Tom Holland on Revolutionary: Who was Jesus? Why does he still matter?

This week, Ed Thornton talks to the historian and author Tom Holland about a new collection of essays he has edited, Revolutionary: Who was Jesus? Why does he still matter? (SPCK). “If you regard Jesus as just an enlightened teacher, then, ultimately, he’s no different to philosophers, teachers from other periods of history. . . But if what the gospels, the New Testament, the Church teaches is true, then the strangeness is so strange that it must surely animate everything that Christians say about the figure of Jesus.” The book available from the Church Times Bookshop for the special price of £15.99. It features contributions from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious writers. They include Rowan Williams, Terry Eagleton, Amy-Jill Levine, Tarif Khalidi, and Julian Baggini. An extract from the book is published in this week’s Church Times. Tom was interviewed on the podcast last year about his book Dominion: The making of the Western Mind (Little, Brown), which is now out in paperback. The interview was also published in the Church Times. His previous books include Rubicon: The triumph and tragedy of the Roman Republic and Dynasty: The rise and fall of the house of Caesar, both also published by Little, Brown. Picture credit: Charlie Hopkinson Try 10 issues of the Church Times for £10 or get two months access to our website and apps, also for £10. Go to churchtimes.co.uk/new-reader. Anglican ordinands studying in the UK, Ireland or the Diocese in Europe are eligible for a free Church Times subscription. Apply online at www.churchtimes.co.uk/ordinands