Pontius Pilate: A Novel

This book taught me more about the New Testament than 20 undergraduate and graduate classes in Biblical Studies.

Rejecting the carelessness that dominates the genre of historical fiction, Dr. Maier created his own genre which could be called "documented historical fiction". He adopts 3 rules,
1) He doesn't invent characters and only uses names of real people 2) He uses information in the primary sources whenever possible and only speculates on plot features where the sources are lacking. 3) He includes documented footnotes for a great number of events in the life of Pilate, these not only lead you to the primary sources, they also give the author's justification for how he interprets them and incorporates them into the story.

If you want to read the Christ story from a new perspective, this book will give you an eyewitness account from the eye sockets of one of the key players in Christ' life. You will understand the political background to the New Testament and gain a new appreciation for how the miraculous events in Jesus ministry were interpreted.


Realistic.   April 29, 2003
Huntress Reviews (United States)
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

Two thousand years ago, there was a trial that changed history. Jesus Christ was dragged before the Roman politician who had to make the fateful choice that would place the Messiah on the cross. Who was this man, Pontius Pilate? What was life really like in those days, what political forces shaped events of that moment?

***** Paul Maier does an excellent job of exploring these questions in his novel that was published decades ago, but due to the timelessness of the subject, has held up well over the years. Pilate's choices are seen as both political and perhaps even divine necessity as the day that will become Good Friday unfolds. With the use of real figures and well researched customs, Dr. Maier sweeps readers back two millenia. Calling it fiction is almost an insult, because it is so very realistic. One complaint is that there is not a sequel exploring Pilate's wife, a woman who stands beside Caeser's wife in fascination.


A new view of Pontius Pilate   October 26, 2000
Marianne S. Rankin (University Park, Maryland USA)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

This is the kind of book one can hardly put down, reads eagerly, and is sorry when it's finished. Maier is clearly a scholar, who has included as much historical data as can be found (from a variety of sources), and has plausibly interpreted gaps in the record. He draws an interesting picture of first-century life in Rome and Palestine, and makes the reader aware of events that otherwise might have escaped notice. Throughout, he realistically weaves elements of the life of Christ from different points of view, especially Roman, and one comes away from the book with the impression of how the emergent Christian faith appeared to people of that era. For both people of faith and those without, this account provides a fascinating vantage point, and is worth reading as fiction, as history, as an adjunct to belief, or all three.


Historial Novel First Class Of Christ's Passion   April 17, 2001
rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Maier is a first-rate theologian-historian, who utilized history as backdrop for this novel. He notes where history is on his side, and on those that he inferences what it would be like, he also provides the historical references which swayed him.

The style is smooth and moves from context to context with ease and style. The context of Pilate's role in history of the Christian church is significant, and Maier draws on this to portray an amazing tale of suspense and intrigue.

Readers will be captivated and will enjoy giving this as gift for reading as well.


"Pontius Pilate" and other works by Maier   July 1, 2002
P. Schaum (St. Louis area, MO USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

The review written by Marianne S. Rankin of University Park, Maryland is clearly the most insightful of the reviews written to date on Amazon. I have read all three of Dr. Maier's historical fiction (one being an historical fiction / mystery) and can say that few authors have such a command of subject matter -
historical, religion, science, etc. - to write works of such quality. One can say, without qualification, that the research is not superficial. His writing style is magnificent. This book, and the others, are truly "hard to put down." I read all three within two weeks and only regret that there are not more available. Needless to say, his works of non-fiction are also superb. Whether he has authored or collaborated, a book with Paul L. Maier's name on it is a worthwhile investment.