ETS 2003, Atlanta, Georgia
Excavating Jesus or Inventing a Jesus?
17
flict surrounding Jesus was one of a sociological conflict of world-views. In fact, his entire
life and ministry is dictated by this conflict. It was the Romanization and urbanization of
Israel (particularly in the region of Galilee) begun by Herod the Great (as typified by his
building of Caesaria Maritima) and continued by his son Antipas (as typified by the building
of Tiberias and Sepphoris) versus the Kingdom of God social justice and personal equity
(anti-urbanization) message of Jesus (as typified by the village of Capernaum).
67
If the con-
cept of exegetical layering is central and foundational to Crossan`s contribution, this socio-
logical construct of kingdom conflict based on the comparisons of sociological and politi-
cal interplay of Herod the Great (Caesaria Maritima), Herod Antipas (Sepphoris), and Jesus
(Capernaum) is likewise to Reed.
68
So, despite the fact that the text of Scripture makes sev-
eral direct and indirect assertions that Jesus was literate, those are explained away in the la-
byrinth of exegetical layering and the kingdom conflict construct for the ministry of Je-
sus is supported.
Recently Alan Millard has challenged the entire concept of widespread illiteracy in
Israel during the New Testament era in a thought provoking article.
69
He states, the evi-
dence showing that reading and writing were widely practiced in Jesus` age grows with every
discovery of a new inscription.
70
In supporting the assertion that there is still too little evi-
dence from archaeology to support categorical statements of certainty in these areas, Millard,
67
Ibid. See the chapter, How to Build a Kingdom (51-97). See also Ekkehard W. Stegemann and Wolfgang
Stegemann. The Jesus Movement: A Social History of its First Century. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress
Press, 1995, and Wolfgang Stegemann, Bruce J. Malina and Gerd Theissen (ed`s). The Social Setting of Jesus
and the Gospels. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress Press, 2002). Also a foundational text for this concept is
Bruce J., Malina. The Social Gospel of Jesus: The Kingdom of God in Mediterranean Perspective. (Minneapo-
lis, Minnesota: Fortress Press, 2001). Also see, Bruce J. Malina and Richard L. Rohrbaugh. Social-Science
Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress Press, 1992).
68
See Reed, Galilean Jesus, esp., p. 160-69. He also recently lectured at UCLA on this particular subject.
69
Alan Millard. Literacy in the Time of Jesus: Could His Words Have Been Recorded in His Lifetime? Bib-
lical Archaeology Review 29:4 (July/Aug 2003).
70
Ibid., p. 38.