The Jesus Dynasty

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BIBLICAL HERITAGE REPORT
& DISCOVERING THE BIBLE
Creating a better, happier and safer world through research & the distribution
of factual information about our religious & spiritual histories!
http://www.biblicalheritage.org

The Jesus Dynasty
By Jim Myers
f o hvntl ay er bu D .a e
r
Iyu ae’a ed ha aot rJm s d ` i o t Jw ,ad a eeu d yh
Kn fh e s n w s xct b t
g e ’ e e
ao’ e ok The Jesus Dynasty –
s
T br nwbo – you Romans for this claim. Rather than a
will. Tabor has pushed the bar to a new level in church, or a new religion, as commonly
the search for the historical Jesus. The complete understood, he established a royal dynasty
title of the book is The Jesus Dynasty: The drawn from his own brothers and
Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and immediate family. Rather than being the
the Birth of Christianity. Just the title by itself founder of a church, Jesus was claimant to
should be a real conversation starter! a throne. . . .

ao’ o m n n h
s s e
T br cm eti t Preface provide a great “ Jesus Dynasty explores how and why
The
deal of insight into what the reader will discover Christians gradually lost the recognition
in the pages that follow: that Jesus was part of a large family, the
members of which exercised dynastic
Whto e
“ ad w really know about Jesus and leadership among his followers. This
how do we know it? . . . The Jesus Dynasty critical, alternative, story, which survives
presents the Jesus story in an entirely new even in our New Testament records and in
light. It is history, not fiction. And yet it bits and pieces of later Christian tradition,
differs considerably, sometimes radically can be effectively recovered. . . We now
from the standard portrait of Jesus informed have a sharper and more historically
by theological dogma. The Jesus Dynasty reliable understanding of Jesus as he was in
proposes an original version of Christianity, s m
i w t ad l e
h o n i e n p c. a ”
long lost and forgotten, but one that can be
reliably traced back to the founder, Jesus l
hv fl w d a e T br ok i eh
I aeo o e Jm s ao’w r s c t s n e
himself. . . . t r
a 18’w e Iit eh We o pk
le 90s hn fsm t i . btsoe m h
at a Noachide meeting in Tennessee and I
In
“ The Jesus Dynasty you will discover thoroughly enjoyed visiting with him. Just the
that Jesus was the firstborn son of a royal fact that he introduced himself as the last
family – descendant of King David of
a surviving Ebionite created lots of interest and
ancient Israel. He really was proclaimed attracted my attention. Since then I have read
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many of his articles and visited his website on been removed from their midst. James was
numerous occasions. e d o i
etnh oa D v ib ol e Jss
nxi t ryl ai c l d n. eu’
death was not the end of the movement
Research into the life and teachings of the politically nor spiritually. The Jesus
historical Jesus – real Jesus – been a
the has dynasty would continue for over a century
primary focus of the Biblical Heritage Center after his death. But if this is the case, how
from its beginning. We have written about the could James, the heir of the Jesus dynasty,
gap that separates the historical Jesus from the have been almost entirely left out of the
doctrinal Jesus created and promoted by the story of Christian origins – and more
Roman religious institutions of the fourth and important – p27”
why? (.4)
fifth centuries. Every year the gap becomes
wider as more new information is discovered. There are two completely separate and
ii tC r t n i e bde i t
sn sa ts
d t c`hii ie’m edd nh e
For whatever reasons, many scholars seem to be New Testament. One is quite familiar and
more concerned about keeping the institutions became the version of the Christian faith
happy than providing the public with the full known to billions over the past two
implications that recent discoveries may have on millennia. Its main proponent was the
some of the most cherished religious traditions. apostle Paul. The other has been largely
The most important challenge for many will be forgotten and by the turn of the 1st century
the challenge of integrating the historical Jesus A.D. had been effectively marginalized and
into their belief systems. The simple fact is that suppressed by the other. Even within the
h e Jss n t h l i leu’ r t
e a e eoc
t r leu adh t o g aJss c a d s ee documents of the New Testament itself one
by Christian dogma have very little in common – has to look carefully to detect its presence. .
and knowledge of this fact tends to make one i
T ew vr os fh f t ae u ee ah
. h to es n o t ‘ i ’ r qi t
very uncomfortable. I guess its no secret that distinctively different both in values and in
denial is almost always the easiest path. practice. (p. 261)

