Makes the powerful case that the conventional understandings of Jesus and the origins of Christianity are wrong: that Jesus' core teachings were not a break from Jewish beliefs and that Jesus was embraced by many Jews as the Messiah of the ancient Jewish texts.

"Peter Schäfer, Winner of the 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation" Peter Schäfer is Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Judaic Studies and Director of the Program in Judaic Studies at Princeton University. His books include Mirror of His Beauty: Feminine Images of God from the Bible to the Early Kabbalah (Princeton) and Judeophobia: Attitudes toward the Jews in the Ancient World, which has been translated into several...

Comparison of the fundamental meanings of faith in Judaism and in Christianity.

"This volume seeks to diminish conflict between Jews and Christians as it opens interfaith diologue and eases tensions from mistakes in the past. It is designed for Christian clergy and laypeople to expand their knowledge about the Jewish aspects and roots of their faith. The book explores misconceptions, unintentional anti-Semitism in liturgy or interpretation,a nd beautiful comparisons and helps readers understand the difference between the historical...

Presents historical evidence suggesting that Jesus was a mortal man, a young genius who believed himself to be the Messiah and deliberately and brilliantly planned his entire ministry according to the Old Testament prophecies--even to the extent of plotting his own arrest, crucifixion and resurrection.--From publisher description.