Description
Book SynopsisShows that, around the time of Jesus' birth, there came into being a conception of 'catastrophic' messianism in which the suffering, humiliation, and death of the messiah were regarded as an integral part of the redemptive process.
Trade Review"Readers who share Knohl's questioning attitude about 'the Jewish context of Jesus' messianic career' will find [this] brief, accessible book fascinating and informative." - Booklist "A small but mind-bending book...a stunning imaginative leap. The impulse to reject Knohl's thesis is very strong...yet Knohl's consummate scholarship and intimate familiarity with other scholarly work gradually prevails. Is this book important to anyone but scholars? Yes, courageous, responsible scholarly work such as Knohl's deserves attention-and admiration." - Christian Science Monitor "This is a very significant, original, and daring book. It illuminates an important era in the history of the Jewish people as well as the background of Christianity, making full use of the new Qumran material." - Professor Emanuel Tov, Editor-in-Chief, Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project "This is a work of very high quality....Knohl convincingly points out the historical event of a Messiah who predated the more famous one, Jesus Christ....This is one of the most fascinating findings regarding the history of Jewish Messianism and the understanding of the emergence of Christianity...I am confident that it will mark a new phase in research of ancient Judaism." - Moshe Idel, author of Messianic Mystics "Fascinating....Knohl's book is an original piece of research that defies some of the most solid beliefs of our time." - Avraham Burg, Chairman of the Keneset (Israeli Parliament).
Table of ContentsList of Figures
Preface
Introduction
The Messianic Secret
After Three Days
Another Paraclete
Postscript
Appendix A: The Messianic Hymns
Appendix B: Between Rome and Jerusalem
List of Abbreviations
Notes
Index
