Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

By Reza Aslan

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A lucid, intelligent page-turner” (Los Angeles Times) that challenges long-held assumptions about Jesus, from the host of Believer
 
Two thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the “Kingdom of God.” The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was executed as a state criminal. Within decades after his death, his followers would call him God.
 
Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, Reza Aslan sheds new light on one of history’s most enigmatic figures by examining Jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived. Balancing the Jesus of the Gospels against the historical sources, Aslan describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet rife with contradiction. He explores the reasons the early Christian church preferred to promulgate an image of Jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary. And he grapples with the riddle of how Jesus understood himself, the mystery that is at the heart of all subsequent claims about his divinity.
 
Zealot yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of Jesus’ life and mission.
 
Praise for Zealot
 
“Riveting . . . Aslan synthesizes Scripture and scholarship to create an original account.”—The New Yorker
 
“Fascinatingly and convincingly drawn . . . Aslan may come as close as one can to respecting those who revere Jesus as the peace-loving, turn-the-other-cheek, true son of God depicted in modern Christianity, even as he knocks down that image.”—The Seattle Times
 
“[Aslan’s] literary talent is as essential to the effect of Zealot as are his scholarly and journalistic chops. . . . A vivid, persuasive portrait.”—Salon
 
“This tough-minded, deeply political book does full justice to the real Jesus, and honors him in the process.”—San Francisco Chronicle
 
“A special and revealing work, one that believer and skeptic alike will find surprising, engaging, and original.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
 
“Compulsively readable . . . This superb work is highly recommended.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9780679603535

Reza Aslan

Reza Aslan (he/him) is a writer and scholar of religions. He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and 4 kids, so he knows a thing or 2 about trying to solve conflicts. Reza always wanted to be a writer. But his mom told him he had to get a "real job" first. So, he spent years at school earning a bunch of degrees so he could become a scholar of religions. Now, he gets to do both of those things: study religion and write books! A recipient of the prestigious James Joyce Award, Reza has written several internationally bestselling books, including the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. Reza is also an Emmy- and Peabody-nominated scholar and public intellectual who tries to help people make sense of the sometimes nonsensical things we all do in the name of religion and politics.

Reviews for Zealot

[anandrajan_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Despite earnest pronouncements, there's nothing in this book about the resurrection which is surely the main course? This is more a book of history when I wanted HIStory: did something ontologically dramatic happen to Jesus? Why did his followers go to their deaths refusing to recant the resurrection?

[jok_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Worthwhile for the context of Jesus among other radical teachers of the time, and for the refutation of other prominent 'historical Jesus' theories currently in vogue. Reccommended.

[blueberry-29 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Double talk, fictional dialogue (I assume because of lack of citations), totally twists the Bible upside down and backwards. Crap.

[john_warner-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Aslan's well-researched nonfiction work portrays the historical Jesus against the background of the Jewish zealot movements prevalent in Jerusalem and Galilee at the time. The book reads well since research notes are located at the book's end; therefore, does not slow the reading. The information presented does challenge some of the preconceptions that Christians have developed throughout the century; however, reading it was a worthwhile endeavor.

[jasoncomely-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Riveting stuff. Reza knows how to write.

[addunn3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author details the historical life of Jesus and compares it to the biblical version. Very interesting study that should give the reader some new insights into our Christian beliefs.

[birdo82 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Though not really contributing anything new to scholarship, Zealot nevertheless acts as an effective crash course in studies of the New Testament, a refresher for the initiated and a valuable challenge for those who are not.

[mantvius-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One more researcher who studies antique documents in their original languages.

The book describes who was Jesus of Nazareth, what did he say, and what did he do. However, these descriptions are not those that most of the people would expect. The historical Jesus of Nazareth, who lived in Palestine in the 1st century, is very much different from the one depicted by christian mythology. The New Testament, despite of its flaws and contradictions, gives us a lot of information about Jesus of Nazareth. However, most of the people who consider themselves "christians", have never read the New Testament, and have no choice but to rely on the wide-spread mythology.

[pontiffmaximus · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very readable but Aslan makes broad assumptions that lack credibility.

[casabooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Don't try to read it aloud or to study for a quiz on historical facts. Gahhh - it's best to skim over all the difficult names, rulers, historical factoids. I don't think anyone I know would ever be that absorbed in info that exacting.
However, I DO recommend reading it.
Don't torture yourself with all the details in the first chapters, but read them just well enough to get a feeling for those centuries and some understanding of the politial, social climate of the centuries surrounding Jesus of Nazareth.
I'm not a student of the Bible, but know most of the 'stories' and familiar with most things mentioned. However, never mused about what would have been known historically of the man who has such a tremendous influence on the world.
Author has laid out an understandable view of how Jesus fit with life at that time and then follows with a brief tracing of how Christianity evolved in coming centuries.

[medievalmama_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating information about the zealots and the bandit wars that drove Rome to destroy the Temple and as many of the Jews as possible. Seems to leave out inconvenient material, however, that might make the conclusions less clear for the author.

