David Flusser and R. Steven Notley wrote the Sage from Galilee. The novel’s twelve chapters detail Flusser’s new theories and research that were not included in his 1968 English edition, making it the fourth edition. This book aims to challenge widespread beliefs that existed before its publication. I give this book a very high rating because of the quality of its writing. Moreover, the New Testament is well known to everyone in this book as it informs individuals who Jesus was. The review will include an outlined context and evaluation of the setting for each chapter.
The first chapter examines the first three gospels, the Synoptic Gospels. As a Jewish man, miracle worker, and evangelist, Jesus is positively portrayed in these writings. The author wants the reader to realize that these brief descriptions of good news are more trustworthy since they rely on at least one early report that has since been lost that was created by Jesus’ followers and the early Jerusalem church. The second chapter contains much-calculated information about Jesus and his dear ones.
It talks about how his name was created, his conflicts with his family, how he distances himself from them, and other things. This chapter generally provides information that will provoke thought and humanize Jesus. In the spirit of Second Temple Judaism, the following chapters present Jesus’ teachings and acts of service. In “Baptism,” Flusser and Notley evaluates Jesus depending on the Baptist’s (John) preaching, who held the Essenes’ perspective on baptism. The chapter about Jesus’ death closely resembles the Lukan text while omitting Mark’s account of a powerful Sanhedrin meeting that censured Jesus. Instead, that evening, Jesus was brought to the cleric’s house and subjected to cross-examination and finally presented to the Romans.
Jesus’ presentation in the Second Temple is more appealing as this demonstrate the authors’ heightened sensitivity. The authors’ seeming freedom from many limitations that have hampered historical Jesus research over the previous century makes his theory so refreshing. In addition to a fresh perspective based on Christian literature, these publications offer a variety of relevant classical and Jewish sources. This piece contributes substantially to a more recent movement in historical Jesus studies that places Jesus inside the ideas, customs, and ambitions of the many communities of Second Temple Judaism.
However, I believe the writing would have specific issues, despite liking the material. Nevertheless, I tend to be a little dubious because there is no much discussion regarding how the authors arrive at their findings. For instance, it was said that John the Baptist thought he was the prophet of the end of time in chapter three (pg. 411). It is claimed that he was seen as a prophet of the Bible; however, it is unclear if John or Jesus thought highly of him. I think the baptized people saw him as a preacher and a teacher, making me doubt his objectives.
Despite its limitations, The Sage from Galilee offers a fresh viewpoint on the real Jesus, which will be an excellent supplement to existing studies on the subject. However, the authors’ unreliability would cause many readers who are unsure of their position on religious questions to be dissatisfied with the work. Additionally, the authors consult a wide range of ancient and Jewish sources to give the necessary background for portraying Jesus in the Gospels. Thus, an excellent illustration as Jesus reflects his Jewish context while also revolutionizing it.
Work Cited
Flusser, David, and Steven Notley. The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus’ Genius. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007.