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Jared Lee

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The Shadow of the Galilean: The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Narrative Form

by Gerd Theißen

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Reading for the 2nd time

read in January 2017

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Jared Lee said: " Gerd Theissen’s, The Shadow of the Galilean, is a historically based story about a grain merchant named Andreas living in the time of Jesus’ life. The book aims to showcase the story of Jesus in a fresh perspective while also putting the story in con Gerd Theissen’s, The Shadow of the Galilean, is a historically based story about a grain merchant named Andreas living in the time of Jesus’ life. The book aims to showcase the story of Jesus in a fresh perspective while also putting the story in context by showing the political, economic, and religious turmoil during that time period.
One of the subjects that was highlighted in this book was the distinction between the social classes and the problems it caused. One such problem was that the lower class had many debts and taxes that couldn’t be paid. As a result, many of the people who could not pay were faced with being enslaved or fleeing into the wilderness. Many of those that ran away would go to the Zealots for protection and to fight against the Roman Empire. Christianity changed the mindset of the poor by telling the people that you should not want for many possessions and encouraging others to not be violent. In addition, Jesus spoke about how everyone is to be a son of God and is equal in the sight of God. In a conversation with Andreas, the Sadducee Chuza, mentioned how he disagreed with this idea of Jesus saying that it’s bad to have the poor, “imagine that they’re worth more than kings. Nevertheless, in their daily life they have to go on being subservient” (118). This is significant in that the poor viewed christianity as a hope for a better future away from the pains of the life they lived. The rich however, were upset with the teachings of Jesus as it gave the poor the privilege to live without care like the upper class (118).
The Shadow of the Galilean has drastically changed my view on many of the events that occurred during the time of Jesus and how they fit in the bigger picture historically. I was specifically intrigued by the political struggles between Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas, and the Jewish authorities. While Pilate and Antipas fought for control over each other and their own states, the Jewish community was struggling to protect their laws and customs as subjects in the Roman empire. Also, looking deeper at the lives of people such as Antipas helped me understand their decisions and choices. His dislike for Pilate for example is partly because Antipas had hoped to inherit the lands of Judea and Samaria instead of the Roman Prefects that took control. In addition to the political landscape, looking at the common people painted a better picture of the lives ordinary people lived. The low quality of life would explain the tension between the peasants and the upper class as well as why people might be attracted to Jesus’ teachings. This can be seen as Andreas is passing the toll booth on his way to Bethsaida and many of the poor and lame talk about how Jesus told parables about great feasts to come and how the poor and weak should be treated.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars. Although the historical background and analysis of the time period was very well done, the dialogue lacked creativity and the overall plot was only decent. I did enjoy the commentary in the letters to the “Dr. Kratzinger” who gave more insight to the making of the book and its historical accuracy. I would certainly recommend this book to any and all who would want a different perspective on the historical background of Jesus. ...more "

Jan 24, 2017 07:53AM · see review