Tabor focuses on the fact that James (really sn e ah e o
h to e i o t f t a h e
T ew vros fh ‘ i ’r t s of James
Jacob), the brother of Jesus, was the undisputed .
n Pu t a,f or Pu s e i h
ad al Iw so cus, al vro t te ’ sn a
leader of the movement after the death of Jesus. ultimately dominated the movement. This is
This is something that seems to have been easily seen by simply counting the number of
overlooked in most Sunday School books and each of their books in the New Testament –
sermons. Paul 13 – James 1. Tabor addresses this
situation without any hesitation:
“Peter did rise to prominence in the group
of the Twelve (apostles), as we shall see, T ee
“ hr is no evidence that he (Paul) had
but it was James the brother of Jesus who never met or heard Jesus. If he was witness
became the successor to Jesus and the e s o n
o h vn ur ni Jsscuix n
t t eetsr ud g eu’rcio fi
undisputed leader of the Christian at Passover in A.D. 30 he never mentioned
movement. Jesus, their Davidic ruler, had it. His connection to Jesus was based on

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his own visionary experiences in which he Jesus was the son of a man named Pantera,
l m do aes n Jss eea yas
a e
c ie thv ‘ e’eu svrler who either was or became a Roman soldier.
after his crucifixion. Paul believed that his . . ."
c l g hd eno odi d(.6)
ai
‘ ln’ a be f era e.p22r n
If Tabor's book is controversial on the birth
Paul has sometimes been accused of of Jesus, it also raises questions about
developing his version of Christianity by Jesus' early ministry. Tabor suggests there
rwn pn eeii rpgn i s
g l sc
da i uo H ln t o ‘aa’da, e were two messiahs, not one. Tabor took
as if he had to move outside of Judaism for "Nightline" to a second cave on our visit to
his inspiration. This is really a Jerusalem — this time to the East. The
misconception with an oversimplified view Suba Cave, as it is now known, is the site of
of the various forms of Judaism in the a major archaeological dig. Inside the
Roman world. . . Paul developed his views cave are primitive, centuries-old etchings,
fC r t oybsd n i w m scl
sl
o‘hio g’ ae o h o n yta s i which Tabor believes depict the life of John
experiences but he would have been able to the Baptist. The cave also contains
draw upon a complex set of speculative thousands of first-century pottery
Jewish traditions as well. (p. 264-5) shards. Tabor suggests that given the
number of individuals, who may have been
Nightline, the popular ABC New program, baptized in Suba, it's likely that Jesus, not
interviewed Tabor and the interview can be found John, was actually performing the
on their website under -- 'Jesus Dynasty' Author baptisms. "I like to surprise with my
Asks: Were There Two Messiahs? answers," said Tabor.
"Are you ready for this? This is John's
And it's with regard to Jesus' family that area but you know text-wise, we have no
Tabor levels his most controversial claim. record of John baptizing here near Ein
"I'm ready to let the average reader know Kerem and Suba. He's up along the Jordan
what we scholars actually discuss. And if River in the Jordanian wilderness. The
it's shocking, it's shocking. You don't have person we have a record of baptizing here
to accept it. Jesus had a father." Did that is Jesus, Jesus the Baptist. . . ."
mean Tabor does not believe in the Virgin
Birth of Jesus? "I don't," he said. "I think Tabor believes that, contrary to the New
all humans have a human father." Tabor, Testament, Jesus and John the Baptist were
who studied first- and second-century twin Messiahs. He says that early texts
Rabbinic and Greek texts, suggests a anticipated more than one Messiah and that
possible name for the human father of the practice of baptism suggests that they
Jesus. "They begin to call Jesus, 'bar were acting similarly in their respective
Pantera,' son of Pantera," Tabor said. "And ministries. "It hit me, how this would have
we even have an early Greek source. He's electrified the country," Tabor said. "You
a philosopher named Kelsus, who seems to see, all these predictions of two Messiahs,
know a bit more about it. He says that and we've got two Messiahs on the ground,

