Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements at the Time of Jesus [Paperback]

Richard A. Horsley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1999

The Trinity Press edition of this popular book includes a new preface by the author, responding to reviews of earlier editions. Horsley also sets forth the continuing value of Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs for reconstructing the social history background of the New Testament. This book represents a brilliant portrait of Jewish culture in the first century and contains a fresh evaluation of Jesus' relation to this complex society. Horsley rediscovers the "common people" (Jewish peasantry) in the time of Jesus – the masses led by bandit forces, apocalyptic prophets, and messianic leaders – and provides new insights into their significance. "Important and ground-breaking . . . . A major contribution to our understanding of the first-century Jewish social world." – Journal of Biblical Literature "Social history at its best . . . . Important material for understanding the Gospels' confession of Jesus as the Messiah." — America Richard A. Horlsey is Professor of Classics and Religion at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is author of Galilee: History, Politics, People; Archaeology, History, and Society in Galilee: The Social Context of Jesus and the Rabbis; and editor of Paul and Empire: Religion and Power in Roman Imperial Society, all published by Trinity Press.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One cannot understand Primitive Christianity without the background of Jewish Culture emerging from the isms and schisms of the time. This book should open the door to a better understanding of ministry and mission emerging from Gabbatha, Golgotha and Gethsemane." —Raymond B. Knudsen, Editor, The Counselor, May 30, 1999 (Raymond B. Knudsen Counselor, The )

"Overall, this book was important when it first appeared. It is well-written and engaging and still has much to teach students and scholars today." (Adam L. Porter, Duke University, reviewing for Review of Biblical Literature, November 1999 Review Of Biblical Literature )

"One cannot understand Primitive Christianity without the background of Jewish Culture emerging from the isms and schisms of the time. This book should open the door to a better understanding of ministry and mission emerging from Gabbatha, Golgotha and Gethsemane." —Raymond B. Knudsen, Editor, The Counselor, May 30, 1999 (, Counselor, The )

"Overall, this book was important when it first appeared. It is well-written and engaging and still has much to teach students and scholars today." (, Review Of Biblical Literature )

From the Publisher

The award-winning investigation that rediscovers the "common people" in the time of Jesus--the masses led by bandit forces, apocalyptic prophets, and messianic leaders. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Trinity Press Int'l (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563382733
• ISBN-13: 978-1563382734
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #914,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Voice for the Average (1st Century) Palestinian Peasant, January 20, 2001

By 

The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. G. G. Block - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements at the Time of Jesus (Paperback)

An old maxim claims that, "History is written by the winners." That may be true, but it is also true that history is written by the literate elite of every society. Those with enough knowledge, motivation, and leisure time write the histories that inform the attitudes and opinions of the rest of us.

Unfortunately, the bulk of humanity does not consist of articulate, highly motivated, and independent elites. Thus, most histories end up biased in favor of society's masters, and against the proletariat.

One quick survey of the average New Testament history will demonstrate our fascination with kings (e.g.: Caesar), priests (e.g.: Ananus and Caiaphus), ethnarchs (e.g.: Herod Archelaus), tetrarchs (e.g.: Herod Philip and Herod Antipas), governors (e.g.: Pontius Pilate), prophets (e.g.: John the Baptist), pharisees (e.g.: Paul), sadducees (e.g.: Jonathan, son of Ananus), philosophers (e.g.: Philo of Alexandria), historians (e.g.: Josephus), rabbis (e.g.: Jesus), and other people of note. Very seldom do we examine the lives of the ordinary people who left little, or no, written records of their experience. Too quickly our image of first century, Palestinian life becomes colored by the proclaimed experiences of the elites. Too quickly we forget or dismiss the experiences of the illiterate majority, barely eaking out an existence in a subsistence economy.

By focusing his attentions on the miserable lives lived by the majority of the peasants, Professor Horsley gives us a more balanced view of Palestine in the time of Jesus and the earliest Church. He shows us a peasantry, not only resentful about Roman occupation and taxation, but also deeply distrustful of their own political and sacerdotal institutions. He shows us subsistence farmers pushed off their land, or ever more deeply into debt, by Roman and Jewish over-taxation. He places before our eyes people whose lives could end instantly and violently on the whim of a king, governor, or ordinary Roman soldier. He shows us a people yearning for their ancient and legitimate kings. He brilliantly paints the picture of a people pushed to the edge of life, and made ready for revolution, whether that be the political revolution of 66 a.d., or the revolutionary preaching of Good News by an itinerant Galilean rabbi.

Professor Horsley helps all of us to see first century Palestine more clearly: more honestly. For that alone, this book is worth reading.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Succint but thorough, March 29, 2002

By 

The BPR Reference Guide (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements at the Time of Jesus (Paperback)

When studying the New Testament you will run across books that deal with Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Essenes and seeing there is such a glut of info on these it is amazing to realize that they comprised a very small segment of the population. What the ordinary citizenry of the time were doing is not usually reflected in the writings of these religious elites and this book delves into that area of popular movements surrounding the insulated lives of the rich and powerful that led to change and ultimately to the revolt of AD 66- 70. Within this context you will learn, among other things, of the Messianic expectations of the general populace that led to "false prophets" spoken of by Jesus. This book helps flesh out the bare-bones accounts within the Gospels by describing the backdrop wherein everything was played out in the first century AD.

This is a moderately difficult read that I found very, very informative (I have highlighted quite a few passages for further study). Succinct but thorough. -- Moza

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Help in Understanding the World of Jesus, September 17, 2003

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs: Popular Movements at the Time of Jesus (Paperback)

The world of Jesus Christ was hardly static. Uprisings, rebellions, and subversive groups popped up all of the time, especially in Jewish lands where Roman occupation was equal to slavery in the eyes of most Jewish people. This made rebellion almost a religious duty even though many of the religious authorities did not share this point of view. Some of the rebellious groups had limited success, others had disastrous ends. Bandits, Prophets, and Messiahs helps the reader understand the different movements in the days of Jesus and help modern readers understand why Jesus' message was so controversial, not just in terms of content, but politically and socially as well. The author looks at the historical realities of the Jewish people and the connection with religious and political figures that sprung up in the Roman Empire, particularly in Palestine, in the days of Jesus Christ and in the early New Testament days. Readers are able to distinguish those who might be "rebels without a cause" so to speak, and legitimate groups that had serious religious and/or political objectives. The author culled much of the information from lectures given to students which gives the work a scholarly feel in an accessible manner. The book contains a scripture cited index which will help readers who may be students researching a topic, preachers preparing a sermon or homily, or person who is fascinated by the background to the Bible.