Book review: Caiaphas, The High Priest

I really didn’t know quite what to expect of this book, but I’m such a first-century history geek that I couldn’t resist taking it on. Would it be a dry history lesson? A bit of speculative guesswork, given that the historical record is so sparse? As much as a book about an ancient priest can be considered a page-turner, this one was for me. It was just an enjoyable read from cover to cover.

But in the early centuries of Christianity, our church fathers quickly glommed onto Caiaphas as an antihero. An anonymous collection of “chief priests and scribes” as the God-killer wouldn’t do; a proper villain was needed. Caiaphas filled the role splendidly, especially as anti-Semitism developed within the Church.

The Gospel account of Caiaphas “prophesying” in John 11:52 proved particularly troubling for the early church. How could such an ungodly character be a prophet? Origin spends a great deal of time on this conundrum, finally concluding that somehow, the despicable fellow managed to rather accidentally utter a prophecy.

Reinhartz then takes us on an enlightening romp through artwork, literature, theater, and Hollywood, exposing the dastardly role Caiaphas plays. Finally, the journey culminates in a more serious look at the Caiaphas of history, and the priestly role in general. Reinhartz’s visible fascination with this ancient character has made for a highly readable account.