Killing Jesus: A History

Bill O’Reilly’s Killing Jesus: A History, co-authored with the historian and journalist Martin Dugard, is a detailed account of the life and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Published in 2013, the book is part of a series by O’Reilly and Dugard that includes other historical works such as Killing Lincoln (2011) and Killing Kennedy (2012). This nonfiction historical work attempts to present a comprehensive, fact-based narrative of Jesus’s life and the political and historical context of his time. O’Reilly, known primarily as a television host and political commentator, sought to explore the historical Jesus from a perspective that emphasizes historical accuracy over theological interpretation.

This guide refers to the St. Martin’s Griffin edition of the book, published in paperback in 2017.

Content Warning: This book includes graphic descriptions of violence, torture, and infanticide.

Summary

Killing Jesus narrates the life, teachings, and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth within the context of the political and social turbulence of the time. The book begins with the historical and political background that set the stage for Jesus’s birth, including the reign of King Herod, the political struggles in Rome, and the Roman occupation of Judea.

Jesus narrowly escapes death in infancy, as Herod—having heard the prophecy that a savior has been born among the Jews—orders the execution of all male children in Judea. As Jesus grows up, there are numerous signs of his special destiny. One day, he goes missing in Jerusalem. After many hours of searching, his parents find him in the Temple, where he is lecturing on the Torah before a rapt audience. When his parents express surprise, he tells them that they should have known they would find him in his father’s house. The suggestion that God is his father places him at odds with the Roman authorities. While his youth shields him from trouble, this episode foreshadows the coming conflict between Jesus and Rome.

The narrative delves into Jesus’s teachings and the development of his ministry, describing key events such as his baptism by John the Baptist, his gathering of disciples, and his miracles. As Jesus’s influence grows, he finds himself increasingly in conflict with both Jewish religious authorities and Roman rulers.

Jesus’s arrest is the result of a complex power struggle between various political figures both in Judea and in Rome. The Roman territorial governor Pontius Pilate, the Jewish local ruler Herod Antipas, the Jewish leader Caiaphas, and Jesus’s famously treacherous disciple Judas Iscariot all play a role in the lead-up to Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion. The authors describe the trial, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus in detail, illustrating the brutality of Roman execution methods and the anguish faced by Jesus.

The book concludes with the aftermath of the crucifixion, reflecting on the immediate impact of Jesus’s death on his followers and the broader implications for the early Christian movement. Killing Jesus seeks to present a factual, historical account of Jesus’s life and death, avoiding theological interpretations in favor of a narrative grounded in historical research and context.

Killing Jesus illuminates the historical Jesus, emphasizing the political and social factors that influenced his life and led to his execution. It provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of one of history’s most significant figures.