text: Good morning, John. I think there are several issues that explain our several differences. Correct me if I'm wrong. First, I think you tend to give Paul and others the benefit of the doubt when they are portrayed, or portray themselves, as speaking or writing  with pure motives. I tend to suspect that they are attempting to put the best possible light on often ambiguous circumstances. (For example, I think Peter did more than simply "deny" Jesus in the gospels, and that Paul sought the approval of James and Peter largely to deflect criticism.) Second, it seems you accept more than I the traditional portrayal of Jesus as a man misunderstood by his disciples, largely for their ignorance, by the Jewish authorities, for their duplicity, and by the Romans, perhaps for their convenience. I tend to think Jesus was rather well understood by all three groups. (Disclosure: Reza Aslan is a colleague, and we've debated this at length to no avail...) More when I have time...