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

I highly recommend reading this book. It is intellectually stimulating, engaging and provocative reading. Professor James Tabor offers a startling reading of the New Testament.

I found it impossible to put this book down once I started reading it. While I actually was familiar with some of the relatively obscure historical facts Tabor covered - like the expectation of "Two Messiahs" - there were still many new, well-documented findings in the book that I had never encountered before. In addition, Tabor's speculations (always clearly identified as such) rang true nearly each time they were offered. Perhaps most uniquely characteristic of this book, however, is the strong sense it conveys of Tabor's love for the people he is studying - a love for Jesus and his first-century human family. Make sure to read all the way through to catch Tabor's comments on how knowing the historical Jesus and what he and his original followers were all about might allow for better dialog between Christians (or more precisely, "admirers/lovers of Jesus" of any variety) and Jews, or such Christians and Muslims. I think he's on to something good.

In response to the person who accused this book of being `flash over substance' and basically a Da Vinci Code rip off, I would say that they probably didn't read the book (Actually, I know that they didn't since the review is dated about a month before the book's release). The Jesus Dynasty is completely unrelated to Dan Brown's book, advocating an entirely different thesis. Tabor states this plainly in his preface and goes on to say of the Da Vinci Code, "while gripping fiction, this idea is long on speculation and short on evidence." The theories that Tabor proposes in The Jesus Dynasty are based entirely on an historical-critical examination of the surviving evidence of Jesus, his family, and early followers and what Tabor sees as the most likely interpretation of that evidence. Tabor brings to this endeavor 40 years of study on the topic at hand and is more than qualified to write this book. One reviewer asserted that `If not for "Da Vinci Code," this tripe would never have even been written.', but I can say as someone who has known Dr. Tabor personally for 8 years that the ideas presented in this book long predate and are not at all dependent on the Da Vinci Code or the pseudo-history of Baigent et al. The Jesus Dynasty is Tabor's attempt at reconstructing the life of Jesus and his family. In many ways his attempt is quite daring and his ideas unique. The book will no doubt offend many who will not judge the book on its scholarship but will dogmatically reject what it says based on the beliefs which they bring to the book. On the whole, Tabor's attempt is believable, putting Jesus and his followers squarely in the historical context of first century Judaism. Some of the book's claims will certainly be a surprise to many readers. Just one example brought to light in the book is that many Jews of the time were expecting two messiahs. This idea is well attested in the records from the time and yet unknown to most people today. This idea can be found in the Hebrew Bible itself, in the book of Zechariah, as well as pseudopigraphic works from the Second Temple period. The writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls clearly expected this (see for example in the Community Rule). Later Rabbinic sources speak of two messiahs as well (see b. Sukkah 52a in the Talmud, Midrash Tanhuma (ed. Buber) Vayiggash 3, Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 14:1, Midrash Tehillim 60.3, Targum to Song of Songs 4:5 and 7:4, and Targum Psuedo-Jonathan to Exodus 40:11 to name a few). Tabor takes this widespread belief into account in assessing the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist. There is a certain amount of speculation in the work (and Tabor does say when he is engaging in speculation), but that will always be true of something for which the evidence is so fragmentary and dating later than the events they describe. Tabor provides evidence to back up his theories but he also points out several times that about some things we may never be certain as the evidence is just too lim

Professor Tabor has written the definitive "Historical Jesus and Family". I literally could not put the book down as I went without sleep to finish it! This is one of the increasing number of popular and scholarly books emphasizing James the Just and his leading role in the early Church. The Dead Sea Scrolls prophesized two messiahs; and now we see they were John and Jesus! We see Jesus as he actually was, a Torah observant Jew. If you wondered, now you can find the "Beloved Disciple" revealed. Jesus would have been outraged and astonished by the idea that he was creating a new religion. We see Paul as the villain who "stole Jesus" and merged him into Greek mythology. Tabor reveals the "Hidden History of the Early Church". I was quite surprised to find myself feeling sympathy and respect for Jesus who was a hero on the level of bar Kochba and Judas Maccabeus & his brothers. Unlike the "Da Vinci Code" and the sensationalism of Baigent, this is real and readable - a wonderful read!

This is an important book by a first rate archeologist and biblical scholar. Focusing on the family of Jesus, Tabor probes his genealogical antecedents, the contours of life, his personal relationships, mission and subsequent family history. The product of some 40 years working in the field, knowing the primary languages and studying the texts, Tabor investigates Jesus' genealogy, coming up with an innovative way of reconciling the different accounts in Matthew and Luke. Tabor also provides a fresh perspective on Jesus brothers and their role in Jesus' life. Tabor argues that Clophas (Alphaeus), Joseph's brother, following Jewish law, marries Mary after the death of Joseph and has children with her - four half-brothers (who are named) and at least two sisters. This also allows us to see that Jesus' (half)-brothers are also members of his inner circle of disciples, something Tabor flags as "perhaps the best-kept secret in the entire New Testament" (p.165). I personally found this intriguing and his solution helps resolve a lot of puzzles. Tabor traces the close connections between the missions of John the Baptizer and Jesus himself; probes the identity of the "beloved disciple;" examines alternative sites for Jesus' crucifixion; and discusses the meaning of "being raised on the third day." There is lot of very important material to reflect on in these chapters as Tabor probes the political aspect of Jesus' mission. One of the most intriguing discussions centers upon why the role of James has been obscured in later Christian tradition. We are only now coming to realize his importance within early Christianity, as the leader par excellence. Tabor investigates what we now know ofJames, asking such questions as: Who was he? What were his beliefs and practices? And how did he envisage his own role in relationship to Jesus? The Jesus Dynasty is an investigation and those who like questions and a consideration of alternative points of view will find this a very rewarding book. It's a "good read," filled with impressive insights. It's an important contribution and no one seriously interested in early Christianity should ignore it.