ChatGPT said:
James D. Tabor, a scholar of early Christianity and ancient Judaism, has a distinctive and often controversial view of early Christianity that emphasizes the Jewish roots of the movement and distinguishes sharply between Jesus and Paul. Here are the core elements of his view:
1. Jesus as an Apocalyptic Jewish Messiah
Tabor sees Jesus as a deeply Jewish figure—an apocalyptic prophet in the tradition of figures like John the Baptist. Jesus preached about the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God, which Tabor interprets as a real, political transformation rather than a purely spiritual event.
- Jesus did not intend to start a new religion.
- He saw himself as restoring Israel and expected divine intervention in history.
- Tabor argues that Jesus may have had royal (Davidic) and priestly (Zadokite) lineage.
2. The “Jesus Dynasty”
In his book The Jesus Dynasty, Tabor proposes that Jesus was part of a dynastic movement, possibly related to other figures like James the Just, his brother. After Jesus’ death, the leadership of the movement passed to James, who maintained a Torah-observant Jewish-Christian community in Jerusalem.
- James’ role is often marginalized in traditional Christian narratives.
- Tabor sees this early group as the true heirs of Jesus’ vision.
3. Paul as the “Founder” of Christianity
Tabor draws a sharp distinction between Jesus’ original movement and what Paul later preached.
- Paul, in Tabor’s view, transformed Jesus from a Jewish messiah into a divine figure whose death and resurrection brought salvation by faith.
- Paul introduced Hellenistic and mystery religion elements foreign to Jesus’ message.
- Tabor calls Paul’s version a “radical reinterpretation” or even a departure from what Jesus and his original followers believed.
This makes Paul, in Tabor’s view, more the founder of Christianity than Jesus himself.
4. Lost and Suppressed Texts
Tabor has an interest in apocryphal and lost gospels, such as the Gospel of Thomas or Gospel of the Hebrews, which he believes preserve more authentic traditions about Jesus than the canonical Gospels, especially the later ones like John.
5. Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection
Tabor was involved in the controversial Talpiot Tomb theory, which claims to have found the family tomb of Jesus, including ossuaries (bone boxes) with names like “Jesus son of Joseph.” While not definitively proving anything, Tabor believes this challenges traditional resurrection accounts and supports the idea of a reburied, not risen, Jesus.
Summary
Tabor’s view of early Christianity is:
- Jesus was a Jewish messianic reformer, not divine.
- Paul fundamentally altered Jesus’ message.
- The true early Christian movement was led by Jesus’ family and remained Torah-observant.
- Christianity as we know it is largely a Pauline invention rather than a direct continuation of Jesus’ own teachings.
Would you like a comparison between Tabor’s view and mainstream Christian or scholarly views?
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yes
ChatGPT said:
Here is a concise comparison between James Tabor’s view of early Christianity and mainstream scholarly and Christian views, across key categories:
| Category | James Tabor’s View | Mainstream Christian View | Mainstream Scholarly View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesus’ Identity | Apocalyptic Jewish messiah, not divine; reformer within Judaism | Son of God, divine, second person of the Trinity | Apocalyptic prophet or moral teacher, rooted in Second Temple Judaism |
| Purpose of Jesus’ Mission | Restoration of Israel, establishment of God’s Kingdom on Earth | Salvation of humanity through atonement and resurrection | Preached imminent Kingdom of God; debated whether political or spiritual |
| View of Paul | Founder of “Christianity” as a distinct religion; radically reinterpreted Jesus | Apostle to the Gentiles, interpreter of Jesus’ message | Critical figure; debated whether he betrayed or continued Jesus’ teachings |
| Resurrection | Possibly a reburial or misinterpreted event; not a literal bodily resurrection | Central historical and theological event; bodily and miraculous | Widely debated: views range from symbolic to historical to mythic |
| Early Church Leadership | Led by James (Jesus’ brother); remained Torah-observant; sidelined by Paul | Peter and Paul are foundational; James less emphasized | James recognized as an early leader in Jerusalem; influence often understated |
| Christian Origins | A split from Judaism caused by Paul’s reinterpretation | Fulfillment of Judaism, forming a new covenant | A Jewish sect that evolved into a distinct religion over time |
| Use of Apocryphal Texts | Important for recovering suppressed voices and lost traditions | Not canonical; often viewed as heretical or misleading | Valuable for understanding diversity in early Christianity |
| Gospels | Synoptic Gospels are closer to original Jesus; John is theological fiction | All four are divinely inspired and accurate | Mark is earliest and most historical; John is seen as theological elaboration |
Key Contrasts
- Tabor sees a divergence between Jesus’ original Jewish movement and Paul’s Hellenized reinterpretation, effectively arguing for a “lost Christianity” that was eclipsed.
- Mainstream Christianity holds a continuity between Jesus and Paul, viewing the New Testament as a unified, divinely inspired revelation.
- Mainstream scholarship is more nuanced: it acknowledges diversity in early Christianity and often agrees with Tabor that Paul reshaped the movement, but it doesn’t necessarily endorse Tabor’s conclusions (e.g., about the Talpiot tomb or dynastic succession).