An interesting re-tread of some familiar (and some unfamiliar) historical context and extra-biblical texts that bring these concepts to a modern reader. I was interested because of its content but it slowly became a bit dense and dry.

As a christian, I found this really interesting. This is all about the different versions of Jesus that have existed throughout history. It's well researched and well written. If you enjoy learning about religions, then I would recommend this. Special Thank You to Catherine Nixey, Mariner Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reader, if you like your history (ancient or Christian, or any) told as a series of guffaws, with gags and a laugh track—this one is for you. The author is seemingly a serious person and an academic, but she has, you see, a bone to pick with Christianity. That can be a valid point of view and not at all disqualifying in and of itself. Except the way she does it is unserious and unacademic. The idea here is nothing new—that there were multiple early Christianities, that what became a “catholic” faith emerged out of a great deal of diversity and contention. That Jesus was… ah, who knows? Our sources differ. Yet anyone with any semblance of an interest in the subject would do well to look elsewhere—Ehrman, for one, does an excellent job of bring these topics to a lay reader. So does Elaine Pagels, and the wonderful Peter Brown. Here, instead, what one may otherwise be able learn is marred by the juvenile sarcasm and the constant “edgy professor” bit. It is exhausting and cringe-worthy in the early pages; by the end, it becomes well-nigh intolerable. As much as anyone may feel inclined, early on in the book, to rail against the stifling oppression of what became Christian dogma, the self-satisfied knocking down of straw men with volley after volley of cliche feels no less oppressive.

— with thanks and sincere apologies to Doubleday for an ARC via NetGalley

Short chapters and an irreverent tone make this a great read, beyond the obvious draw of the fascinating topic. Nixey paints a picture of a world so different from ours in how we think about religion, choice, heresy, blasphemy, etc. With all the turmoil over religion in the US now (especially white Christian nationalism), a good hard look at the origins of Western Christianity is in order, and Nixey delivers exactly that with great style.

Despite its irreverent tone and citation of many sarcastic and caustic comments about Christianity from Classical-era and medieval writers, the book will appeal to devout Christians who want to know more about how their particular strand of Christianity triumphed over the many many variations that existed for the first few centuries of the common era (known as A.D.), and to devout Christians who point at Christian evildoers and say "that's not 'real' Christianity."

An excellent read, and crucial for understanding how we got to where we are today and how we can make things better for the future.

This book explores the diverse and often contradictory portrayals of Jesus in early Christianity, revealing the process by which a single, canonical figure emerged from a multitude of competing narratives.

This is a well-researched and highly entertaining book. I agree with the author’s condemnation of the harmful ways in which Christian orthodoxy stamped out any competing ideas about Jesus and crushed other belief systems until no remnant of them remains.

She lost me, though, when she seemed to suggest throughout the book that all Jesus stories are equally valid. From a research perspective, I’m not sure how much we can say about Jesus of Nazareth, except that he was probably a historical figure who really existed. If the “Infancy Gospel of Thomas” is nothing more than Jesus fan fiction that in no way relates to the life or teachings of the historical Jesus, then it has nothing to do with Christianity. And even if you don’t believe in a historical Jesus, any belief system has to have a central narrative that casts off fringe elements.

It’s difficult for anyone raised Christian to come at this material from a neutral point of view. The author’s perspective seems to be (though she doesn’t say it) that it’s all myth, so how can one myth be truer than another? My perspective is that the people who compiled the New Testament were able to see where the beliefs converged and where they diverged, and come up with a coherent narrative. I’m not saying that I agree with all their choices. Just that I’m not too fussed that some people 1800 years ago wrote some wild Jesus fan fiction.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

History is written by the victors, they say, and Nixey’s book elucidates this. While not providing any hint towards which histories are more correct than others—the canonical Gospels, the apocryphal gospels, the critical, secular historians—she does show how the various sources existed concurrently with each other (perhaps). She gives voice to those who point out the similarities between the Jesus of the Gospels and other ancient deities, wizards, magicians who also are described in extant hagiographies (or anti-hagiographies). This is not a book for the faint-of-heart/faith but for those who want to discipline and firm up their faith with logic, reason. (In one passage, Nixey suggests that the Gospel of John’s famous opening could be written, “In the beginning was Reason….”)

While citing many works that come from 3rd-, 4th- and later centuries CE (AD) that contradict the Gospels, which have been traced to the 1st century, she merely points out the paucity of earlier editions of the apocryphal gospels and critical essays. Historians have cited the multitude of purges and book-burnings. Likewise, the author makes no claims as which of the contradictory versions are more accurate. Historians know that tracing sources closest to the time period are probably more true. Just think about various versions regarding the cause(s) of the American Civil War (1860s) exist—and which ones despite their popularity might still be false. Or the Jewish Holocaust during WWII and its deniers, in less than a few decades of its occurrence. JFK assassination. The moon landing. 9/11 instigators. 2020 election fraud. These are relatively modern examples of what the ancient illiterate world had to deal with: disinformation, misinformation and truth rolling around in a mud hole, and none coming out clean.

