If you want to become absorbed in a brilliantly written historical novel set in first century Nazareth, you should pick up a copy of the book “Joshua The Odyssey of an Ordinary Man”. It is an account of a few years in the life of an adolescent boy called Joshua. The novel opens up the life of Jesus during the years when there is no mention of him in the New Testament.
Because the book is fiction, the author has been free to use his imagination to create conversations and characters that are not mentioned in the Biblical biography of Jesus. The richness of these characters and the way in which he weaves the life and cultural images of Biblical Holy Land shows a wealth of research into the people and the country.
The author is Dr. Theckedath Mathew, the son of orthodox Christian parents. He grew up in a Hindu setting. He holds post-doctoral diplomas in Western Medicine. He also holds a doctorate in Eastern Philosophy. His specialty is cardiology, but he also ministers to the souls of people who want to hear him as a public speaker, television commentator, teacher and historian.
The elder Mathews had hoped that their son would become a priest in the Catholic church. His performance in strict Catholic schools made that unlikely. He was active in demonstrating against the Communist leadership of his time. This activity landed him in jail for a while. Eventually, he was accepted into a college zoology program at another school. This was the opportunity that led to his later success.
Over time, he resolved to spend time researching the ancient documents including the Bible. His goal was to determine for himself the answer to the question of who Jesus is. He added the study of Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Babylonian documents to expand the world view of this period. The reader gets the benefit of his research, and will be transported in imagination to a different time 2000 years ago. The author’s theories are presented in an interesting and compelling way.
The story of Joshua describes how experiences of the man formed his character and abilities. The tale includes experiences of healing, teaching and travel. The author presents detailed descriptions about the lands through which his character passes. These are historically accurate and provide an inkling of the tremendous amount of background material that was incorporated into his tale.
The prophet Joshua is portrayed as the first to stand up for the rights of women. This is linked to the biblical portrayal of Jesus standing up to a circle of guilty men who had brought a prostitute to Him to be stoned. Women of the time could be killed as a point of honor, mutilated, immolated or stoned. Other parts of the narrative describe resurrecting the dead, helping widows and the poor and promoting working people.
Joshua the Odyssey is an unusual volume, but one that will not only hold your interest, but will entertain. At the same time, it will challenge your thinking on topics that you may previously have accepted the current philosophy as accurate. The book is available online from various outlets, including Kindle and in paperback editions.
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