to: (1 plan for the donkey to be available for his ride into Jerusalem; 2) plan the last supper; and 3) know in advance who would betray him. He explains the possible roles played by Josephus of Arimethea and Nicodemus as "inside men" helping Jesus.
All together this is a thought-provoking work. Mr. Lacey's research and conclusions leave the reader with a much clearer picture of the times, no matter what your beliefs are about Jesus.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
April 9, 2025
"The Year God Died: Jesus and the Roman Empire in 33 AD," by James Lacey, is an extraordinary text in that it seeks to inform our understanding of the life of Christ by carefully placing it in the context of the Roman Empire as it had evolved up to the Crucifixion and, conversely, it grounds early Imperial history in the events surrounding the birth of Christianity. I am working here from an ARC provided to me by the publisher, Random House-Ballantine. The approach is unique in my own experience since few histories of Imperial Rome that I have read take much time to explore Christ and the events in His life in the context of wider events in Judea and the Roman Empire. This is extraordinary in the way that it illuminates both events for those trying to ascertain the truths surrounding the figure of Christ and those focusing on the Empire and the events surrounding its complex relations with Judea. Lacey's historical training comes through as he tries to sort out historical events and show how they are frequently interpreted with a rather cavalier approach to the historical record, such as it may be. This is an absolute revelation, both for me as a Christian and for me as a trained historian and interpreter of literary texts. I would recommend it for anyone who, like me, has never really explored the importance of historical framework to an understanding of the growth of Christianity and the way it has been interpreted. It belongs in any serious scholarly collection, both secular and theological.
April 6, 2025
Interesting read, Dr. Lacey clearly understands the Roman Empire and the politics and strategy of all the players scheming to become Emperor. A majority of this book introduces the readers to the Roman Empire, the players, the schemes and the political landscape. His overall theory is had Sejanus not been executed, it is unlikely that Pontius Pilate would have ordered Jesus’s crucifixion. Dr. Lacey does a compelling job of laying out his theory, with proven historical facts, documents and with each chapter having many references supporting this theory. In essence, Dr. Lacey provides another perspective of how to understand the history surrounding Jesus. Who was Jesus? How did he live? Where did Jesus live and how did that affect or influence him? What caused Jesus to be arrested? Why was Jesus crucified? This point of view is well researched, well told and is compelling, as a fan of history I actually enjoyed reading this. The book can be a bit long winded at times and some of his research I think could have been shorten or summarized to prove what the chapter was discussing. My biggest complaint is the way the book ended. After the final chapter, that’s it. No summarization, no conclusion, the chapter ends, the references are cited and done. Overall, interesting book.
June 24, 2025
This is not just about The Year God Died. That year, even that week, receive much less attention than the years leading up to it. I guess that was inevitable given what is known about the years prior to that crucial year. The author thus focuses his attention and the bulk of the book on evaluating and challenging other historians' opinions on the truthfulness of the gospels and of other accounts of the life of Jesus. We are given a lot--for me an almost overwhelming amount--of detail on Roman politics and the succession of Roman rulers both in Rome and in the Holy Land leading up to "The Year." The author is a careful historian and makes a convincing case for his views. Though I was a put off by his case for Jesus' divinity and the possible fact of the Resurrection. I felt at a disadvantage because I am not as familiar as the author is with the literature the author surveys. So I leave it to experts on the subject to give the book an informed and fair evaluation. I was glad I read the book. But reading it took work. This relatively short book is not an easy read. I think I would not have felt so overwhelmed by the amount of detail if the author's account of The Year God Died had been livelier.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for providing an advance copy in galley form for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for providing an advance copy in galley form for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 29, 2025
I picked this one up not because I’m a Jesus guy, but because Roman history is a weird blind spot for me—and I wanted to fix that. The pitch sounded great: if the Roman senators hadn’t offed Lucius Sejanus, Jesus might not have ended up on a cross. Big historical “what if,” lots of power plays, some palace intrigue. Yes, please. And to be fair, the book does deliver some of that. It paints a chaotic, fascinating picture of the Roman world, and how things going down in Rome rippled out to far-off Judea. You get a sense of how unstable everything was, and how Herod survived by being the ancient version of “smile and shake hands with literally everyone.”
