Jesus: An Overview

Where did Jesus' beliefs that he was The Son of God and also The Jewish Messiah come from?

What was 'The Cleansing of the Temple' episode really about?

Why did Jesus make no attempt to avoid arrest and indictment after The Last Supper?

Was he really a Gnostic?

These are some of the questions dealt with in this short, accessible work. Following the evidence, this work arrives at some conclusions that are sharply divergent from current orthodox views. Starting with the most likely scenario for his conception and birth, this book charts the major influences on Jesus' education and upbringing, which include Buddhism and Jewish Messianism. It highlights the tension that arises from these in Jesus (as shown in the Gospels) and how this may have been exacerbated by Jesus' apparent adoption of Gnostic beliefs at some point. His belief that he was born to be the Jewish Messiah leads to the major crisis of his life when he attempts to implement his Messianism. This results in his arrest, indictment and crucifixion (one of the most extraordinary events of his life then occurs: his willing acceptance of this development). The evidence is strong that his resurrection was a fabrication: indeed, the evidence is strong that the whole story of Jesus, as shown by the evidence here produced, is significantly at odds with the standard Christian version.