This book was written twenty years ago by Ellis Rivkin, then Professor of Jewish History in Cincinnati. He is a Jew by background and he brings Jewish material and fresh perspectives to the study of the New Testament and the historical times of Jesus. As the title suggests the book concentrates on the combination of Roman political power and Jewish religious power in their action which culminated in the death of the Lord Jesus. He seeks to build up a pciture from the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus. The result of this analysis is illuminating and very helpful. He shows the underlying beliefs existing in the four main religious parties present among the Jews in those days with which Jesus entered into contention. The differences and agreements between these parties are enumerated and their growing antagonism to Jesus as He seemed to them to be disturbing the status quo which had been brought about by a tacit agreement between the political power of the Roman conquerors and the religious beliefs and aspirations of the Jewish people. The doctrine of two realms enabled three of the four religious parties to live in uneasy peace with the fact of imperial Rome. They were able to keep entirely separate Caesar and God, each in their own place and each in their own realm. Danger threatened every time a ‘charismatic’ leader emerged disturbing that fragile coexistence. The author of the book suggests that Jesus was ‘the charismatic of charismatics’. There had been many before Him, but not of His quality and power. The distinction between religious power and that of the Procurator of Rome, Pontius Pilate, is demonstrated. Josephus indicates that the religious Sanhedrim did not possess the power judicially in political matters and the fact is that Jesus by His claims inferred that the doctrine of the two realms was error and that they could not be kept separate. This book is a helpful one in opening up the historical backdrop in which the Lord Jesus ministered and died and rose again. The political dealing, the compromised religious leaders, the manipulated populace of Jerusalem all have their part in what it was that crucified Jesus. Behind the ‘who’ there was a ‘what’ which led to His execution at the hands of the puppet of Rome and him supported by the weakened and compromised religious Jewish leaders of the day of each party and finally backed by a fickle populace. This book is particularly helpful to those who desire a greater understanding of the on going battle the Lord Jesus had with the powers of His day.