But man… this thing drags.
First, Lacey spends so much time trying to convince you that Jesus was a real person. I get it, that’s a hot topic for some people, but I was already there. Didn’t need a whole section of receipts. And then there’s this weird, lingering feud with another historian that keeps popping up. Like, sir, take it to Twitter. Or a group chat. Don’t waste the reader’s time airing dirty academic laundry.
By the end, I realized: the premise was cool, but there just wasn’t enough here to carry a full book. A lot of it felt like filler. Honestly? Could’ve been an email.
But man… this thing drags.
First, Lacey spends so much time trying to convince you that Jesus was a real person. I get it, that’s a hot topic for some people, but I was already there. Didn’t need a whole section of receipts. And then there’s this weird, lingering feud with another historian that keeps popping up. Like, sir, take it to Twitter. Or a group chat. Don’t waste the reader’s time airing dirty academic laundry.
By the end, I realized: the premise was cool, but there just wasn’t enough here to carry a full book. A lot of it felt like filler. Honestly? Could’ve been an email.
March 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGallery for an ARC
This is most definitely NOT a book I would generally read. I don't tend to read that much nonfiction, and when I do it is absolutely not a historical review of anything. However, this book is just that...a historical analysis of ancient Rome and a number of factors that led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
This book is weighty, and although it comes in at less than 300 pages, it covers a lot. And it covers it in depth. It takes into account political machinations across generations, familial ties to power and the lengths many went to secure and maintain power. It looks at the intersection of Roman and Jewish politics from both a military and religious perspective. I'm aware that as I'm writing that that it doesn't sound very interesting but it is.
I appreciate the author's attempts to debunk previous historical perspectives while using numerous sources and an understanding of the times to further prove his own points. Overall I found this book extremely interesting, enjoyed the writing, and was excited to pick it up whenever I had the time.
This is most definitely NOT a book I would generally read. I don't tend to read that much nonfiction, and when I do it is absolutely not a historical review of anything. However, this book is just that...a historical analysis of ancient Rome and a number of factors that led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
This book is weighty, and although it comes in at less than 300 pages, it covers a lot. And it covers it in depth. It takes into account political machinations across generations, familial ties to power and the lengths many went to secure and maintain power. It looks at the intersection of Roman and Jewish politics from both a military and religious perspective. I'm aware that as I'm writing that that it doesn't sound very interesting but it is.
I appreciate the author's attempts to debunk previous historical perspectives while using numerous sources and an understanding of the times to further prove his own points. Overall I found this book extremely interesting, enjoyed the writing, and was excited to pick it up whenever I had the time.
April 21, 2025
The Year God Died is a remarkably detailed and fascinating look into the political and socioeconomic Roman world during the days of Jesus Christ and leading up to the crucifixion. While most of the book was devoted to Roman emperors and their various politics, it provided a very rich backdrop of context when placed up next to the Gospels in the New Testament.
This book is seemingly written from a very secular perspective, so the passages that do discuss Jesus directly does seek to offer reasonable and human explanations for some of the omniscience demonstrated by Jesus in the Gospels, I did not find the authors approach as insulting or otherwise offensive to the Christian faith. I very much appreciated that the author did not seek to dispel the veracity of the New Testament but instead used them as historical documents worthy of reference when studying that age in that context.
I really appreciated and learned a lot from this book though admittedly, I didn’t care for the title. It is a bold choice.
