Jesus and his contemporaries
Subtitle: comparative studies
By: by Craig A. Evans.
Series: Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums,; 25; Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums ;; Bd. 25.
Publisher: E.J. Brill
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Leiden; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 532
Subjects: Jesus Christ -- Biography -- Public life.; Jesus Christ -- Friends and associates.; Jesus Christ -- Historicity.; Messiah.
Description: The first part of this book attempts to situate Jesus in his historical and cultural context through comparisons with the prayers, parables, prophecies, and miracles attributed to various Jewish figures of Palestine who are Jesus' near contemporaries. It is concluded that Jesus' teachings and activities do not represent a radical break with the piety and restorative hopes of many of his contemporaries.

This conclusion stands in tension with some of the recent Jesus research, especially emanating from the Jesus Seminar, which tends to view Jesus as a Stoic or Cynic philosopher with little interest in the restoration of Israel and the fulfilment of prophecy. The second part of the book explores the aims of Jesus and the factors that led to Jesus' death.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [461]-491) and indexes.