Extract

I nThe Nonviolent Messiah , Simon J. Joseph argues that the historical Jesus advocated non-violence, and he highlights the tensions between Jesus’ non-violence and militant, Davidic messianic expectations. Joseph delineates a trajectory in Jewish apocalypticism of a peaceful, non-violent Adamic messianism. The Animal Apocalypse of the Book of Dreams ( 1 Enoch 83–90) and Daniel form the beginning of this trajectory, which he contends influences the Parables of Enoch, Q, Paul, and Gospel traditions.

The opening chapter contains Joseph’s initial discussion of historical Jesus research, Q as the most important historical Jesus source, and the ‘gospel’ of Q as Jesus’ proclamation of good news to the poor. In chapter 2, Joseph addresses three topics often considered to portray a violent Jesus: ‘I have not come to bring peace but a sword’ (Q 12.51), taxes to Caesar, and Jesus as a revolutionary. Regarding each of these topics, Joseph argues for Jesus’ non-violence and advocacy of non-violence (p. 39), which he maintains should be privileged in authenticating Jesus traditions (pp. 47, 50).

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