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operating, one in the north — John the Therefore I (James) judge that we should
priest — one in the south — Jesus the king. not trouble those from among the Gentiles
And they're baptizing thousands of people." who are turning to God. (Acts 15:19)

In addition to Tabor's claims that Jesus had After James was executed, the apostles made the
an earthly father and a fellow Messiah, his decision to select the new leader of the Jesus
book also argues it was Jesus' intention to movement. Their choice was based on who was
build a dynasty on earth. Tabor says that it the next available candidate from the bloodline of
was Jesus' half-brother James who would Jesus -- Simeon. This part of church history
inherit the title role of dynastical king after seems to be unknown to most Christians.
the crucifixion. But again, Carson is
adamant that the title of the book, "The Tabor uses accounts like the one above to create a
Jesus Dynasty," is plain wrong. "The historical model of the early years of Christian
dynasty bit presupposes that there is history. He is only able to construct a partial
continuity. That is, there's succession. But skeletal structure for the period, which has lots of
the New Treatment evidence, such as it is, gaps. Tabor uses the knowledge acquired
is that Jesus is the final king who goes on through many years of scholarly research to fill
ruling and reigning. He doesn't need a some of the important gaps. It must be noted that
dynasty, precisely because he is the he always makes it clear when he does this and he
ongoing king." Carson insists there was no makes no attempt to pass off his position as
plan to build a Jesus dynasty. "No. None," absolute fact. In my opinion this is what elevates
he said. "Jesus was king forever." The book s h v.
ao’ oko nt re l ae o my
T br w r tao el e B sd n
itself is bound to raise questions and arouse knowledge of Tabor and his work, I have am sure
debate. And the argument about the that he would have no problem changing any of
historical Jesus will continue for now. his positions if new facts were discovered.

T br ok a i
As you probably noticed, ao’bo hstss Understandably The Jesus Dynasty has produced
opponents. The arguments that are offered in a number of responses by his fellow scholars. I
opposition are usually based on established will include a few that are found on the Jesus
institutional doctrines and traditions instead of Dynasty website. The first is from Bart
addressing the historical facts presented by Tabor. Ehrman, Chair, Dept. of Religious Studies, The
s
Interestingly, in several cases Tabor’positions University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
are completely based on what is written in New Ehrman has been creating a tremendous amount
Testament. of discussion about early Christianity and the
historical Jesus through his recent books
For example, the apostolic decree of Acts 15 Misquoting Jesus and Lost Christianities.
clearly demonstrates that James is the leader of Ehrman wrote:
the Jesus movement, not Peter.
James Tabor is a rare creature among
academics, combining solid expertise in

