The Betrayal: The Lost Life of Jesus: A Novel

By Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear

Book Overview

There is an alternate story of the life of Jesus. One the early Church fathers found so menacing they outlawed the books that documented it, ordered them burned, and threatened anyone found copying them with death. International bestselling authors and award-winning archaeologists Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear put more than thirty years of exhaustive research into this fascinating novel. In A.D. 325, Brother Barnabas is a student of the ancient holy texts. These books paint a portrait of Jesus that is radical, heretical, and irresistible. In the writings of Mary Magdalene, Phillip, and James, Barnabas finds clues to a secret he must protect at all costs. But the Ecumenical Council of Bishops has just declared his cherished books "a hotbed of manifold perversity." Emperor Constantine has decreed that the documents must be burned and that anyone found copying them will be executed as a heretic. Barnabas's monastery is attacked. Brother Barnabas flees with his trusted companions, but they are being followed, for the True Church cannot allow them to find the most sacred place on Earth. In fact, it will do anything to stop them...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765315467
• ISBN13: 9780765315465
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Forge Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.1" x 1.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

The Betrayal: The Lost Life of Jesus: A Novel

Wow! This is a must read. Very thought provoking, active and engaging. I could not put this book down. An amazing account of the last few days of Jesus' life -- interwoven with another story a few hundred years later. What happened during those years was absolutely critical to our access of information. It's all presented in a novel form. I'm now getting copies of some of the references so that I can read the accounts that I've been missing all of my life. This book is an enrichment to the lives of all thinking people, since it brings to light many little known portions of history. I was not a history buff until I read the Gears. Thank you for making our history so much more enjoyable! It's not just dry facts, it's all about real people.

Exceptional read for all!

Regardless of your religious beliefs, this book will provide you an entertaining education on the life of Christ, early Christianity and especially the secrets of Christianity and how the story of Christ has been altered by history. Based upon excellent research, the authors build the story of Christ and demonstrate how that story has been manipulated throughout history to shape public opinion and solidify the supremacy of the Catholic Church. Its truly a worthwhile read for all!

Amazing book!!!

I love books like this and This one is amazing. These author have footnotes in the back of the book so you know what there talking about in the story. AMAZING!!!

Excellent book!

This book was extremely well researched. The footnotes were interesting & informative. It was a good story intertwined with concrete factual history. If you know anything about the history of religions (especially Christianity), you will find this book enlightening. If you don't know anything, this book can teach you in a non-boring way! I've emailed everyone I know...it is a "Must read".

captivating biographical fictional account of Jesus

The Ecumenical Council of Nicea met in 325 AD to decide what texts go into the New Testament codifying the Scriptures of Christianity. The Council was convened under the auspices of the Emperor Constantine who demanded a definitive version of Jesus' life that will in turn solidify his rule. He orders people who know the truth including members of the church killed and heretics defined as such by him burned. At the Monastery of St. Stephen the Martyr in Egypt, Romans order the monks to burn the texts. They poison the food killing almost a hundred monks, but three survive because they were overlooked having been in an obscure section of the church. Barnabas the scholar grabs as many books as he and the others can carry. He escapes with the help of former Roman aide to Constantine Cyrus and the newest monk Zarathan and the beautiful Kalay. The Romans pursue the trio wanting to capture Cyrus and kill the others. Barnabas takes them to the secret cave of his mentor who provides the fleeing trio with a map that leads to the greatest treasure of all. This captivating biographical fictional account about the life of Jesus does not fit the official Church doctrine as the Geers draw a different conclusion than the Nicea Council did. The authors make a case for a radically dissimilar interpretation of the events and the personality of Jesus; insisting that three plus centuries later the victors rewrote the history. Those who objected to the True Church tenet were declared heretics and subject to torture to gain confessions and ultimately burned at the stake (still relevant today). THE BETRAYAL is a terrific thought provoking historiographic action thriller that delves into the life of Jesus by focusing on those who wrote the doctrine in the fourth century. Harriet Klausner