The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity (Hardcover)

by James D. Tabor (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Tabor, chair of religious studies at UNC-Charlotte, offers a bold and sometimes speculative interpretation of the historical Jesus and his family, beginning with his paternity. Evaluating several possibilities, Tabor concludes that the most historically plausible claim is that Jesus' father was neither God nor Joseph, but another man, possibly a Roman soldier named Pantera. He also argues that Joseph likely died when Jesus was young, leaving Jesus head of a household that included his six half-siblings. Like many scholars, Tabor emphasizes that we must understand Jesus in the context of first-century Judaism. After Jesus' death, his brother James took over the titular family dynasty. James championed a version of the faith quite different from Paul's, and, although James was more faithful to Jesus' original teachings, Paul's Christianity won. Tabor not only challenges Christian dogma, he also makes some assumptions with which not all scholars will agree: he places a great deal of emphasis on the hypothetical text Q, calling it "our most authentic early Christian document." This book is accessible and sure to be highly controversial, attracting the attention of reporters, spiritual seekers, historians and fans of The Da Vinci Code. (Apr.)
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From Booklist
Startling claims in nonfiction works about Jesus and early Christianity are hardly new (hello, Holy Blood, Holy Grail), but Tabor, an academic and archaeologist, makes a solid case for the dynastic aspects of the Jesus movement and the importance of James the Just, Jesus' brother, during the period when the early church was forming. That said, the structure of the book seems scattered. Tabor begins with several exciting archaeological finds with which he was involved, including the discovery of a cave that might have been used by John the Baptist and the very recent discovery of a tomb with ossuaries that could be linked to Jesus' family members. This fascinating narrative hooks readers but doesn't quite meld with the rest of the book. Another problem is his emphasis on the genealogies of Jesus presented in Matthew and Luke, which are discounted by many scholars. Yet Tabor dares to go where few authors do: he takes on the subjects of Jesus' earthly paternity (including the case for a Roman father), his relationship to John the Baptist as partner rather than forerunner, and Jesus' expectations for his movement (as opposed to the direction in which it was taken by Paul). This breaks new ground on the journey to find the historical Jesus, and it is certain to prompt much discussion--and not a little controversy. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743287231
• ISBN-13: 978-0743287234
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #466,345 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

191 of 216 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the Da Vinci Code, April 5, 2006

By	Brian N. (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

In response to the person who accused this book of being `flash over substance' and basically a Da Vinci Code rip off, I would say that they probably didn't read the book (Actually, I know that they didn't since the review is dated about a month before the book's release). The Jesus Dynasty is completely unrelated to Dan Brown's book, advocating an entirely different thesis. Tabor states this plainly in his preface and goes on to say of the Da Vinci Code, "while gripping fiction, this idea is long on speculation and short on evidence." The theories that Tabor proposes in The Jesus Dynasty are based entirely on an historical-critical examination of the surviving evidence of Jesus, his family, and early followers and what Tabor sees as the most likely interpretation of that evidence. Tabor brings to this endeavor 40 years of study on the topic at hand and is more than qualified to write this book. One reviewer asserted that `If not for "Da Vinci Code," this tripe would never have even been written.', but I can say as someone who has known Dr. Tabor personally for 8 years that the ideas presented in this book long predate and are not at all dependent on the Da Vinci Code or the pseudo-history of Baigent et al.

The Jesus Dynasty is Tabor's attempt at reconstructing the life of Jesus and his family. In many ways his attempt is quite daring and his ideas unique. The book will no doubt offend many who will not judge the book on its scholarship but will dogmatically reject what it says based on the beliefs which they bring to the book. On the whole, Tabor's attempt is believable, putting Jesus and his followers squarely in the historical context of first century Judaism. Some of the book's claims will certainly be a surprise to many readers. Just one example brought to light in the book is that many Jews of the time were expecting two messiahs. This idea is well attested in the records from the time and yet unknown to most people today. This idea can be found in the Hebrew Bible itself, in the book of Zechariah, as well as pseudopigraphic works from the Second Temple period. The writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls clearly expected this (see for example in the Community Rule). Later Rabbinic sources speak of two messiahs as well (see b. Sukkah 52a in the Talmud, Midrash Tanhuma (ed. Buber) Vayiggash 3, Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 14:1, Midrash Tehillim 60.3, Targum to Song of Songs 4:5 and 7:4, and Targum Psuedo-Jonathan to Exodus 40:11 to name a few). Tabor takes this widespread belief into account in assessing the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist.

