The Year God Died, James Lacey
The Year God Died, James Lacey
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The Year God Died
Jesus and the Roman Empire in 33 AD

Author: James Lacey

Narrator: Mike Cooper

Unabridged: 7 hr 46 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/20/2025


Synopsis

A groundbreaking account of how the Roman Empire shaped the life and death of Jesus, overturning centuries of historical beliefs around the world—from the New York Times bestselling author of The First Clash.

“Skillfully guides readers on a journey through the complexity and tumult of the Roman occupation of first-century Judea and its inevitable collision with the Jesus Movement.”—Dr. T. J. Wray, professor of religious and theological studies and author of Good Girls, Bad Girls of the New Testament: Their Enduring Lessons

In late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius's closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified.

This profound connection between the lives of Sejanus and Jesus is the first of many revelations in this startling reexamination of the Roman world in which Jesus walked. With new evidence and meticulous research, Dr. James Lacey weaves a majestic and accurate description of who Jesus was.

The Year God Died contradicts longstanding historical beliefs to reveal the most comprehensive and accurate view of the New Testament. Lacey explains how the events in Rome drove events in Judea—which is directly linked to Jesus' crucifixion. He uncovers a vibrant and rich world, but one still coming to grips with the reality of Roman power. He introduces ten-year-old Boadicea, who is destined to lead Britain’s tribes in a great revolt against Rome. He depicts Varus marching his legions past a four-year-old Jesus on his war to Jerusalem. And he describes how Herod prospered by appeasing some of the most dangerous people in history—Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Augustus.

In this sweeping chronicle, Lacey dissects reams of misinformation to reveal, for the first time, Jesus, as he was born and lived within the grand spectacle of the Roman world.

About The Author

Dr. James Lacey is the professor of strategy at the Marine Corps War College. He also holds the Horner Chair of War Studies at Marine Corps University. Prior to taking this position, he was a widely published senior analyst at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Washington, D.C. His previous works include Rome: A Strategy for Empire, Moment of Battle, The First Clash, Great Strategic Rivalries, Gods of War, and The Washington War.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kamis on May 19, 2025

I think I was a little out of my depth with this. I am definitely not an expert on the history of the Roman Empire, and don't have a ton of knowledge on Jesus' life and death besides the basics. This didn't just cover the year Jesus died, but many years before his birth, during his life, and then hi......more

Goodreads review by Rich on June 06, 2025

The Year God Died by James Lacey Summary: What did the Roman Empire look like in the year Jesus died, 33 AD? The Year God Died approaches the four Gospels as historical texts and places them alongside Roman records to build a picture of the world the historical Jesus lived in. I couldn’t think of a be......more

Goodreads review by Dan on April 03, 2025

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance copy of this work of history that discusses how problems and changes in Rome effected people and places all over the empire, especially in Judea during the time of Jesus. I am not the kind of person that thinks about......more

Goodreads review by Victoria on April 25, 2025

I’ve read a few scathing reviews of this yet-to-be-published nonfiction book. I’m not sure if the reviewers are being deliberately obtuse or if they are doing exactly what James Lacey claims many people do—discounting the historicity of Jesus and the New Testament because one-third of the global pop......more

Goodreads review by Brittany on May 19, 2025

Thank you to Bantam and John Lacey for this ARC. While non-fiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, the title and subject matter of this one immediately caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did. 😉 🏛 What did you love the most? Reading this felt like sitting down for a deep, personal conversation with the aut......more


Quotes

The Year God Died skillfully guides readers on a journey through the complexity and tumult of the Roman occupation of first-century Judea and its inevitable collision with the Jesus Movement. . . . A much-needed resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding the ways in which Roman imperialism actually contributed to the birth of Christianity.”—Dr. T. J. Wray, professor of religious and theological studies and author of Good Girls, Bad Girls of the New Testament: Their Enduring Lessons

“Historically rich and meticulously researched, Lacey’s latest volume assesses the evidence for the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. The Year God Died submits the Gospel records to a captivating scrutiny of contemporary scholarship on the first-century Roman Empire.”—William D. Barrick, Th.D., professor emeritus on Old Testament at The Master’s Seminary