In Acts 3:22 Peter designates Jesus with the messianic title ‘A Prophet Like Moses’. There has always been confusion about how Jesus, the Son of God, fulfilled this prophecy of Moses found in Deuteronomy 18:15.  Now, new research by British physician Dr Adam Bradford has discovered that Jesus, far from being uneducated, was highly educated like Moses, and an ordained Rabbi before his public ministry began.

In addition, for nearly 2000 years, almost nothing has been known about Joseph, Jesus’ adoptive father. Now, after researching Roman history, Jewish first century life, the Greek New Testament and by applying behavioural psychology and population statistics, Dr Bradford’s new book ‘The Jesus Discovery’ presents insights that show not only the messianic fulfilment of Jesus as the ‘Prophet Like Moses’, but also who Joseph was, thereby shedding new light on Jesus’ humanity. PHOTO: The Jesus Discovery Book Cover

Dr Bradford concludes that Jesus was a highly educated ordained minister at the pinnacle of Jewish society.

He presents three different perspectives to support this:

1) The Doctors of the Law.

·     The most influential people in Israel after the priests were the scholars, who taught the Torah. When Jesus was lost aged 12, he was found sitting with a Rabbinic school held in the Temple by the senior professors - the ‘Doctors of the Law’ - who were ‘amazed’ at Jesus’ understanding and answers.

·     At age 12, Jesus demonstrated signs of genius, and it is psychologically inconceivable that the men responsible for Rabbinic training would have let a Jewish child prodigy leave without recruiting him to return aged 13 (adulthood) for schooling.

·    The Mishnah gives the age for Rabbinic public teaching as 30, thereby explaining the 18 ‘missing’ years of Jesus’ life, and why Jesus is addressed as ‘Doctor’ by every section of Jewish society, as well as ‘Rabbi’ by important people such as Nicodemus.

2) Joseph Joseph is described as ‘devout’ (Matthew 1:19), meaning he had studied enough to keep the complex Mosaic Law.

·   Joseph is a ‘carpenter’ (‘tekton’ - Matthew 13:55), from which ‘technician’ and ‘architect’ are derived.

·   When Herod the Great re-built the Temple in 19BC (in the working life of Joseph), the Roman historian Josephus records (Antiquities Book 15, 11) that Herod employed 10,000 ‘skilled craftsmen’ (necessarily Jews, the site being off-limits to others). The male population of Judea was about 1 million, so 10,000 Jewish craftsmen meant almost all available being required. Statistically, the chance of Joseph being one is high.

·    Josephus records that 1000 priests were trained as ‘tektons’ to build the 166 feet high Holy Place (where only priests could go). A devout Jewish ‘tekton’ was ideal to train the priests, who would have been hard to train by people that they didn’t respect (e.g. non-devout Jews).

·     Joseph’s involvement explains why Jesus went to the Temple when lost in Jerusalem at age 12, because the priests knew him as the architect’s son, and could look after him for the 5 days until Mary and Joseph returned.

·     Joseph’s role sheds light on Jesus (aged 12) calling the temple his ‘father’s house’, because Joseph built it, and explains why Jesus could mix with the ruling classes, something an uneducated and itinerant man could not have done, and why he used ‘tekton’ rather than simple ‘carpenter’ teaching illustrations (e.g. building with foundations).

·     The Sanhedrin president Rabbi Shammai (50BC – 30AD) was both a ‘tekton’ and a scholar, so the combination was well recognised.

3) The reactions Christ evoked.

• ·    Jesus is consistently addressed respectfully by the governing Jewish authorities, something they would not have done to an uneducated itinerant.

·     When he was convicted of blasphemy, these authorities began to spit on him and hit him. Saul of Tarsus described himself as being ‘maddened with rage’ by Christ.

·     This extreme emotional swing is explained by the psychology of betrayal – Jesus’ apparent blasphemy in using God’s name was worsened by his senior status in Jewish religious life.

Dr Bradford says ‘When Christ is seen as a senior ordained Jewish minister, it changes our understanding of what was being said to him, giving a new perspective on his humanity.’

He states ‘Jesus fulfils the messianic prediction of being ‘a prophet like Moses’. Both survived attempts to kill them in infancy. Both were highly educated. Both lived for years in a ‘hidden’ state, Jesus’ true identity being concealed within the place of learning (the Temple) and Moses’ identity as a Jew concealed in Pharaoh’s palace. When both revealed their true intentions (redemption), they were initially rejected by their own people. PHOTO: Dr. Bradford with his new book release

Dr Bradford’s book, ‘The Jesus Discovery’, has been described as ‘possibly the most important writing on Jesus’ humanity since the New Testament was translated from the Greek’ (Premier Christian Radio).

First century historian Dr Whitters, of Eastern Michigan University, says that “‘The Jesus Discovery’ gives a proper insight into how Jesus was able to become such an important figure.”

He said: “Bradford brings to bear his formal training in medicine and psychology on a topic that requires some ‘outside the box’ thinking. This is a fresh perspective on the life of Jesus based on first century sources.”

“Bradford asks some common-sense questions that these sources provoke but are rarely asked by modern biblical commentators.”

“The book is consistent and provoking for anyone who wants to understand why Jesus shook up the world of Palestine in the first-century.”