LimmudFest New Orleans 2018

How can we explain the ever-rolling stream of contradictions over whether Jesus was a pacifist, militant, prophet, reformer, apocalyptist, healer, magician, exorcist, philosopher, or even outright myth? Why do researchers so easily lapse into seeing Jesus more as they are than as he was? (Is this analogous to peering down a well at a “person below” who is only our self-image reflected?) Shouldn't Jews be able to enlighten Christians concerning “Gospel Dynamics”--those techniques by which Gospel editors molded a Jesus figure addressing their own needs decades well after Jesus's own ministry? Discuss these questions with Michael Cook, the only New Testament scholar who teaches at a rabbinical seminary.