I would like to thank Random House and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is seemingly written from a very secular perspective, so the passages that do discuss Jesus directly does seek to offer reasonable and human explanations for some of the omniscience demonstrated by Jesus in the Gospels, I did not find the authors approach as insulting or otherwise offensive to the Christian faith. I very much appreciated that the author did not seek to dispel the veracity of the New Testament but instead used them as historical documents worthy of reference when studying that age in that context.
I really appreciated and learned a lot from this book though admittedly, I didn’t care for the title. It is a bold choice.
I would like to thank Random House and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 29, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for supplying an advanced copy of this to review.
The Year God Died was an excellent exploration of the history of Jesus and the political and cultural environment of the 1st century. Often, historians have discounted the 4 Gospels as historical texts to prove the existence of Jesus and the events chronicled. However, James Lacey does a terrific job of showing the method how other historical texts are validated and how to apply it to the Gospels' description. He also pulls in many contemporary sources to further strengthen the argument.
For a reader not well versed in the Roman empire, Lacey's book does a terrific job in laying out the culture, politics and events that led up to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. The book is well researched and laid out in a narrative manner that makes for easy and compelling reading.
While I may not agree with all of the theories presented, I can see the sound reasoning that Lacey uses to lay out his argument.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the historical record relating to Jesus.
The Year God Died was an excellent exploration of the history of Jesus and the political and cultural environment of the 1st century. Often, historians have discounted the 4 Gospels as historical texts to prove the existence of Jesus and the events chronicled. However, James Lacey does a terrific job of showing the method how other historical texts are validated and how to apply it to the Gospels' description. He also pulls in many contemporary sources to further strengthen the argument.
For a reader not well versed in the Roman empire, Lacey's book does a terrific job in laying out the culture, politics and events that led up to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. The book is well researched and laid out in a narrative manner that makes for easy and compelling reading.
While I may not agree with all of the theories presented, I can see the sound reasoning that Lacey uses to lay out his argument.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the historical record relating to Jesus.
December 19, 2025
The Year God Died (This Review is based on an ARC sent to me by Netgalley)
by James Lacey
Historian and military analyst Lacey explores possible connections between Roman power politics and the crucifixion of Jesus in this highly theoretical account. The Roman Empire shaped the life and death of Jesus. In late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius's closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified.
Dr. James Lacey weaves a dignified and accurate description of who Jesus was.
The Year God Died contradicts longstanding historical beliefs to reveal the most comprehensive and accurate view of the New Testament.
Lacey dissects reams of misinformation to reveal, for the first time, Jesus, as he was born and lived within the grand spectacle of the Roman world. The Author explains how the events in Rome drove events in Judea—which is directly linked to Jesus' crucifixion.
This is a comprehensive book about some of the eras of the Roman empire some of its Emperors, class society, wars and revolts and the New Testament.
by James Lacey
Historian and military analyst Lacey explores possible connections between Roman power politics and the crucifixion of Jesus in this highly theoretical account. The Roman Empire shaped the life and death of Jesus. In late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius's closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified.
Dr. James Lacey weaves a dignified and accurate description of who Jesus was.
The Year God Died contradicts longstanding historical beliefs to reveal the most comprehensive and accurate view of the New Testament.
Lacey dissects reams of misinformation to reveal, for the first time, Jesus, as he was born and lived within the grand spectacle of the Roman world. The Author explains how the events in Rome drove events in Judea—which is directly linked to Jesus' crucifixion.
This is a comprehensive book about some of the eras of the Roman empire some of its Emperors, class society, wars and revolts and the New Testament.
May 1, 2025
Book Review: The Year God Died by James Lacey
Historical Nonfiction
James Lacey, an accomplished writer and historian, delivers a compelling exploration of the Roman Empire in The Year God Died. Covering the years from roughly 30 BC to 33 AD, Lacey’s clear and direct prose still demands thoughtful reading—a challenge I thoroughly enjoyed.
