You Say That I Am: Jesus and the Messianic Problem

What does it mean to say that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah? More importantly, what expectations did Jews have for the promised savior of their people? Was it enough to be a descendant of King David? To perform miracles? To rise from the dead? What, if any, of this criteria did Jesus fulfill and what part of it became an amendment to the job description? The Christian faith has accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah that Judaism promised, and it is a belief that they refuse to shake. But in a world of biblical literalists, who take the Bible as the unedited, uninhibited Word of the Abrahamic God, what they do not know can be damaging to their faith. And perhaps there is a reason they keep it that way. In this critical examination of the alleged exploits of Christ, atheist, historian, and theologian Matthew O'Neil explores the beliefs that gave rise to Christianity, pieces together who the historical Jesus was, and shows how big the Messianic problem really is.