[joelklee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this to be a very engaging and readable story. As a work of non-fiction it is much more problematic. The author does not cite his assertions. The book is also full logical inconsistencies - for example after a painstakingly explaining the inability of knowing anything about the historical Jesus from biblical texts, the author relies heavily on those text for two thirds of the book. Regardless, I love a good story and found this an exciting read. More scholarly references are found in the back of the book. More in-depth reviews are found throughout the good reads community.

[noblechicken · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Way better than that tripe "Killing Jesus".

[bleached_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can see why this book would have many Christians up in arms but Aslan's prolific research and points make a good argument about what the life of Jesus of Nazareth may have really been like. The story he unfolds is much more believable than the stories heard in churches and draws to light many things in the Bible that I'm sure even the most pious Christian would know. A book that is truly eye-opening and fascinating.

[terri.f · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First, a disclosure. I am a Christian. One of my favorite books is "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. Attorney/journalist Strobel starts out as an atheist and, after examining the evidence for Jesus in a trial like approach, becomes a Christian. Aslan's book is exactly the opposite. He was a Christian as a teenager and leaves Christianity after his own investigation. Aslan is a religious studies professor so, he does have credibility in this arena. I do commend him for having the courage to take a controversial stand although most of his ideas are not new.I had expected to read about the Historical Jesus and get a better understanding of who he was. Even the author admits that the Jesus of history is much more compelling than Jesus the Christ. Yet, I didn't end the book with a greater understanding of who Jesus was. I did get a better sense of the times he and the early apostles lived in. And to be fair, the subtitle is the life and TIMES of Jesus of Nazareth. But, I think structuring this book differently would have made a big difference. There is very little on Jesus and more on the political times.I would recommend reading this book side-by-side with The Case For Christ--you will be able to see both sides of the issues raised to make your own decision.

[elekstrom-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mr. Aslan doesn't reveal anything new or revolutionary about Jesus, but it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend the book for those wishing to learn something about the historical Jesus. Not as good as Crossan or Wright's books, but good.

[jskupperman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Due to attention this book received from the now infamous FOX news interview, Reza Aslan's _Zealot_ has received perhaps more than its 15 minutes of fame. This is not to say Zealot is a bad book. It is not. In fact. It is a very good book. However, it is not the bombshell dropping, revelation about the life of Jesus some have made it out to be. Zealot is simply a history of the life, and the context of that life, of Jesus. There are no earth shattering revelations about Jesus's life in this book. There are no highly controversial theories in this book. What you will find in Zealot is a concise history of Jesus, and the history in which that history takes place. You will read about all of the wars, all of the politics, the economic woes, and the religious turmoil and pro- and anti-Temple Jewish sects. You will see Jesus acting as one of any number of would-be messiahs during this time. You will see the later theology separated from the historical events. And if you've read on the life of the historical Jesus, you will see that none of what Aslan says is new. I would suggest that if you've spent any time researching the life of the historical Jesus, you will have little need for this book. Except for one thing: it is immensely readable. This is because Zealot is written as a narrative, not an academic history. There are no difficult words, no academic jargon, there are not footnoted citations. Even the notes are easy to read. And that is what makes Zealot a good book; not some original content, but its readability. So, if you are looking for another book on the life of the historical Jesus, this is not a bad one to pick up. If you are just beginning to look into the life of the historical Jesus, this is a good book with which to begin.

[kaymackey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Disclosure: I received a free advance uncorrected proof of Zealot by Reza Aslan courtesy of Random House, via GoodReads First Reads.

Zealot is not so much as biographical account of "The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth", as it is billed in the subtitle, as it is an in-depth historical exploration of the political and cultural climate during which Jesus' ministry took place. As Aslan admits, there are few sources that reveal much factual certainty about the historical Jesus. Much of the biographical detail, such as whether Jesus' mother was unmarried when he was born, is purely speculative from minute historical or Biblical clues. Nevertheless, Aslan does an admirable job of illuminating the background of Jesus' ministry, his possible sources of inspiration, and why people may have responded to him in the ways that they did in that historical context. Aslan also clears up a number of common misinterpretations of Gospel passages, such as the probable original meaning of references to Jesus as the Son of God that were later reread to establish the basis for Jesus' divinity. The final chapters of Zealot are concerned with the early church in the decades following Jesus' death, and although they are interesting in their own right and shed some further light on how Jesus' mission was either carried on or distorted by his followers, these sections probably belong in a separate work about early Christianity, as they do not adhere strictly to the topic of Jesus or his lifetime.

Not strictly a layman's text, Zealot requires a basic understanding of academic scripture study, ancient history, and theological terminology, as it might otherwise be a slightly difficult read. Readers who are interested in a more introductory work on the search for the historical Jesus would be best advised to start elsewhere, as this is more a scholarly than a popular work.