The book dives into the political, religious, and economic landscape of the era, offering insights into how Rome ruled, grew rich, and shaped the world around it. Particularly fascinating were the discussions on the existence of Jesus, the authorship of the Gospels, and the influence of figures like Herod. I was especially intrigued by how deeply economics influenced Rome’s rise and governance. Lacey’s ability to connect historical facts with larger questions made this a standout read.
I learned a great deal and plan to read it again. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Historical Nonfiction
James Lacey, an accomplished writer and historian, delivers a compelling exploration of the Roman Empire in The Year God Died. Covering the years from roughly 30 BC to 33 AD, Lacey’s clear and direct prose still demands thoughtful reading—a challenge I thoroughly enjoyed.
The book dives into the political, religious, and economic landscape of the era, offering insights into how Rome ruled, grew rich, and shaped the world around it. Particularly fascinating were the discussions on the existence of Jesus, the authorship of the Gospels, and the influence of figures like Herod. I was especially intrigued by how deeply economics influenced Rome’s rise and governance. Lacey’s ability to connect historical facts with larger questions made this a standout read.
I learned a great deal and plan to read it again. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
March 14, 2025
Review of uncorrected eBook file
Here readers will find an examination of the Roman Empire in 33 A.D. and how the Roman Empire and its leaders influenced the life and death of Jesus Christ. Here readers have the opportunity to explore widely-held beliefs with the Roman Empire during the time that Jesus lived, and to compare these facts with the misinformation regarding the Man and the Empire.
One of the major points made by the author is the murder of Sejanus. Emperor Tiberius’s closed confidant, near the end of 31 A.D. The exploration of this connection gives rise to the suggestion that if Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would not have been crucified.
Readers are sure to find this compelling work filled with thoughts for contemplation and consideration.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley
#TheYearGodDied #NetGalley
Here readers will find an examination of the Roman Empire in 33 A.D. and how the Roman Empire and its leaders influenced the life and death of Jesus Christ. Here readers have the opportunity to explore widely-held beliefs with the Roman Empire during the time that Jesus lived, and to compare these facts with the misinformation regarding the Man and the Empire.
One of the major points made by the author is the murder of Sejanus. Emperor Tiberius’s closed confidant, near the end of 31 A.D. The exploration of this connection gives rise to the suggestion that if Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would not have been crucified.
Readers are sure to find this compelling work filled with thoughts for contemplation and consideration.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine / Bantam and NetGalley
#TheYearGodDied #NetGalley
June 30, 2025
Purported to be groundbreaking work on the historicity of Jesus and the influence of the Roman world. I can see where this would be a valuable for the general layman - the research is fairly solid and the arguments cogent - as it puts the story of Jesus in its historical context... to a point. But I see nothing remotely groundbreaking, or particularly original. The foundation is solid, and the arguments reasonable. But "Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes" by Kenneth E. Bailey has more eye-opening content in the first chapter than this one in the whole book. It is well-written and interesting, but I found nothing particularly new there. Good for the Roman context, but not so much for Jesus. Disappointing.
May 19, 2025
A true history book which would be fantastic as a resource for church leaders as well as those more casually interested in the history of the times around AD33.
The book sets an amazing image and background of all the forces and peoples at work across the known world, leading to a much better understanding of how those worked to form early Christianity.
Drawing from both archeological and a lot of historical documents, the author weaves a view of what life was like in that time period. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
The book sets an amazing image and background of all the forces and peoples at work across the known world, leading to a much better understanding of how those worked to form early Christianity.
Drawing from both archeological and a lot of historical documents, the author weaves a view of what life was like in that time period. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
July 14, 2025
This book is in desperate need of an editor. The author repeats the same arguments multiple times, often on succeeding pages even. It is not a bad book and there is some interesting information in it, but it really needs to be cleaned up. As for the content it was not quite what I was expecting. I have no issue with religion but did not know this was a religious book. Based on the title I assumed it would be a historical work just giving an overview of the Roman Empire around 33AD.
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