The Earliest Footprint of Jesus: What We Have Heard by Daniel G. Slawter

"Before the Myth: Book 1" introduces readers to the dual figures of Jesus the Nazarene and Paul the Apostle, contrasting their worldviews, attitudes, and values. Jesus was a rural rabbi from the Land of Israel. Paul was raised in one of the leading Hellenic academic communities of his day. The story opens with a famous scene in the Book of Acts: Paul at the Are-op′agus hill in Athens. The world of Jesus is further investigated by research into his likely attitudes towards the divinity and varying socioeconomic conditions on the ground. Palestine's social makeup, archaeology, and the crucial impact of mass illiteracy on the life and times receive special emphasis. The subject of orality is enormously important for gaining a proper understanding of numerous historical themes related to Jesus and his mission. The book closes with multiple chapters focused on this rarely mentioned motif.