Rating: 
Summary: Readable and Enlightening
Review: Having read thousands of books with Christian themes, I consider this among the better works. I was a younger believer when I first read it, and it helped set the tone for more extensive early church research by whetting my appetite by its readability.
Rating:
Summary: Readable and Enlightening
Review: Having read thousands of books with Christian themes, I consider this among the more appealing works. I was a younger believer when I first read it, and it helped set the tone for more extensive early church research by whetting my appetite by its readability.
Rating: 
Summary: Well Documented Fiction
Review: I thought this book would be all fact, but it is a novel at heart. Pilate is new territory for me, so I didn't realize how little information there was on him.
The fiction is painted with a larger brush than the facts to complete the picture and to Mr. Maier's credit, he is very specific about when, how, and why he includes the made up sequences.
As a Seminary student, I am very picky about keeping fact seperate from fiction. What is great about Dr. Maier's book is the documentation he has done. An excellent addition to my bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Slow at the beginning, but picks up.
Review: Maier is a first-rate theologian-historian, who utilized history as backdrop for this novel. He notes where history is on his side, and on those that he inferences what it would be like, he also provides the historical references which swayed him.The style is smooth and moves from context to context with ease and style. The context of Pilate's role in history of the Christian church is significant, and Maier draws on this to portray an amazing tale of suspense and intrigue. Readers will be captivated and will enjoy giving this as gift for reading as well.
Rating:
Summary: Historial Novel First Class Of Christ's Passion
Review: Maier is a first-rate theologian-historian, who utilized history as backdrop for this novel. He notes where history is on his side, and on those that he inferences what it would be like, he also provides the historical references which swayed him. The style is smooth and moves from context to context with ease and style. The context of Pilate's role in history of the Christian church is significant, and Maier draws on this to portray an amazing tale of suspense and intrigue. Readers will be captivated and will enjoy giving this as gift for reading as well.
Rating:
Summary: the politics brought to life
Review: Outstanding book! I love to see the politics of Pilates decision come to life. Seeing a possible portrayal of his human side is also entertaining and thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: the politics brought to life
Review: Outstanding book! I love to see the politics of Pilates decision come to life. Seeing a possible portrayal of his human side is also entertaining and thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: History of the career of Pontius Pilate
Review: Paul Maier does an excellent job in this historical novel of being true to the facts where they are available, and being believably fictional in places where there are no facts available. This book traces the career of Pontius Pilate in Roman administration, his prefecture in Judea before, during, and after Christ. Highly researched and with full reference notes. I think the book is more guided to the student of history than of religion, but it will fit on both shelves.
Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction Researched by the Master
Review: Paul Maier, a nationally recognized teacher of History broke ground with this classic historical biography of Pontius Pilate. This book taught me more about the New Testament than 20 undergraduate and graduate classes in Biblical Studies. Rejecting the carelessness that dominates the genre of historical fiction, Dr. Maier created his own genre which could be called "documented historical fiction". He adopts 3 rules,
1) He doesn't invent characters and only uses names of real people 2) He uses information in the primary sources whenever possible and only speculates on plot features where the sources are lacking. 3) He includes documented footnotes for a great number of events in the life of Pilate, these not only lead you to the primary sources, they also give the author's justification for how he interprets them and incorporates them into the story. If you want to read the Christ story from a new perspective, this book will give you an eyewitness account from the eye sockets of one of the key players in Christ' life. You will understand the political background to the New Testament and gain a new appreciation for how the miraculous events in Jesus ministry were interpreted.
Rating:
Summary: The Politics of Dealing Out Death
Review: The author, Paul Maier, has provided a plausable and enjoyable historical fiction regarding the life of Pontius Pilate. Drawing from Roman historical sources, the Jewish historian Josephus, and the writers of the Gospels, Maier weaves a compelling tale. One thing you should appreciate about Maier is that he doesn't twist the source documents out of context to make for a better fiction. Pontius Pilate is every bit the concerned politico in ancient Israel as is presented in the Gospels. Maier traces Pilate's careful analysis of the handling of the arrest of Jesus as follows: "Why should he, rather than Caiaphas, bear the popular opprobium for arresting a prophet? Certainly the people would be inclined to blame Rome, rather than their own countrymen in the temple guard. He would not make Antipas' mistake and cut down a Jewish prophet, especially not in his present, probationary status." And so the story hinges on this greatest moment of Pilate's life (though he probably didn't know it). Altogether, the portrayal here is one of a Roman procurator simply trying to do his best to honor the Emperor by his service while at the same time trying not to unduly antagonize a people noted to be difficult to govern. While some would disagree and argue that Pilate was a cruel and harsh man (the condemnation of Jesus out of expedience would seem to suggest the same), Maier choose a more neutral approach. The story moves along quickly and is well written. If you know absolutely nothing about the history of Pontius Pilate, this book will enlighten you with some colorful historical fact. Otherwise, simply read the book for an entering presentation of facts already known. This book is worth the short time it takes to read.
| 
