Hugh J. Schonfield
Hugh Joseph Schonfield (born May 17, 1901 in London , † January 24, 1988 ibid) was a British Bible student specializing in the New Testament and the early development of Christianity . He completed his education at the University of Glasgow . He was one of the founders of the pacifist organization "Commonwealth of World Citizens". For a time he was President of the HG Wells Society .
Live and act
Schonfield was a Jew who referred to himself as a Nazarene , which means that, as a Jew, he believed that the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus , as foretold in the Jewish Hebrew Bible . He also believed that Jesus made a conscious effort in his daily life to fulfill the role of the Jewish Messiah and related prophecies; that Jesus did not intend to found a new religion , but that he intended to work towards the fulfillment of God's covenant with the Jewish people; that the Christian religion was a product of the followers of Jesus, especially as it was conveyed to the non-Jewish people, whereby the connection with the original intention of Jesus was lost. Among those who are said to have distorted the message, he counted the apostle Paul , whom Schonfield describes as insane and accused him of believing himself to be the Messiah.
This separation from the original embassy occurred over a long period of time in times of great emergency ( wars , loss of national sovereignty, slavery , exile from Jerusalem and Palestine ) and for a number of other reasons.
Schonfield encouraged believers to have a critical look at what is said about Jesus and to strive to recognize the historical Jesus, how he adapted to his time and country, and what the true purpose of his original message was: belief in the Holy scriptures to live an exemplary life according to him for the purpose of alleviating adversity and turning away from imperfect human nature.
Schonfield wrote commercially successful history books and biographies as well as books on religion; he authored a new translation of the New Testament entitled The Authentic New Testament . In 1965 he published the controversial book The Passover Plot (German edition: "The Passover Plot"), in which he argues that the crucifixion was part of a comprehensive and intended attempt by Jesus to meet the messianic expectations of his time were widespread and that this intention unexpectedly failed. Schonfield had another book follow in 1968: The Incredible Christians (German edition: "Unheard of, these Christians "), but it had less influence than the first book.
The interpretation of the term “ Baphomet ”, a controversial mystical symbol of the Templar Order , with an old Jewish encryption method goes back to Schonfield . In his opinion, this word could have originated from the application of the Atbash code to the Greek word sophia ( wisdom ).
Books (German editions)
- Unheard of, these Christians. Molden, Vienna / Munich / Zurich 1969, DNB 458880310 .
- Goal Calvary . WIRschaft-Verlag, Aldingen 1969, DNB 458880302 .
- The long way to Golgotha. Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1978, ISBN 3-404-01040-X .
- The politics of God. Mondcivitaner Verlag, Durchhausen 1974, ISBN 3-921329-01-9 .
- The Essenes . Martin, Südergellersen 1985, ISBN 3-921786-46-0 .
Filming
- 1976: Jesus of Nazareth (The Passover Plot)
Web links
- Literature by and about Hugh J. Schonfield in the catalog of the German National Library
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Schonfield, Hugh J. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Schonfield, Hugh Joseph; Hegesippiis (pseudonym) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British Bible Student |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 17, 1901 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 24, 1988 |
| Place of death | London |