Did Jesus intend to start a new religion—or was Christianity simply born from conflict?

Did Jesus intend to found a church separate from Judaism? Who were the very first followers of Jesus? And how did a clash between two families—the family of Jesus on one hand and the family of high priest Annas and their aristocratic allies on the other—eventually lead to the formation of Christianity?

Best-selling author Craig A. Evans looks at how a tumultuous chain of events from 30-70 CE—beginning with Jesus's entry into Jerusalem and subsequent crucifixion and ending with the destruction of the temple—led to the separation between the followers of Jesus and other Jews.

Topics include the following:

• whether Jesus actually intended to found the Christian Church
• the ways in which Jesus's proclamation of the "Kingdom of God" relate to the Christian Church
• the role of James, brother of Jesus, in the new movement in Jerusalem
• the tension between James and Paul in the matter of law and works
• the conflict between the families and followers of Jesus and those of the high priest Annas before the destruction of the temple
• the aftermath of the Jewish rebellion, whereby the Church moved away from its Jewish roots.

A power struggle between Jesus’s family and the ruling priestly elite set the stage for one of history’s most pivotal religious shifts. Best-selling author Craig A. Evans unpacks the dramatic events between 30–70 CE—from Jesus’s crucifixion to the temple’s destruction—that led to the split between his followers and Judaism. With fresh insights on key figures like James, Paul, and the high priest Annas, this fascinating study explores the early Church’s origins and the forces that shaped its future. A must-read for anyone interested in the historical Jesus and the roots of Christianity.