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In his ambitious work, Collins conjures a dinner scene between Jesus and his thirteen disciples that not only explores the scriptures but also provides commentary on being a contrarian and being resolute enough to stand by your belief in truth. Reminiscent of a jury discussion where one is seeking a unanimous verdict among jurors, the author's work creatively shows Jesus diving into scintillating and thought-provoking questions that will ultimately help the disciples (and through them the audience itself) be of one mind.
Thomas, as one of the contrarians, uses slavery as a strong argument that every word cannot come from God because a merciful God cannot possibly condone that level of human-to-human subjugation and degradation. Similarly, the concept of being cleansed simply by having faith and paying tithes, regardless of the at-times heinous nature of one’s sin, pokes holes into the words of the Bible being viewed as the universal, sovereign law. Later, conversations between John and Jesus reference verses such as “God is not the author of confusion,” yet contradictions and disarray abound. Digging deeper, Christ states that the supreme moral law is “Be thou perfect” and to act, behave, and speak in the model of perfection brought onto the earth as “the son of God.” Using this as the premise of right versus wrong, conversations on loving the mind, body, and spirit and genuinely wishing the best for all take on a whole new meaning.
Overall, Collins’ approach to shedding light on the Bible is unique. He imaginatively puts together a fictional dinner to offer commentary and critical conversation on how one should lead one’s life—free from anger, temptation, and pride—all of which end up being one's own personal hell. While the work flows with ease, it cuts to the core, helping readers gain a better understanding of the Bible’s message.