[tloeffler_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the more fascinating books about the historical Jesus that I've ever read. Reza Aslan makes an excellent case for his theory that Jesus was just another itinerant preacher, treated the same as all the others, who somehow had the followers with more tenacity than others. Particularly interesting to me was the information on Paul, who comes across as pretty much the con man I always thought he was. My only criticism would be that his notes at the end on each chapter could have almost been classified as additional chapters.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

his book provides an interesting and reasonably convincing theory of what sort of person the historical Jesus might have been, given the political and religious trends of his time. Those with an interest in recent Biblical scholarship are not likely to be astonished by any of Aslan's hypotheses, but he does bring together various strands into a believable case. Those who are offended by discussion of Jesus as a man will be offended, and those who are offended by anything that a Muslim says will be even more offended. Too bad for them: it is an interesting read, particularly if you consider what happened to the idea of Jesus in the centuries that followed.

[dickmanikowski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing examination of the life of Jesus in the historical context of His time. The author delves into the turbulent world of Palestine during a period in which both the Roman conquerors and the powerful hierarchy that controlled the Temple were trying to keep a lid on an increasingly agitated population. He also explores the power struggle between St. Paul and the Apostles over the message that eventually evolved into Christianity.

[terribooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have mixed responses to this book. On the one hand, I think the first section includes a superb explanation of the difference between facts and truth, something I always struggle with when I lead a bible class. I may just copy those pages, the author does it so well. He also does a wonderful job in describing what the gospels are, i.e, not a history or biography of Jesus. His description of the political climate in Palestine during the decades surrounding Jesus' life is spell-binding; nothing really new to me, but written in a way to really keep my interest and attention. Aslan obviously approaches the story of Jesus with his own lens, and you can probably find scholars who agree with his premises and conclusions, even scholars of strong Christian faith. But you don't have to use that lens. There is a lot that we will never know, and to a certain extent, our faith is going to tell us it doesn't matter. It's Jesus the Christ, not the historical Jesus, that is the subject of our faith. But I found his discussion of the rift between St Paul and St James particularly difficult to swallow, and feel he's not well-supported by the scholarship. It seems sensationalized to me.This book would be a reasonable, digestible introduction to some of the methods and sources of New Testament scholarship for an interested layperson. But it must be taken with a grain (or two) of salt.

[etxgardener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book from the library solely because so many people were outraged by it. I am far from a Biblical scholar (although the author, despite all the protests about him as the author, is), nor am I an expert on ancient history., so I found this take on the historical Jesus to be extremely interesting.Is Aslan right? Or is he wrong? Who knows? But he does have an interesting theory that deserves a non-emotional discussion.

[thesmellofbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Clears a lot of things up. Puts Jesus in the context of his faith and times. Excellent book and stirring narrative.

[lycomayflower · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Aslan lays out the history of first century Palestine, identifies the historical facts about Jesus of Nazareth of which historians can be reasonably sure, traces the differences among the four gospels, and explains what those differences meant for the developing Christian church. Fascinating stuff, quite well told. Aslan makes the history interesting, and his exegesis of biblical stories is always clear. He also manages to sort the history deftly without just dismissing the religious philosophy out of hand. I wish he'd kept going beyond the Council of Nicaea, but that clearly would have been beyond the scope of this book. Recommended as an introduction to theories about the historical Jesus.

[st5croixsue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a brilliant scholarly history of first century Palestine, the Roman occupation, and Jesus, the man. It also touches on the mythmaking of the early Christian church in the decades. This is a thought provoking and paradigm shifting look at a very significant slice of history.

[rosielibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A scholarly work that is still easily understood by the layperson, Aslan reveals a more honest Jesus and the times in which he lived, particularly the political climate. He reveals Jesus to be a very dangerous subversive presence and corrects many of the assumptions Christians have had for centuries about the man who they believe to be the Son of God. Fascinating and electrifying.

[adelgranado · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4 stars. Really interesting perspective on the historical context of the life of Jesus. Not sure I agree with the basic premise, but I had a good time reading it.

[nmele_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Basically, this is a popular summary of the current state of scholarship about Jesus, based largely on the work of members of the Jesus Seminar. Hard to see what all the fuss was about.

[pennyanne_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book aims to paint a picture of the historical Jesus as a man (one among many at the time who were called messiahs) who tried to change the system and overthrow the Roman stranglehold of Palestine. While I don't necessarily disagree with this take on Jesus' life the book did bother me in a number of ways - it purported to be scholarly without actually being scholarly (no footnotes, just general chapter notes at the end of the book); it was disjointed and difficult to follow timeline wise; it made no suggestion as to why Jesus' movement managed to survive after his death whereas no other Messianic movement took long-term hold anywhere; it dismisses much of the Bible as "unbelievable" and "impossible" and then blithely accepts other parts because they fit with the author's theory. I was entertained by this book and I did learn some things which I hadn't previously known (eg. there almost definitely was never a slaughter of the innocents) but it is a book which must be taken with several grains of salt - particularly, I think, if you are like me and not steeped in studies of the bible and its history.