Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The religion of Christianity claims that Jesus was the divine Son of God who came down to earth to become flesh and dwell among men. His crucifixion, according to Christians, was an event with a cosmic theological meaning: Jesus died for our sins, as God offered salvation to all humankind through his sacrifice. #2 The historical Jesus is a concept developed by Western scholars who have been engaged in the higher criticism of the Bible since the nineteenth century. They believe they can read the Old and New Testaments independent of church dogma and in the light of textual, linguistic, historical, and archeological data. #3 The beginning of wisdom about the historical Jesus is to understand the world in which he lived. It was a troubled world defined by an unequal dichotomy: the mighty Roman Empire versus the tiny Jewish people. #4 The Romans went about their rule of Judaea in a different manner than other conquered nations. They installed a client king, Herod the Great, who was both a brutal tyrant and a great builder. The Jews, however, did not accept Roman rule, and some even attempted to overthrow it.