Jesus and Utopia : Looking for the Kingdom of God in the Roman World

This study of the historical Jesus focuses on the context of ancient Utopian thought and Utopian communities. It covers the Essene community and Philo's discussion of the Therapeutae, and argues that only ancient Utopian thought accounts for the lack of explicit political messages in Jesus' message of the kingdom of God. The book examines ancient Utopias, biblical Utopias, ideal communities in early Judaism and Jesus's preaching of the kingdom of God in Utopian context. It also provides a dramatic new context for understanding Jesus.