There is a certain amount of speculation in the work (and Tabor does say when he is engaging in speculation), but that will always be true of something for which the evidence is so fragmentary and dating later than the events they describe. Tabor provides evidence to back up his theories but he also points out several times that about some things we may never be certain as the evidence is just too limited. One aspect in which I was somewhat disappointed was that he does not go into detail about some of the evidence he has (having studied many of these topics with Tabor himself and having been on some of the archaeological digs which he mentions in the book with him, I know that he has more evidence regarding these things and can go into more detail about them). My guess is that to keep the book at a less intimidating size (as it is it is over 300 pages) he refrains from going into more detail about the evidence he has. This would be my one criticism; I would like to see a fuller treatment of the evidence in some of these places (one example that stands out in my mind is Tabor's reconstruction of the chronology of the week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, namely on which days everything took place).

Perhaps the most compelling part of the book for me was the history of the Jesus movement following his crucifixion, namely the story of James his brother. I found the evidence put forth regarding James (his leadership of the movement which was later lost/ covered up by a largely Pauline influenced church) to be quite convincing. That James was the leading figure, taking up the mantle of Jesus himself is clear when one looks at the evidence. Moreover, the New Testament's reticence on the subject is very suspicious.

Overall this is a very worthwhile read, giving a portrait of Jesus that, while important, is unfamiliar to most people in the world today.

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From an Ebionite , April 11, 2006

By	shemayah phillips (Falwellistan) - See all my reviews

Dr. Tabor asked me to let him know what I thought of the book when I responded to an announcement he sent, so here we go. This is an excellent book with a few "maybe" spots. It presents a good historical background, in some ways reminiscent to Crossan and Reed _Excavating Jesus_, and very easy to read for most people. I will recommend the book, although I am not convinced fully about several of his arguments.

He does support some of my own ideas and teachings and so I am biased. One is that Yeshua was a real claimant for the Davidic throne. He makes it clear that Christianity has misrepresented the actual historical events and intentions of Yeshua, and follows a mythologized religion developed by Paul of Tarsus who never knew Yeshua in the flesh (or otherwise, IMO). The idea that Yeshua's movement was supported by a dynasty is not a secret to anyone familiar with the term desposyni (and I am not talking about "Grail" "DaVinci Code" "stuff"). There are many points to explore and consider in the book but I will mention only a few.

For me the most interesting argument is a double Davidic lineage, from Yosef and MIRYAM! I have been quick to point to the obvious failure of tracing a legitimate Davidic line through Yosef and God. Jeconiah (Y'konyah) disqualifies Yosef's entire branch of the family. I figured that the Lukan geneaology was another crap shoot attempt. In spite of my willingness to accept that Yeshua claimed legitimacy as a Davidic king, I could not remedy two bad geneaologies. But Dr. Tabor offers a solution to the problem via a good explanation of descent through Miryam.

He makes an extremely interesting case for Pantera (mentioned by Celsus and Toldot Yeshu) as the possible father of Yeshua. Since I did not get an autographed copy and had to buy the book ;-) I have to say that these two arguments alone, with the appropriate historical introductions to the life setting of Yeshua, were worth the price of the book.

But I have some problems accepting the argument concerning who was actually the father of Yeshua and his siblings. Dr. Tabor's argument and my concerns might be represented in the following:

1) a. Yosef hardly mentioned after birth narratives. b.Yosef dies and has no heir; by yibbum Clophas (Y's brother) becomes husband of Miryam to give Yeshua's brothers and sisters.

