My series of novels dealing with the start of the church after Jesus died, is slowly coming together. They focus on the documents of the church, which is how we know what we know about them. I anticipate adding more to the four listed here, but have not yet set a schedule for doing so.
Adam Of Jerusalem
Adam ben Zechariah aspires to be a scribe in service to the high priest. He achieves his goal, only to find that he cannot participate in the corruption intended to sully the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Adam cannot embrace the new and growing Christian movement, and become disillusioned with Judaism.
The novel is set in approximately 30-40 A.D., the beginnings of the church. The document it deals with is the mysterious Quelle, or “Q”, which many people today surmise was a source document for some of our gospels.
Available at Amazon.
Doctor Luke’s Assistant
Adam’s son, Augustus, is a young adult in the midst of studies in a government school when Luke, the physician, comes to Israel to write a massive biography of Jesus. He hires Augustus as a research assistant. With both the Roman government and Jewish leadership set against them, they forge on to find and interview witnesses and see the places where Jesus walked. Augustus is a Romanized Jew, as his father was, but finds he must face the claims of Christianity as he researches it.
The novel is set in 63-66 A.D., just before the outbreak of the Jewish rebellion. The document it deals with is the Gospel of Luke.
Available at Amazon.
The Teachings
Both Adam and Augustus find they have work to do. Adam is busy supplying the Romans with various goods, since they pay well and promptly. Slowly, his fellow Jews turn against him. He helps Augustus get an assignment to research and write a manual for the growing and now far-flung church. But their relationship is strained. Suddenly, the Jewish rebellion springs up. Adam tries to protect his extended family while making a living as a trader, though his age is catching up to him, while Augustus feels he must complete his assignment in order to provide for his family.
The novel is set in 66-68 A.D., while the Jewish rebellion is going strong and Rome is fighting back. The document is The Teachings, a church manual that was lost for centuries and re-discovered in 1873.
Available at Amazon.
Preserve The Revelation
About 20 years after the rebellion, Augustus receives a request from the aged John the apostle, to provide help writing a new gospel of Jesus. John is anxious to get this done before he dies and believes Augustus, whose reputation as one who can prepare documents, can help him. Augustus travels to Ephesus with his oldest son, fulfills the task, and returns home. He immediately receives a summons to return to Ephesus and help John with a new document. Taking his youngest son, Daniel, with him, he learns John is now on Patmos. They help the apostle, then return by sea in harsh, winter-like conditions. Daniel is forced to finish the trip home by himself and produce the document.
The novel is set in approximately 95 A.D., about the time that the Domitian persecutions began. The documents involved are the Gospel of John and the Revelation.
Available at Amazon.