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THE JUDAS BRIEF
A critical investigation into the arrest
and trials of Jesus and the role of the Jews
by Gary Greenberg

● Table of Contents ● Read an excerpt ● Buy this book ●

● a keen eye for the ways religious and political motives have shaped the story
of Jesus' arrest and execution, and acceptance of certain historical elements of canonical accounts . . . Greenberg presses important historical questions and rightly insists on fresh consideration of the evidence, particularly in view of centuries of Christian hostility toward Jewish people and religion that found inspiration in the Gospel accounts of the passion.
— Catholic Biblical Quarterly

● The book is very accessible in terms of the manner in which it reads and is well-argued, reflecting a revisionary examination of the ancient literature. It deals head-on with many of the problems that have troubled scholars for years, including the difficult and inconsistent stories of Judas Iscariot, the involvement of Jewish authorities in Jesus' death, and the increasing tendency of the gospel authors to find ways to exonerate Pilate. __ April deConick, Rice University

● This well-documented work . . . presents some interesting history. — Library Journal

● This study is a judicious investigation seeking to shed light on some dark corners of the cruciﬁxion narratives in early Christian sources. The Judas Brief should be required reading for both Christians and Jews, as both communities have much to gain from reﬂecting on this crucial topic. — Robert R. Stieglitz, Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, Rutgers University

Judas did not betray Jesus. He tried to save his teacher’s life.

The Judas Brief offers the first full-scale historically-based rebuttal to Gospel accusations that Judas betrayed Jesus and that the Jewish priesthood demanded that Pilate crucify him. Greenberg concludes that in order to stop a Roman massacre of Jews, Judas, acting as Jesus’ representative, negotiated a three-way deal with Pilate, the Jewish High Priest, and Jesus, in which it was agreed that Jesus would remain under house arrest with the High Priest until after the holiday, that his followers would not engage in any demonstrations, and that after the holiday he would be released. But Herod Antipas, the Galilean ruler, feared Jesus’ popularity in Galilee and successfully pressured Pilate to break the agreement and execute Jesus as a threat against Roman order.

Some astonishing revelations from The Judas Brief

● Pre-Gospel Christians did not believe that Judas betrayed Jesus.

● Pontius Pilate’s contemporaries described him as a cruel corrupt murderer who tolerated no disagreement from Jewish leaders and brutally suppressed any protest against his rulings.

● The chief Jewish priests had no political leverage over Pilate and little political support from the Jewish population.

● The only major Jewish leader who felt threatened by Jesus was Herod Antipas, the Roman-appointed ruler of Galilee, who previously beheaded John the Baptist for speaking out against Herod’s wickedness.

● The Gospel of John radically differs from and contradicts the other three Gospels regarding the events leading up to the arrest of Jesus.

Table of Contents
Front piece quotes
Dedication
Notes on Terminology and Citations
1. Jews in the Dock; Pilate in the Choir
2. The Gospels: Fact, Fiction or Speculation
3. Early Non-Gospel Passion Accounts
4. Religious Outlaws in Roman Israel
5. Pilate Outside of the Gospels
6. Was Pilate that Bad?
7. What Do We Really Know About Judas?
8. Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and Priests
9. Jesus in Jerusalem
10. The Arrest
11. The Jewish Proceedings
12. The Roman Proceedings: A Gospel Overview
13. The Roman Proceedings: A Critical Review
14. What Really Happened?
Bibliography

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