Living in the Time of Jesus of Nazareth

Rebuilding the Past

by Peter Connolly

Profusely illustrated, expert reconstruction of life in Judea and Galilee at the time of Jesus. Themes include the era's political background -- the reign of Herod the Great, the uprising against the Romans, the crushing of Jewish resistance at Masada.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion, Christian

Hardcover

First published October 20, 1983

About the author

Peter Connolly was a renowned British scholar of the ancient world, Greek and Roman military equipment historian, re-constructional archaeologist and illustrator. A research Fellow at Oxford in England. He was a regular contributor to such periodicals as the Journal of Roman Military Equipment and Roman Frontier Studies.

Reviews

[Eloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book describes the history and the living in Palestine from Herod the Great (I Century B.C.) until the Jewish war (I Century A.C.).

The title can be a bit confusing, it is not a book about Jesus (it does not pretends to be), but a book about geography and history of Palestine.

For me, the best parts are the beginning (Herod the Great reign) and the end (Jewish war acording to Josephus and archeology).

Very interesting for everyone interested in Roman history (military or not) or in the living conditions and historic and socioeconomic background in the times of Jesus (although it is not oriented to it).

[Persephone Abbott]

I found this is slight volume rather confusing. In fact I began to wonder what age group this book was aimed at, and read here on good reads that one reader bought a copy in a tourist shop in Jerusalem. Where upon I checked the edition, Steimatzi Ltd after the Oxford one, and things became a little clearer. For instance: "Pilate's reluctance to execute was puzzling. Jesus was accused of being the Messiah. Such a claim was tantamount to treason. Any prefect knew this. The Messiah was their constant nightmare." Not that I am saying the book had to be pro-Christian. Or: "The nails through the forearms tore up through the flesh until they lodged in the wrist. This sort of macabre simplicity is typically Roman. It required no skill on the part of the executioner." Not that I am saying the book had to be pro-Roman. And then: "Herod continued to marry, perhaps in the hope that he might one day find a wife who actually liked him." Not that I am saying that Herod was a total drunken tosser who felt unloved. I expect we are supposed to enjoy the drawings most.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Living in the Time of Jesus of Nazareth" is a Bible background book covering 103 BC to 73 AD. It gave detailed information about the political situation during those years. It also gave very brief overviews of: various political terms; the religious groups (Sadducees, Scribes, Pharisees, Essenes, the Sanhedrin, the Messiah); taxes and coinage; trials and punishments; daily living (weaving and spinning; childhood, education, and games; cooking, baking, and food; betrothal, marriage, and divorce; clothing and jewelry; death and burial; craftsmen and agricultural work); and the Roman military, weapons, and siege techniques.

The author used British terms. He seemed skeptical about the historical accuracy of the New Testament and treated Jesus as just one of the Messiahs of the time. (He spent only one page on Jesus of Nazareth.) However, the illustrations and historical background were nicely done.

The photos, illustrations, and maps were full-color. The photos were of the land and ruins of Biblical sites. The illustrations were of daily living tools and activities and artist reconstructions of various buildings that existed at that time (houses; palaces in Masada, Jericho, Jerusalem; baths; synagogues; the Temple; tombs; Herodium; Antonia Fortress; and various buildings at Masada, at Qumran, and at Caesarea).

[Beverly Dowdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

To travel through Israel and visit historical places including Masada, Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Temple Mount, Jericho and have personal insight from Pastor Tingelhoff of the background in context while walking in the actual footsteps of history then read this book which, while is of really few pages (100) brings home the reality of the physical suffering of Jesus p50 yet victory of his life.. An everlasting story. This book was an unexpected find purchased in The Garden Tomb bookshop in Jerusalem.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the bookstore at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem in 1992. The text is wonderful, though the pictures are what really drew me to it. I especially love all the reconstructed cut-away illustrations of the various buildings from Jesus' time. It's so helpful when you're visiting archeological sites to have a better idea of what the building once looked like. My only complaint about Living in the Time of Jesus of Nazareth is that from the outside it seems like a children's book, but the text is quite advanced.