Brian E Turner's Plays and Novels 
 Home Page    Novels    Full Length Plays    One Act Plays    Flash Plays   Rights and Contact    Links

The Gospel According to Brian

This book is essentially research notes for a novel or play, which may never be written. I have been working on this project for about eight years, off and on. I have somewhat reluctantly decided to publish. I am hoping it might promote some discussion and, in a field where strong opinions are the norm, a new look at age old beliefs. The problem is that I am not committed to the Christian religion and have never made an in depth study of it. It is a mass of speculation made in an attempt to make sense of the Passion story that has been received in the gospels.  My assumption is that there was a lot going on that has not been revealed and, by utilising the principles of Dramatic Unity, have attempted to deduce the real story. 

There are several problems with the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Many writers have made the comment that it doesn't make sense. The following is a list of questions which the book attempts to answer:

• How did Jesus know he was going to die?
• Why was Jesus considered to be a threat to the survival of the Jewish race?
• Why did Jesus go to Gethsemane and wait there expecting to be arrested?
• What part did Judas Iscariot play in the events?
• What part did the Romans and the Jews play in the events?
• What part did Nicodemus, Arimathea and other members of the ‘Jerusalem Connection’ play in the events?
• Who was Barabbas and why was he released?
• What was the nature of the detail that arrested Jesus at Gethsemane ?
• Who were the two ‘thieves’ and why was Jesus executed in pride of place between them?
• Why was Peter not slaughtered by Roman soldiers when he attacked and wounded one of their group with a sword?
• Who was the ‘other disciple who knew the high priest’ who accompanied Peter to Annas’ house?
• Who was the young man in the linen garment mentioned in Mark and why was he in the garden that night?
• Why was Jesus permitted a proper burial when it was customary to throw the bodies of crucified revolutionaries to the dogs?

The book is a PDF file in 'readers spread' format. It can be printed on A4, landscape, one side of the paper to give an easy read. (There are 80 sheets and occasionally blank pages between chapters.) While I retain copyright it is permissible to download and and read on the computer or to print out a single copy, but not to distribute or sell.

Click here for the complete book (0.73 MB) or download individual chapters below.

If you have any comments you can email me.

1 Introduction  Outlines my motivations in writing the book, my association with Christianity (or lack of it), and presents the central thesis in general terms.

2  Sources  Describes the gospel and historical sources of our knowledge of Jesus and his times.            

3 History and society Gives a general description of the society in which Jesus lived

4 The characters   Describes the people involved in the story (apart from those in 5,6 and 7.)

5 The Jerusalem Connection   Describes a group of followers resident in Jerusalem who played a crucial part in the story and whose activities appear not to have been fully recorded.

6 Judas Iscariot   A special chapter on this character who is not presented as a traitor.

7 Jesus     Some incomplete notes on a person who means anything and everything.     

8 Barabbas and the two thieves.   A theory as to the involvement of these three characters and the implications regarding the veracity of certain gospel reports.

9 The Gospel According to Brian  The central thesis.

10 Appendices  Notes on some problems involved with the study.