Editing The Passover Plot

{{Short description|Conspiratorial book published in 1965 regarding the life of Jesus Christ}}
{{italic title}}
[[Image:passover plot.JPG|thumb|First edition (publ. [[Hutchinson (publisher)|Hutchinson]])]]

'''''The Passover Plot''''' is a 1965 book by British biblical scholar [[Hugh J. Schonfield]], who also published a translation of the [[New Testament]] from a Jewish perspective.<ref>[http://innvista.com/culture/religion/bible/versions/the-original-new-testament/ ''The Original New Testament''] (originally published in 1958 as ''The Authentic New Testament'', updated and re-published under this title in 1985)</ref> The book was adapted into a film, ''[[The Passover Plot (film)|The Passover Plot]]'' (1976).

==Schonfield's conclusions==
Based on his research into the social and religious culture in which [[Jesus]] was born, lived and died, and into other literature, including the source documents of the [[Gospel]]s, Schonfield reached the following conclusions:
* That Jesus was a deeply religious [[Jew]]ish man, probably well-versed in the teachings of the local northern sects such as the [[Nazarene (sect)|Nazarene]]s and [[Essenes]].
* That growing up in biblical [[Galilee]] he had a skeptical and somewhat rebellious relationship to the hierarchy and teachings mandated by the authorities (the [[Saducee]]s) of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]].
* That Jewish [[Messiah|Messianic]] expectation was extremely high in those times, matched to the despair caused by the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] occupation of the land and subjugation of the Jews.
* That he was in many ways both typical of [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|his times]], and yet extraordinary in his religious convictions and beliefs, in his scholarship of the biblical literature, and in the fervency in which he lived his religion out in his daily life.
* That he was convinced of his role as the expected Messiah based on the authority of his having been descended from [[David|King David]] (the [[Davidic line|royal bloodline of David]]), and that he consciously and methodically, to the point of being calculating, attempted to fulfill that role, being eminently well-versed in the details of what that role entailed.
* That he was convinced of the importance of his fulfilling the role perfectly (after all prophesy and expectation), and that he could not allow himself to fail, as that would undoubtedly lead to his being declared a [[False messiah|false Messiah]].
* That he was perfectly aware of the consequences of his actions all along the way, and that he directed his closest supporters, the original [[twelve Apostles]], unknowingly to aid him in his plans.
* That he involved the least possible number of supporters in his plans ("[[need to know]]" basis), therefore very few knew of the details of his final plan, and even then only the least amount of information necessary.<ref name="Schaefer2003">{{cite book|author=Henry F. Schaefer|title=Science and Christianity: Conflict Or Coherence?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g67eEE-t5TIC&pg=PA164|accessdate=4 November 2012|date=1 July 2003|publisher=The Apollos Trust|isbn=978-0-9742975-0-7|pages=164–}}</ref>

The culmination of his plan was to be his death (the [[crucifixion]]), his [[resurrection]] and his reign as the true kingly and priestly messiah, not in heaven but on earth—the realized king of the Jews.

==Planning==
Schonfield's investigation shows that the Gospel of John properly recounts the Passover events, which are inconsistently described in all the other Gospels. His reading of that Gospel convinced him that John's account, though probably filtered through an assistant and transcription in John's old age, suggests that Jesus had planned everything. Among other things, that he would not be on the cross for more than a few hours before the [[Shabbat|Sabbath]] arrived, when it was required by law that crucified Jews be taken down; that one of his supporters, who was on hand, would give him water (to quench his thirst) that was actually laced with a drug to make him unconscious; and that [[Joseph of Arimathea]], a well-connected supporter, would collect him off the cross while still alive (but appearing dead) so that he could be secretly nursed back to health. 

Schonfield suggests that the plan went awry because of a soldier's actions with a spear. Schonfield gives evidence of a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin who was one of Jesus' followers, likely the [[Beloved Disciple]] who is otherwise obscure, and notes several instances in which knowledge of or access to the Temple was available to one or more of Jesus' followers. He identifies this follower as John, the source of the Gospel many decades later whilst living in Asia Minor. He suggests that this Apostle, and Joseph of Arimathea, were responsible for events following the Crucifixion, and that it might have been this Apostle (an 'undercover Disciple', as it were) who was seen (by those who did not know him) at the Tomb on the morning of the Resurrection.<ref name="Habermas1996">{{cite book|author=Gary R. Habermas|title=The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pMMeqKHZIDkC&pg=PA70|accessdate=4 November 2012|date=1 June 1996|publisher=College Press|isbn=978-0-89900-732-8|pages=70–}}</ref>

==Second half of the book==
After first laying out the storyline and outcome of Jesus' life in the first half of the book, along with supportive arguments, Schonfield devotes the second half of the book to a more detailed explanation of the concepts and arguments used to support his conclusions.  Schonfield also discusses how Jesus' original message and purpose may have become transformed during the century after his death.

==Film based on book==
{{Main article|The Passover Plot (film)}}
''[[The Passover Plot (film)|The Passover Plot]]'' is the name of a 1976 film which was adapted from the book.  The film stars [[Zalman King]] as ''Yeshua'' ([[Jesus]]), and the cast includes [[Harry Andrews]], [[Dan Hedaya]], and [[Donald Pleasence]].  It was directed by [[Michael Campus]] and nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] for Best Costume Design. Schonfield also featured in the dramatised documentary television series, ''Jesus: The Evidence'' (1984: LWT for Channel 4).

==See also==
* [[Jesuism]]
* [[Swoon hypothesis]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Passover Plot}}
[[Category:1965 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Conspiracist books]]
[[Category:Books about Jesus]]
[[Category:Non-fiction books adapted into films]]
[[Category:Books by Hugh J. Schonfield]]
[[Category:English-language non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Historical perspectives on Jesus]]
[[Category:Hutchinson (publisher) books]]
[[Category:Pseudohistory]]
[[Category:Swoon hypothesis]]
[[Category:Denial of the crucifixion of Jesus]]