Epilogue

The body of this short treatise on the life of Jesus, as explained in the Prologue, has relied heavily on (1) the four gospels of the New Testament; (2) modern historical scholarship buttressed by relatively recent discoveries of parchments found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945 and by the voluminous “dead sea scrolls” found in caves near ancient Qumran in 1947; and (3) the view obtained from material sometimes called “wisdom writings” and from those claiming to be able to read the so-called “akashic records”. I have also found the books that have been cited by Marcus Borg, Hugh Schonfield, James Tabor, Elaine Pagels and Paula Fredricksen were immensely helpful in developing the ideas contained and conclusions reached herein. Often, but not always, I have left it up to the reader to decide which of these sources is most believable. It should be noted, however, that I believe all of these references are needed to get a well-rounded picture of the life and times of this man, Jesus of Nazareth. My hope is that a synthesis of the views expressed in all of these sources will serve to enliven and enrich your perception of what, many will agree, was the most remarkable man to ever have lived amongst us. It is also my hope that not only will your perceptions be enlivened and enriched by this man who lived and died more than two thousand years ago, but that as Christians it will also enliven your hearts and spirits so that His life and spirit may dwell more fully each day within each of us so that we as can truly say with St. Paul, “It is no longer I who lives but Christ which lives within me.” (Galatians 2:20).