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With countless scriptures available for the layman to peruse, the reader is bound to get lost amid one expert voice after another and thousands upon thousands of pages. In Thielmann's comprehensively researched and referenced work, the premise is focused on peeling back the curtain behind the arrest of Jesus, the ensuing trial, and ultimately the aftermath in a manner that accounts for numerous variances. These include but are not limited to the time period, the customs of the era, the language spoken, and the discrepancies between expert commentary. At its core, the book convincingly establishes the disparities among the four Gospels and provides an unbiased understanding of perhaps the most pivotal moment in human history from largely unexamined and deemphasized angles.
Thielmann's seamless integration of commentary from experts, while making for a dense text, impels the reader to think critically about scripture that has largely been associated with unconditional faith. Primarily, the variations of scripture stem from scholarly interpretations that sway too much toward the spiritualized context, resulting in the author vehemently arguing that Jesus did not violate any Jewish law, but rather, only Roman law. Without question, this is a text that should be consumed in portions in order to truly grasp the depth and gravity of the content.
From diving into the hostility between the church and the Jewish synagogue to deciphering Jewish versus Roman law, Thielmann presents an abundance of evidence and analysis to allow readers to fully understand the context of Jesus's arrest by the temple guards of the Sanhedrin. Moreover, the text focuses on dissecting the motivations of lesser-known biblical figures and clarifying misconceptions regarding Jesus' teachings, such as his prominent lesson that all food by mouth is clean. Using the example of a rabbi and his disciple in Leviticus Rabbah 33:1, Thielmann simplifies the teaching for anyone to understand by referencing the disciple's words: "From a tongue can come good and from a tongue can come bad."
Intriguing factors that Thielmann suggests drastically influence and lead to the discrepancies among the four Gospels are the time, language, and even figures of speech among different eras and communities that open up the potential for numerous interpretations. For instance, the author points out that the term "Son of God" was initially a direct reference to the collective children of Israel, not to Jesus Christ. From explaining the variations between the oracular and action prophet to giving a precise account of what constitutes the Day of Preparation, there is just a constant flow of analytical information that has the propensity to even turn the avid layman with an eye for detail into a scholar of scripture.
Many of the arguments that levy charges against Jesus for violating Jewish law overlook critical details. For example, the Herodians, a Jewish sect supporting Pharisees and in direct opposition to Jesus, likely did not even exist during the time of Jesus. Whether it is Jesus' association with and views on women or how he portrayed Jewish kosher dietary laws, among other topics, the duration of the text is a clear-cut assessment refuting the premise that Jesus deviated from Jewish law and attempted to abrogate the Torah. Overall, Thielmann's piece exudes an aura of clarity that allows even the most complex of arguments to be easily processed and applied into one's understanding of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. This undoubtedly meaningful read needs to be savored and nourished for the most optimal experience.