Review by Choice Review
Tabor (UNC Charlotte) writes, "I have often thought of my task as a historian as trying to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar." This seems to be one of this book's agendas. Tabor goes to great lengths to make Paul's gospel look as strange as possible. He does this in part by interpreting some of Paul's statements in a hyperliteralist way that would outdo even fundamentalist literalists. Resurrecting the largely discredited theory of Ferdinand Christian Baur, the point of Tabor's book is to drive a wedge between the message of Jesus and his apostles on the one hand, and Paul on the other. By Tabor's own admission, however, the Gospels and most New Testament letters are in basic agreement with Paul, so Tabor simply asserts--without demonstrating--that these documents are dependent on Paul. That this approach does not leave much on which to reconstruct the supposed original teaching of Jesus and the apostles does not stop Tabor from trying. Unsurprisingly, his reconstruction of apostolic teaching is significantly different from Paul's gospel. This book may convince uninformed readers but is not likely to convince many New Testament scholars. Summing Up: Optional. General readers; researchers. D. Ingolfsland Crown College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* There have been a number of books written about Paul and his relationship to the apostles; to James, the brother of Jesus; and to the early Christian community in Jerusalem. But Tabor, a professor of religion, does a particularly fine job of explaining Paul's unique view of Jesus and how he originated a gospel that had almost nothing to do with the life of Jesus, nor the messianic message as it was understood by Jesus' first followers. Tabor contends that Paul's letters Corinthians and Romans, especially are the oldest biblical documents we have dating to Jesus' time; the Gospels and even the Acts of the Apostles came later. Within this time line, it is possible to trace Paul's thinking and to come to an understanding of both Paul's gospel and the schism that developed between Paul and Jesus' apostles. Tabor does very little speculating, keeping his focus on the texts and placing them within the context of first-century Judaism and early Christianity. The crisp, clear writing gives readers much to consider especially the fact that it is a Pauline Christianity that most Christians practice today. Tabor writes in the preface that he has spent much of his adult life studying early Christianity in general and Paul in particular. The depth of his scholarship shows, but he also makes this an enjoyable read for those who want to know more about one of history's greatest mysteries.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this compulsively readable exploration of the tangled world of Christian origins, Tabor (The Jesus Dynasty) vividly recreates the frenetic and fraught attempts by the earliest followers of Jesus to maintain his teachings and keep his memory alive. The followers of James, who was the brother of Jesus and likely the author of the New Testament letter that bears his name, continued to live as Jews, observing Torah and worshipping in the Jerusalem Temple while honoring Jesus as their martyred Teacher and Messiah. This group was quickly displaced by Paul, whose theological teachings on the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ; the gift of eternal life guaranteed by faith in Jesus' resurrection from the dead; and a glorified heavenly reign with Christ when he returns reached a larger, non-Jewish audience because of the more philosophical language and nature. Although Paul has long been acknowledged as the founder of Christianity, Tabor weaves a fascinating story out of close readings of Paul's letters and the book of Acts, which contains an idealized history of the early movement as well as Paul's earliest activities on behalf of his teachings, and compellingly illustrates the ways that Christianity is Paul and Paul is Christianity. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Tabor (The Jesus Dynasty) asserts here that no individual has had more influence on forming contemporary Christian beliefs than the apostle Paul. Paul believed he had a more legitimate claim on the true interpretation of God's word because his understanding of Jesus was based on divine visions and not on the man the other apostles knew. Extensive quotes from the Pauline Epistles are used to demonstrate where the schism started between Jesus's original apostles and Paul. Robertson Dean's (winner of nine Earphones Awards, 2010 Best Voice in History & Historical Fiction) smooth, even presentation provides a pleasant listening experience. VERDICT Perfect for anyone intrigued by the early foundations of Christianity. ["Highly recommended to all interested in the historic roots of Christianity.... After Tabor, you will never read the NT in quite the same way," read the review of the S. & S. hc, LJ 8/12.-Ed.]-Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Another entry in the guess-who-Paul-really-was contest. The Apostle Paul has long been a controversial figure to modern Christians, but in recent years, his life and writings have spawned a plethora of books dedicated to reevaluating his role in the Christian faith. Tabor (Religious Studies/Univ. of North Carolina, Charlotte; The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity, 2006, etc.) throws his hat into the ring, attempting to define Paul and his version of Jesus Christ against that of the original Jerusalem church, headed by James. The author stresses that the traditional view--that Paul was in harmony with the original apostles, ministering to the gentiles while they ministered to Jews--is a complete fabrication. Instead, he believes that Paul was in direct conflict with James, Peter and the rest of the original Christian church. This conflict was based not just on personality or approach; it spoke to Paul's fundamental understanding of the identity of Jesus Christ, which differed from that taught by the original apostles. It is Paul's understanding of Jesus, Tabor avers, that won the day, coming down to us in Scripture and doctrine. The author blames this historical legacy on a conscious effort by Paul's followers to minimize the influence of James and the Jerusalem church, while promoting Paul's theology. Books of the Bible such as Acts, he explains, were written specifically to present a Paul-focused version of emerging Christianity. Tabor tends to sensationalize tenets of Christian doctrine to highlight his view that Paul's ideas were radical, while also pushing the conspiracy theories (e.g., "process of mythmaking") about New Testament Scriptures that have been covered by such authors as Bart Ehrman. His ultimate claim that Paul saw himself as a second Messiah seems like an inflated reading of the Pauline letters, and it will prove controversial with most Christians.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
