The appendix is divided into three main
parts. The first
is a brief history of the New Testament canon, outlining the literary evolution
of a Jewish nationalist into a Christian divinity. The second part brings
in a broader range of literary and historical source material, establishing
a theological and political context for the Jesus of history. The third
part examines in detail the evidence that the "false Joakenen" of
the commentarii is the Jesus of The New Testament.
The appendix can be read as a continuous narrative
(recommended), or the evidence can be examined
on a case-by-case basis. Each of the three main parts is divided into
chapters. To navigate between chapters, use the appropriate
button at the end of the chapter. To go selectively to any chapter, bring
up the table of contents by clicking
"Appendix" on the navigation bar at the beginning and end of
each chapter.
The arguments in the appendix have been constructed from primary
sources -- ancient historians, the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament,
The Dead Sea Scrolls, and an array of non-canonical Jewish and Christian scriptures.
To eliminate the hunt for footnotes, these primary sources are cited either directly in the text, or in parenthetical abbreviations in the text. A
list of abbreviations for
these sources can be accessed via the "Abbreviations" link
on the navigation bar at the end of each appendix chapter.
Where secondary sources are discussed, the authors and titles
are given in the text.
To read excerpts
from the appendix, click the "Read Excerpts" button, below.
Finally,
for readers who do not require an introduction to the historical Jesus,
or who are simply interested in going directly to the evidence, the button below
links to a summary
of the major historical and theological issues raised by the commentarii,
with links to the relevant material. Readers who are not familiar with intertestamental
literature, or who have not yet read the commentarii and intend to,
are advised not to click the button.