James the Brother of Jesus
Book Description
In this extensive scholarly investigation, Robert H. Eisenman presents a provocative reexamination of early Christianity's foundational figures and forgotten history. Drawing from the Dead Sea Scrolls and overlooked ancient Church documents, the author constructs a compelling case that the Christianity we know today emerged from a fundamental distortion of the original message.
Eisenman argues that James, the brother of Jesus, led a movement that remained deeply rooted in Jewish law and tradition, characterized by nationalistic fervor and apocalyptic expectations. This stands in stark contrast to Paul's version of Christianity, which the author portrays as a Hellenized, cosmopolitan faith that abandoned its Jewish foundations in favor of a more universalized approach.
The book challenges conventional historical narratives by suggesting that Paul maintained compromising connections with Roman authorities, while James served as both the authentic leader of early Christianity and a significant Jewish political figure of his era. According to Eisenman's research, James's death actually sparked the Jewish uprising against Rome, a connection that has been deliberately obscured through centuries of historical revision.
Through careful analysis of ancient texts, the author reveals how familiar biblical characters may not have existed as traditionally understood, and describes documented conflicts between Paul and James that have been minimized in standard accounts. This comprehensive work invites readers to reconsider the origins of Christianity and explore how political and religious forces shaped the faith that emerged from first-century Palestine.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~30 hours)
📄 Length: 1074 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Origin
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Dead Sea scrolls
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Origines
- ✓ Explore Critique, interprétation
- ✓ Explore James, brother of the lord, saint
