by Craig A. Evans
Craig Evans provides an overview of archeological discoveries that give insight into the world in which Jesus lived. Written for non-experts, the book consists of five chapters that examine different topics. One is Sepphoris, which during Jesus’ day was a bustline city near Nazareth. Findings there deconstruct stereotypes of Jesus growing up in a rural backwater. Another chapter confirms the existence of synagogues in Jesus’ day, something that some scholars doubted. A third chapter argues that more people were literate in that time period than commonly held. A fourth chapter examines archeological evidence related to the Temple and priestly establishment. The final chapter examines burial customs to show that it is likely that Jesus was, in fact, buried after his death, contra some scholars who claim his body would have been left to decay. In addition to the main chapters, there are three appendices (debunking claims that Jesus’ family tomb had been found, examining evidence about Jesus’ appearance, and discussion questions).
While some readers may find the style a bit too polemical, Evans makes a strong case that archeological findings, while not “proving” the historicity of lives and events depicted in of the gospels, at least establish their plausibility. Readers should find the discussion questions, endnotes, and list of suggested readings helpful for digging deeper into the topic.
Review by Paul Lewis, Professor and Chair of Religion, Mercer University, Macon, GA