Other Friends of Jesus

The writer questions the traditional list of the first disciple/apostles of Jesus. Then he provides pen portraits of an alternative list found in the gospels, including an unmasking of the Beloved Disciple. He also demonstrates Jesus' networking skills and his underestimated gift of organization. From the start there was not one Christian community, but several. Up to now history has been written by the surviving most successful. This book turns the verdict of history on its head. As Jesus taught, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." Like all John Henson's books this one will excite the enquirer and the open minded, and disturb the nests of fuddy-duddies, traditionalists and obscurantists. The work is the fourth in a series of books with 'Other' in the title. The previous three were 'Other Temptations of Jesus'; 'Other Communions of Jesus'; and 'Other Prayers of Jesus', all of which have alternative takes on important themes in the gospels. Thus 'Other Friends of Jesus' takes an alternative look at who were Jesus' closest companions and truest friends.

John Henson is a native of Cardiff. He graduated in history and theology at the universities of Southampton and Oxford and was ordained to the Baptist ministry. He has lectured on faith and gender in Strasbourg and Oslo at the invitation of the European Union and the World Student Federation.