Retrieving 'the authentic Gospel of Jesus, his first-hand
message to his original followers' (as Géza Vermes suggested that we
try to do) is indeed a worthy goal - and possible.
I agree with Géza that an understanding of the historical
Jesus can be enhanced within the framework understanding the times in which Jesus lived in Israel...
I agree that Jesus was regarded as a prophet of Israel; that
he followed another prophet of Israel, John the Baptist; that He and John both
functioned (to begin with, at least) as somewhat of a renewal movement within
Judaism; that they taught the existence of a true Israel within Israel; and
that they proclaimed the imminent coming of God's Kingdom-scheme.
But I don't agree with Géza that Jesus expected the end of the world within His lifetime (because Jesus Himself admitted that 'of that day and hour knoweth no man, neither the angels, neither the son of man, but my father which is in heaven'); and I don't agree that Jesus' equality with God was more of a later Nicean doctrine (AD325) rather than a truth which was already taught by the church in the first-century (because John's Gospel says 'and the Word was God').
But I don't agree with Géza that Jesus expected the end of the world within His lifetime (because Jesus Himself admitted that 'of that day and hour knoweth no man, neither the angels, neither the son of man, but my father which is in heaven'); and I don't agree that Jesus' equality with God was more of a later Nicean doctrine (AD325) rather than a truth which was already taught by the church in the first-century (because John's Gospel says 'and the Word was God').
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