James D. Tabor
American biblical scholar and professor emeritus of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, known for research on the historical Jesus, early Christianity, and the Dead Sea Scrolls; author of The Jesus Dynasty and Paul and Jesus.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Jesus Discovery
The New Archaeological Find That Reveals the Birth of Christianity
A controversial investigation into Jerusalem tombs argues that inscriptions and images on first-century ossuaries—including a fish-and-Jonah motif—constitute the earliest archaeological evidence of the nascent movement’s resurrection faith and possibly the burial of Jesus’ family. It recounts the use of robotic cameras to probe a sealed chamber, details epigraphic and iconographic analyses, situates the finds within Second Temple Jewish burial customs, and addresses scholarly objections and the implications for understanding the origins of Christianity.
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2. Paul And Jesus
How the Apostle Transformed Christianity
Argues that the faith that emerged was shaped more by the apostle to the Gentiles than by the Galilean teacher and his Jerusalem followers, contending that visions and theological innovations—cosmic Christ, salvation by faith for non-Jews, relaxed Torah observance, and new rites—recast an apocalyptic Jewish movement into a universal religion. By reading the letters alongside Acts and early traditions, it maps conflicts with James and Peter, reassesses resurrection claims, and shows how this reinterpretation eclipsed the original message.
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3. The Jesus Dynasty
The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity
A historical investigation that reconstructs a first-century Jewish movement led first by John the Baptist and then by Jesus, arguing that it was a royal, Davidic, and family-centered 'dynasty' continued by Jesus's brother James after the crucifixion. Drawing on archaeology, ancient texts, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, it portrays Jesus as an apocalyptic, Torah-faithful messiah who partnered with John in a two-messiah framework and intended a renewed Israel, while later Pauline theology redirected the movement. The narrative pieces together the family tree, the political-religious context, and controversial evidence about Jesus's parentage, offering a revisionist account of Christian origins.
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4. Why Waco? Cults & The Battle For Religious Freedom In America
Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America
A concise examination of the 1993 Waco siege that argues the tragedy stemmed from misunderstandings of the group’s religious beliefs, aggressive law-enforcement tactics, and failures to protect religious freedom. It contextualizes the group’s apocalyptic theology and leader’s role, critiques ATF and FBI actions and negotiation breakdowns, and urges reforms for how U.S. authorities and society respond to unfamiliar or controversial religious movements.
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