Today, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook continue their interesting Professional Historians’ look at the person of Jesus. I don’t buy all of their conclusions, of course, but I think they do a good job of placing the gospels in the historical and cultural context in which they arose. Permit me to again recommend Tom Holland’s phenomenally insightful look at the staggering historical impact of the gospel on world history, DOMINION: HOW THE CHRISTIAN REVOLUTION REMADE THE WORLD. He is an extraordinarily gifted writer.
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One Response
You posted these a while ago but just wanted to thank you for sharing these. Even though Tom Holland is a skeptic, I greatly appreciate his honesty and intelligence in examining the historical figure of Jesus. I think Holland is spot on in identifying the very significant positive impact that Jesus has had on human history.
Like you, I have differences with some of Holland’s conclusions. Holland attributes the “strangeness” of Jesus to Jesus being an extremely wise, articulate, charismatic, savvy and ambitious human – but that’s it.
On the other hand, I believe that when Jesus preached the kingdom of heaven as a “kingdom of virtue” (Holland’s words), that Jesus had it right. Virtue is of God and comes from God. So I believe in Jesus as the gate, the shepherd, the way, the truth, and the life, as Jesus has claimed.
Regardless – I am very appreciative and impressed with Holland’s scholarship overall. Thanks again!