- a. Dr. Tabor mentions Christian ascetic dualism related to gnostic ideas about physical and spiritual (sarkic and pneumatic) incompatibilities. In other words (mine) Miryam, as a sacred virgin needed to shed possible hints that Yosef required sex from her as her husband. He is just a device to alay criticism that Miryam had a son illegitimately. He doesn't have to be dead. Admitting in some direct way that he was was the father of Yeshua's siblings, even though it was evidently too hard to suppress that he did have siblings, undermined the perpetual virgin myth. The gentiles were faced with a situation in which actual blood relatives of Yeshua did exist (the desposyni), yet there was a mother with a divine son but without a human father or human sexual intercourse. Thus we have the "cousin" and "step children" explanation from Christians. Yosef is hardly spoken of because Christian writers did not want more work to suppress connection to a father other than God.

b. Let us say Yosef dies. Yibbum is a means of allowing the dead father's family DNA (seed) to pass on with his name. That's all. The practice of yibbum was not popular, and the could be refused (Khalitza). I am not convinced that Clophas repeatedly impregnated Miryam on behalf of a dead Yosef. The halakha given in Mishna Yevamot is fairly complicated and I don't pretend expertise. They may have been adhered to in the days of Yeshua, perhaps not. But this also overlooks the fact that if Yosef was not the father of Yeshua, it is reasonable that his brother would know this or suspect this from street gossip (as Dr. Tabor says is typical in a small village elsewhere), then both would be further complicating things in taking a promiscuous woman (zona).

Dr. Tabor mentions that the name "Clophas" came from the root of the Hebrew word for "replacement" like the word caliph, a dynastic successor. While Dr. Tabor says it could refer to Clophas via nickname as Yosef's successor in Miryam, it could also be just his name or refer to his family also as a source of dynastic Yeshuine successors.

The simplest explanation is that Yosef was the father of Yeshua as well as the other Children. Yosef as the father would strengthen the succession of Nasi Ya`aqov by Shimon ben Kh'lofa. This would expand the dynasty as there were also many relatives in that dynasty. It might also explain why this dynasty was undermined and suppressed by the Christians, and replaced by Pauline type eunuchs, and finally moved control away from Palestine and Yeshuine Jews who knew better.

2) I also have reservations about the argument concerning two messiahs and Dr. Tabor's candidates, however well argued.

Dr. Tabor repeatedly makes the point that we cannot know many of these things for certain, and so he honestly (and respectfully) proposes some astounding solutions (rather than sensationalist claims) instead of declarations.

A conservative fundamentalist will perhaps like this book as much as they would like ebionite.org. You've been warned. But for those more open-minded among them others, the book is well worth reading whether they agree or not. At any rate, they will be challenged to meet the arguments presented in the book with better solutions to the confusion of the gospels in light of reality. The four stars are a hair away from five.

54 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Contribution from a First-Rate Scholar, April 4, 2006

By	Barrie A. Wilson "Professor, Humanities and R... (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an important book by a first rate archeologist and biblical scholar. Focusing on the family of Jesus, Tabor probes his genealogical antecedents, the contours of life, his personal relationships, mission and subsequent family history. The product of some 40 years working in the field, knowing the primary languages and studying the texts, Tabor investigates Jesus' genealogy, coming up with an innovative way of reconciling the different accounts in Matthew and Luke.

Tabor also provides a fresh perspective on Jesus brothers and their role in Jesus' life. Tabor argues that Clophas (Alphaeus), Joseph's brother, following Jewish law, marries Mary after the death of Joseph and has children with her - four half-brothers (who are named) and at least two sisters. This also allows us to see that Jesus' (half)-brothers are also members of his inner circle of disciples, something Tabor flags as "perhaps the best-kept secret in the entire New Testament" (p.165). I personally found this intriguing and his solution helps resolve a lot of puzzles.

Tabor traces the close connections between the missions of John the Baptizer and Jesus himself; probes the identity of the "beloved disciple;" examines alternative sites for Jesus' crucifixion; and discusses the meaning of "being raised on the third day." There is lot of very important material to reflect on in these chapters as Tabor probes the political aspect of Jesus' mission. One of the most intriguing discussions centers upon why the role of James has been obscured in later Christian tradition. We are only now coming to realize his importance within early Christianity, as the leader par excellence. Tabor investigates what we now know ofJames, asking such questions as: Who was he? What were his beliefs and practices? And how did he envisage his own role in relationship to Jesus?

The Jesus Dynasty is an investigation and those who like questions and a consideration of alternative points of view will find this a very rewarding book. It's a "good read," filled with impressive insights. It's an important contribution and no one seriously interested in early Christianity should ignore it.