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Barbara Thiering's 1992 bestseller came with a cover statement that seems very difficult to live up to. Along the bottom of the front cover was the claim" The controversial best seller that will change forever your view of Christianity", and that is some claim to make. But unlike many books that offer the same earth shattering revelations, Thierings approach is less controversial that you may think. Herself a Christian theologian, hers is not a mission to undermine anyone's faith or disprove anyone's spiritual beliefs. The view that she wishes to change is the picture of Jesus the Man and the meanings behind his actions. Whilst a reading of the New Testament seems to give you all the information that you need to know about the movements, actions and decisions of the key players in the new religious movement, we must remember that we are viewing their political and social structures through two thousand years of interference. With a greater understanding of the world of New Testament, its people, its organisations, its leaders and its religious views we can build a more historical picture of the era. And that is what is presented here.

One of the things that should be borne in mind is that by the time that any of the gospels were written down, with the possible exception of John, all the followers and religious leaders, politicians and military leaders that make up the biblical narrative are long since dead. As the gospels were written after the "eye-witness" period and the rest of the New Testament is based on the teachings of Paul, who never met Jesus, we are therefore dealing with an account of history as viewed from a generation or two away, which means that even this original account is more about interpretation than fact.

Working for over twenty years with the Dead Sea Scrolls in one hand and the New Testament in the other, Thierings book is an attempt to reconcile what has always been seen as opposite accounts. The conclusion of studying theses works has lead to some startling factors to be brought to light. Basically she reveals that the New Testament works on two levels. On the surface is the tale of the life of an inspirational leader of men who was the inspiration for a whole new faith, all the trappings and stories that we accept as the Christian teachings. But there is more to the gospels than meets the eye. She puts forward that the "Jesus movement" was a type of mystery school with a hidden mission that was only made aware to the inner circle of

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