★★★★★
I
really didn't know quite what to expect of this book, but I'm such a
first-century history geek that I couldn't resist taking it on. Would it
be a dry history lesson? A bit of speculative guesswork, given that the
historical record is so sparse? As much as a book about an ancient
priest can be considered a page-turner, this one was for me. It was just
an enjoyable read from cover to cover.
Caiaphas
is, of course, the Jerusalem high priest in the time of Jesus. The
unscrupulous, conniving villain who orchestrated Jesus’ death. Or did
he? The Gospels—all four of them—portray Caiaphas as not much more than a
neutral minor player.
But
in the early centuries of Christianity, our church fathers quickly
glommed onto Caiaphas as an antihero. An anonymous collection of "chief
priests and scribes" as the God-killer wouldn't do; a proper villain was
needed. Caiaphas filled the role splendidly, especially as
anti-Semitism developed within the Church.
The
Gospel account of Caiaphas “prophesying” in John 11:52 proved
particularly troubling for the early church. How could such an ungodly
character be a prophet? Origin spends a great deal of time on this
conundrum, finally concluding that somehow, the despicable fellow
managed to rather accidentally utter a prophecy.
Reinhartz
then takes us on an enlightening romp through artwork, literature,
theater, and Hollywood, exposing the dastardly role Caiaphas plays.
Finally, the journey culminates in a more serious look at the Caiaphas
of history, and the priestly role in general. Reinhartz’s visible
fascination with this ancient character has made for a highly readable
account.
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