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traditional literary and archaeological understanding and sympathy across the
scholarship with creativity and a sense of lines dividing the Abrahamic traditions.
the truly sensational. Many scholars have
undertaken studies of Jesus and his legacy; The next comment is from Steven Collins, Ph.D.,
none has dared advance the boldly Director, The Tall el-Hammam Excavation
provocative theses of The Jesus Dynasty. Project, Jordan; Dean, College of Archaeology &
For sheer breadth of vision and imaginative Biblical History, Trinity Southwest University,
reconstruction, rooted deeply in the Albuquerque, NM concluded:
historical sciences, this promises to be a
book unlike any the public has ever seen. While I have serious disagreements with
many of his historical constructions and
Robert Eisenman, author of James the Brother conclusions, I must say that in The Jesus
of Jesus, wrote: Dynasty Dr. James Tabor has made what
must be considered a remarkable attempt to
A good introduction for the first-time make sense of the ancient evidence for the
and/or non-specialist reader to the real life of Jesus of Nazareth. Of course, those
dynastic situation surrounding the person in the Christian mainstream will cringe and
and family of 'Jesus' and, in particular, the even shriek aloud over much of what Dr.
dynastic situation of his 'brother' James. Tabor has written, but his ideas cannot be
James Tabor takes the people-friendly and considered far-fetched when viewed from a
low-key, highly-accessible approach. He perspective that considers the New
applies his extensive knowledge of Testament gospels to be non-eyewitness,
Christian hermeneutics and interpretation late-1st-century aggregations of oral
and Jewish history and tradition in this lh y
m ei eta rd vrh ra
e blsm n l ee oe t “el e ”
attempt to more accurately portray 'the Jesus. Unlike the painfully absurd
Historical Jesus' in the context of his approaches of recent books such as The Da
Jewish family and Community, as well as Vinci Code, The Jesus Papers and The
against the background of the Messianic Templar Legacy, Tabor, as a serious
Movements of the time. scholar, has kept his wits about him and
broached the subject with the skill of an
A useful and an important first step into the historian, albeit in a purposed attempt to
world of complex theology and push the envelope of Jesus studies to the
controversial archaeological activity for limits of what he considers reasonable
those of Christian and Jewish backgrounds speculation. As one who has spent nearly
alike. Tabor diplomatically weighs in on three decades assembling evidence in favor
long-standing controversies in a manner of the eyewitness nature and historical
that readers of either Jewish or Christian accuracy of the New Testament gospels, I
background may well find conciliatory. One look forward to discussing our differing
hopes that this book will help to increase views this coming October at the 2006
International Symposium on Archaeology

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and the Bible in Jordan. That will be great figure—not the first in a line of rulers, but
fun! the Son of God.

How are traditional Christian organizations c uo am
l ’cnl i ia te n o dc i nt
Boks oc s n s s t et f otn,o re
r cn tT br bo?C r t n y oa’
e t go ao’ ok hii i T dy
ai s sa t s historical fact. Interestingly, it would just take a
title of their book review provides a clue -- The quick study of church history to discover that it
Jesus Dynasty: How to Explain Away the New took several centuries of debate for the Roman
Testament. The author, Darrell Block, opens his church to formulate the doctrines upon which
review with the following words: c
l ’w rs
Boks od are based. A pr t ,a or el l
pa n y“l u
a i suc ” utxl e vr er suc
ls e
eretor s m sec d eey a y or u l e
For Tabor and other scholars, one thing is a
h dentge i l ’conclusions.
t t os’ar wt Boks e h c
clear: The Bible is difficult to believe. What
does a historian do with a book that claims I wish every church that promoted The Passion of
God was born as a human to a virgin, later the Christ would get as actively involved in
died and was resurrected? The simple promoting The Jesus Dynasty as they did the
answer is to explain such problems away. movie. The lives of over two billion people
would never be the same – neither would the
and
Boks od poued the following reaction
l ’w rs rdc
c world. New realities would be created as people
that was posted on petrosbaptistchurch.blogspot – discovered more accurate information about their
biblical heritages. To purchase your copy of The
Of course the purpose of the book isn't to Jesus Dynasty visit our website -- and click on the
"explain away" anything- its purpose is to book cover. I think it would be great if Steven
explain. But when you write for a Spielberg decided to make a movie about The
fundamentalist publication you use hot Jesus Dynasty!
button words or phrases in order to
prejudice your audience against that which
you oppose so that a) it doesn't receive a
fair hearing and b) the "troops" are
mobilized against something they have
never, and will never, read.

fl f l ’a m n , t n h l i
l c g s i s on
O a o Boks ru et Ih k ic s g
statement reveals much about his methodology
and agenda:

Above all, one can see there was no
dynastic line in this movement. All our
earliest sources (what historians are
supposed to rely on the most) show that
Jesus was seen as a unique, exalted

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