Customer Reviews

The Jesus Scroll.

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book is based upon the auther's claim that he viewed a scroll that was apparently written by Jesus in A.D. 67 in Masada. If the author's claim is true (which I am inclined to think it is), this poses enormous implications for the foundations of Christianity as we know it today. Instead of focusing on the scroll's content (the author claims to have never actually read the scroll, only to have seen it), the book focuses on the implications of its existence and examines other evidence to verify if the scroll could be authentic. The book is an excellent read for anyone of moderate skill and should take no more than a week to get through. Despite the historical detail into which the book delves, Joyce explains all of his research in layman's terms and is easy to follow.

It is difficult to tell if this is a fictional or actual story. If true it is by far the most profound book every written about Christ. If the information gets into the mainstream press it would for ever change Christianity. The author claims, among other things, that Jesus died at Masada at the age of 80 after committing suicide the night before the Romans overran this Jewish stronghold. He claims to have seen a scroll written by Jesus just before he died. He implys that this scroll was sold to either the Vatican or the Russians who subsequently used it to force recognition from the Catholic church. True or false it's a great tale that everyone can relate to.

I feel as a doubting and confused Christian I shoudl be intrested in the life of Jesus and get all the facts before making decisions about religion. I first heard of this book when I read a fiction novel (Cross Bones by Kathy Reich) and I was intrigued so I got it.

The concept is very interesting. The book is very interesting but poorly organized. It seems like a long, angry and sarcastic diatribe which takes away from the author's points. I looked up the author and found out he was a radio talks how host and that is more or less how the book is written.

The other problem I have is that he doesn not site his sources in the text so everything is based on his word alone. He gives the impression that the New Testament is misleading and over editied (which I can buy) but then he uses it to support his theories. I feel like you can't have it both ways BUT like I said the argument is hard to follow so I may have misunderstood it. It's hard to tell what is his opinion and interpitation of the facts and what is acutal historic fact.

I have learned so much about Roman and Jewish and Christian history because I have to keep looking things up! I think anything that increases learning is great! It makes me want to keep reading more books so anything that does that is worth reading. I have three books lined up already to read because I am so curious about these theories.

I would recommend reading this book but use it as a stepping point and not take anything too seriously.

Joyce's premise, based on a scroll found at Masada and purportedly written by an elderly defender named Jesus, is that THE Jesus survived the Crucifixion to die several decades later in that last Jewish stronghold to resist Rome. On that slim basis, Joyce constructs the following scenario: Mary got into trouble with Joseph's brother, and Joseph nobly stood aside to allow the erring couple to marry but turned up forty (not thirty-three) years later as Joseph of Arimathea to give his nephew decent burial; Jesus was married (to Mary Magdalene, of course), and Barabbas was their son. It makes an interesting but unconvincing story.

Joyce bases much of his argument on names, evidently unaware that the name "Jesus" is a Greek translation of the Hebrew name elsewhere recorded as "Joshua" or "Jeshua"--a popular Hebrew name likely to have been borne by many men at the same time. However, NO name is likely to be borne by a Jewish father and son, since Jewish children are customarily not named for living relatives. Thus Joyce's argument that Barabbas was the son of Jesus of Nazareth because his actual given name was also Jesus is actually strong evidence that they were not related.

Joyce states at the end of the book that he saw the crucial scroll, written in Aramaic, which he admittedly does not understand, only briefly, when it was shown to him in a stall in the men's room of the Tel Aviv airport by a man going by an assumed name, while Joyce was in Israel to research an historical novel. Could The Jesus Scroll have been it?

I read this when it first came out in paperback - decades ago. I recall that I found it fascinating and remarkably logical at the time. Since my copy has been long, long since lost,I wish I could remember the details of it better. Built around an archaeological discovery at Masada, it was (like its more recent counterparts, HOLY BLOOD HOLY GRAIL and BLOODLINE OF THE HOLY GRAIL) based on a combination of research and speculation. However, I think the proportions leaned more towards the "speculation" side and less toward the "research" side - simply because less research material was available to the writer back then - than its modern literary kin. Interestingly, even without the same research material available to its author, it reached many similar conclusions. Where it does differ, though, the differences are as interesting as the similarities. It was, indeed, a work ahead of its time.

It has been said that at the core of every myth, there is a grain of truth. Mr. Joyce presents a very plausible explanation for the Jesus myth. It's a theory that I had read in other places as well, but he ties it together in a very readable manner. This book should be reprinted. Until it is, it is well worth making the effort to find it.

His scholarship is based partly on speculation, but it presents a very compelling case on a point of view that is seldom expressed, and when is, is seldom done so as eloquently as he does it. I would recommend it to both Christians AND non Christians as a compelling read.

I read this book and i must say that although Mr. Joyce presents some thought provoking ideas, he is much to sarcastic to pull these ideas off.. In one review, it states that Mr. Joyce read the scroll, that is not true, he clearly states that he never actually saw it,but that he spoke to a man that claimed to have seen it. Most of the idea's that he puts forth, have actually been stated in other material. He is not the first person to believe that Jesus did not die on the cross, but lived to be a much older man with his children and his wife Mary. He is the first i have heard of however to put across the idea that Jesus's son died in his place.. Bar Abbus, meaning, Son of the Master. He very blantantly puts down any idea's at all that Jesus was Divine in anyway, or a master of manifestation... as i believe what Jesus taught, that we are ALL Divine, and i know that manifestation is real.. i would have to say that this is a book designed to take away any Spiritual thoughts or ideas that any of us have. Very sad. I didnt think it was worth buying.. maybe a quick read at the library.