The major monotheistic religions have had to deal with accusations of suppressing alternative versions. The faithful’s retort to the accusation is, “God has ensured His word remains in its true form.” God who knows just how greedy, ambitious and manipulative we are and has chosen to trust some of pure heart will sort through the mess and help us discern the wise and helpful from the silly and destructive narratives.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a bit of mysticism, a bit of religion and whole lot of history.

Heres what I learned- when Jesus was a young man “ Prophets” and “saviors “ were as common as “influencers” are today. They were everywhere claiming to heal the sick, cure the blind and raise the dead, plus the pesky Roman gods were still hanging around. Seems like they all had more ardent groupies than Dave Matthews. As it is today, religion was a business and there was stiff competition for followers.
Resurrection stories were common and tomb thefts happened with such frequency that the Romans had 51 inscriptions against it. Tombs used REALLY nice stone.
Religion and magic further blurred the lines- wasn’t anything miraculous just another word for magic?
There were many, many sacred texts that were popular for hundreds of years and though not in the bible can be seen in remnants via art work today- example the manger scenes with the donkey and ox on either side of the cradle- not in the current books of the bible. Its from “ the infancy of James”. one of the ancient stories detailing A much more vivid story of Jesus’ birth.
The heretic in the title comes in as the various versions of the bible battle for supremacy, and losing stories are buried.
Interesting read from a historical perspective, but lots here may make practicing Christians very uncomfortable, but I guess that’s the nature of heresy.

This books was so interesting! Gave me a lot to think about, new ideas and historical facts I didn’t know, and more authors to look into. Highly recommend if you’re interested in this topic!

A very interesting book that shows you can write an engaging book with little source material. I have read about the historical Jesus and the early church but there was a lot of material that I was unfamiliar with. Obviously this book would enrage some patrons but it is so well researched that I would not consider that an issue.

That nativity creche you put out every Christmas has its origins not in the New Testament found in most of our Bibles, but in minor accounts that the Catholic church has suppressed, vilified, and even destroyed, according to Nixey. She writes about these competing accounts and how one branch of Christianity (out of what she describes as a multitude of wildly different versions of the new faith) quickly gained prominence and smothered its competitors. Nixey has done her homework on this; note that this is not a theological analysis of these ancient stories, but a historical examination of the stories themselves.
This was originally published earlier this year in Britain under the title Heresy, and I think the publisher should have maintained that here in the US, as it better suits the content.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

Catherine Nixey dives right into the history of Jesus along side those whose history is similiar to his. As a Jesus follower, it did give me insight into other figures in history that mirrored different life aspects as Jesus. Beginning with his virgin birth to his resurrection that at times made me wonder how can these stories be so similiar when they lived years apart and even countries away. These didn't sway my believe that Jesus' live could have been copied from these other individuals, but may be the other way around. This is an interesting book if you are wondering whose Jesus the only person who was born a virgin birth, died and was resurrected.

Today, Christians of all denominations believe that Jesus Christ is a unique figure in history whose life, death, and resurrection are accurately depicted in the four canonical gospels. In this riveting historical survey, author, classicist, and self-described ex-Catholic Catherine Nixey tells another story. Early Christians were aware of many alternative gospels, she writes, and held to many differing views of Jesus. Some of these ideas sound strange to modern readers. For example, there was a sect that believed in a version of Jesus who sold his brother into slavery, and another one that taught that Jesus murdered his earthly parents. Moreover, there were also other figures, such as the Roman sage Apollonius of Tyana, who were depicted as sharing some characteristics with the Son of God.

Unfortunately, what can be known about these competing versions of Jesus is limited. In its comprehensive efforts to stamp out heresy, the Church burned many documents and murdered adherents of non-orthodox sects.

The narrative is at its best when focused on early views of Jesus and the actions of the Church. I particularly wanted more detail on the Jesus who "cavorts with dragons," as mentioned in the NetGalley description of this book The author knows a lot about ancient Rome and adds a several digressions that I did not think benefited the text.

This book is well worth reading.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

An academic look at a variety of Jesus tales, I enjoyed reading this and found it fascinating. I can see how this may upset some Christians but for me I liked the sociological study type aspects of this book. Good read.

I actually prior to reading this already had Heretic by Catherine Nixey pre-ordered. Years ago, in an Intro to Bible class our professor, a devout Catholic, began the semester by opening the Bible, having us read the Genesis story and asked who God was talking to. He then went into discussing that God was talking to other gods. Following that discussion, he moved into telling us that the Genesis story and the Adam and Eve story are actually two separate creation myths, that they weren't chronological stories but two separate ways of interpreting how the Christian world viewed creation. Ever since then, the deconstruction of books in the Bible, how they were chosen, and what was left out and why has been a side interest for me. I was really excited to get the opportunity to read this book.

