Short description
Studies the contacts made and established in Jerusalem by Jesus and makes clear his acknowledged supremacy in Judaism. The book also addresses a possible reconstruction of Q , the earliest of all the Christian documents, made from a careful comparison of the synoptic gospels.
Long description
As the author states in his opening chapter, most Bible scholars now seem to agree that Jesus was born as the natural son of Joseph and Mary. Paul Baker takes this as his starting point for an assessment of Jesus' early life in Nazareth and his family and neighbours. He explores the growth of Jesus' realisation of his mission on earth and the beginning of his ministry, demonstrating that he was no Mediterranean peasant. Many well-known miracles are re-examined in contemporary and day-to-day circumstances, a possible reconstruction of document 'Q' is included and the book closes with a surprisingly sympathetic explanation of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot.