Chapter 2: Teachings From the Jesus Movements Summary and Analysis

What Mack calls "Jesus movements" started in the 30s and 40s C.E. in Galilee. They were not coherent religious movements, but were loosely formed around three basic ideas. First was the idea of a perfect society in the form of a kingdom. Second was the notion that any person was eligible to join this "kingdom" regardless of background. Third was the belief that this imagined kingdom should be a diverse place that cuts across all existing political and social boundaries.

While it would seem necessary to begin a discussion of the teachings of Jesus by looking at the life of Jesus himself, this is not possible, Mack explains. Extremely little is known about the historical Jesus except some of the probable facts about his life. This is not a hindrance...