Nixey's survey takes a large period of time, and while conducting an overview of the "how" of how Christianity formed, also adds in little tidbits that linked dots for me. The early history of the Church and Christianity is brutal, and I have a feeling there's going to be mixed reception to the book, as many Christians (not all), do not want to confront the reality that part of how Christianity became so mainstream was by brutal force. Kind of like how they do not want to acknowledge that the Crusades were also an event that terrorized and brutalized individuals around the world for their different faiths (and their land).

There were discussions of the different stories of Jesus, and it was interesting to me how they juxtaposed one another. So much of the study of early Christian sects and Jesus are studied in a way where it's the victors who got to write the story, and having firsthand texts that contradict popular beliefs (which even now most Christians have never read the full Bible or read it critically, so they rely on others' interpretations for their beliefs), is amazing. It really makes one wonder what life would have been like the world over if multiple sects had made it through early Christianity or if a different sect had come to predominance how the world would have been shaped. As an overall whole however, much of that thought has to be theoretical, as the intentional destruction of people's writing and beliefs was an ongoing process until almost all alternating views were stamped out and lost as the followers of those sects were either forced to convert, faced other repercussions, or were lost in the natural course of time with nobody left to tell their stories.

I also enjoyed the brief discussions of early Popes. The discussion of their debauchery, cruelty, and wanton profligate spending is very rarely discussed in mainstream churches. Their actions are also not things easily dismissed, as they are written down historical fact. It's not an interpretation of a text that may have a bias and the true source material has been destroyed, it's a written historical account being examined. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you are someone who is determined to keep a limited view of Christianity and immediately dismiss any discussion that contradicts your existing knowledge, this really probably is not the book for you. However, I found it to be much in the vein of my first college professor, a brief introduction and survey of historical and philosophical thought over several centuries. It's hard to cram in from the circumstances of Jesus' birth through the history of the rise of Christianity, and so the book is detailed but there is obviously a need to be very targeted in scope. I do recommend it if you're someone interested in the history of the times, as well as knowing what other stories are out there.

Please be advised that I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting, incisive, and important scholarly work. I can see how some would disagree with points made, but it essentially claims the current view of Jesus based on what is written in the New Testament is an edited version which has been changed/interpreted (generous wording) by the church over many centuries by different scholars or writers who were approved by the church.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

A fascinating look at the beginnings of Christianity and the traditions that were eradicated by the "winners" of the debate over who Christ was and what his message meant. I was struck by a sense of loss over what the world could have looked like had early Christianity not devolved into a particularly nasty gang war. Exceptionally timely in relation to our current climate, where groups are struggling to control the narrative over history, science, race, gender and sexuality, etc.

Heretic: The Many Lives and Deaths of Jesus Christ is a provocative exploration of Jesus Christ not only as how he is known in the Christian world but as an historical figure. You will find this book challenges the status quo of what is known and believed about Christ the son of God. Catherine Nixey presents numerous concepts that will have you thinking and maybe second guessing what you have been taught in religious studies and in church. Nixey delves into the various interpretations and transformations of Jesus’s identity over centuries. This text was meticulously researched and written in engaging prose. It challenges the traditional narratives, offering readers and believers alike a fresh perspective on the central figure of the Christian religion/faith. Heretic is a fantastic, enlightening read that would be an ideal text for book clubs and anyone interested in history, theology, and cultural studies. I cannot wait for it to be published at the end of the year. I want both a physical and audio copy.

This is my first time knowing that outthere, so many false Jesus ever told by humanity. I am so thankful that I got inheritance of true Jesus from my bible, so I can hinder from the heretic.

I can see why this book could anger some Christians. I myself, found it very interesting. I appreciated how the author wrote about the different views and practices of Christianity in early times and did it with some polite humor tossed in. A lot of the information is not new to me but learning about Mary's powerful lady parts sure was! I believe it's a book that should be read so Christians realize what the church feeds us is not the whole story. For me, Jesus was a Jewish rabbi, not a Christian and when he returns, he will be a Jewish rabbi. Good reading for anyone open to different views of the Christian religion.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to honestly review this book.

Controversial and meticulous, "Heretic" by Catherine Nixey is a highly interesting argument concerning the paganism-Christianity clash in the ancient world. Her mastery of subject matter and her vivid narrative voice support each other in this study of a time critical to religious upheaval and the creation of Western history.

Nixey provides an engaging and accessible prose that gives complex historical concepts to all readers. With vivid storytelling and brilliant description, she brings to life the world of Late Antiquity, immersing the reader in a world of court intriguing, religious passion, and seismic cultural change.

One of the actual strengths of "Heretic" is that Nixey has done an excellent job of opposing most conventional narratives and focusing attention on some rather obscure corners of history. In doing so, through her focus on the often violently coercive means by which early Christians contrived to quash pagan practices, she challenges readers to revise assumptions about how Christianity spread across the ancient world.