Multiple claimants to Jesus's true legacy
Active conflict between different interpretations
The central question: Who really understood what Jesus taught?

It moves away from the assumption that there was one unified "Christian" movement being persecuted, and instead highlights the reality - various groups fighting over:
✦ Hebrew vs. Greek influences
✦ Torah observance vs. faith alone
✦ Sacrifice theology vs. obedience theology
✦ Paul's gospel vs. Jerusalem apostles
✦ Jewish identity vs. universal message
Each group genuinely believed they had the authentic Jesus message and the others were corrupted or deceived.
This makes the persecution much more complex too - it wasn't just "Romans vs. Christians" but:

Hebrew groups vs. Greek-influenced groups
Torah-observant vs. Paul's followers
Temple authorities vs. various Jesus movements
Romans trying to manage multiple competing religious factions




Timeline: The Battle for Jesus - Who Had the Real Message? (33–70 AD)
33-36 AD: The Split Begins
Multiple Jesus Groups Emerge:

Hebrew "Way" followers - Torah-observant, Aramaic-speaking, saw Yeshua as Messiah-King
Greek-speaking Jewish converts - Using LXX, more open to Gentile inclusion
Temple establishment - Viewing all Jesus groups as threats to authority

Key Conflicts:

Stephen's execution - Hebrew vs. Greek theological clash (Greek-influenced Jews vs. Aramaic truth-tellers)
Saul's persecution - Working for Hellenistic Jews to eliminate Hebrew Jesus movements
Different scriptures - Hebrew groups using Paleo texts vs. Greek groups using LXX

What's Really Happening: Not one movement being persecuted, but competing interpretations fighting for legitimacy.

36-44 AD: Paul's Switch and Growing Divisions
The Plot Thickens:

Paul's conversion - Moves from persecutor to promoter of Greek-friendly Jesus theology
Jerusalem apostles vs. Paul's mission - Different gospels for different audiences
Herod Agrippa I - Playing politics, killing Jesus followers to gain favor

Key Development: Paul begins developing blood atonement theology appealing to Greek philosophical concepts, while Jerusalem church maintains Torah obedience model.
Multiple Texts Being Written: Different groups recording their versions - Hebrew eyewitness accounts vs. Greek theological interpretations.

44-60 AD: The Theological War Intensifies
Competing Systems Crystallize:

Hebrew groups: Personal responsibility (Ezekiel 18:20), behavioral religion, Torah-based
Pauline groups: Vicarious atonement, faith-based salvation, grace theology
Roman authorities: Trying to figure out what these groups actually believe

The Selection Process Begins: Greek-influenced groups start gaining political advantage - their theology more appealing to non-Jewish audiences and Roman sensibilities.
200+ Writings Circulating: Each group producing texts supporting their interpretation, but political power will determine which survive.

60-70 AD: The Winners Emerge
Temple Destruction Changes Everything:

Hebrew groups lose their center, many flee to Pella
Greek-influenced groups adapt better to Diaspora conditions
Roman empire begins favoring religions that serve imperial unity

The Canon Selection Process: Why choose Luke (never saw Jesus) and Paul (opposed original apostles) over 91+ religious groups and 200+ writings including Hebrew eyewitness accounts?
Answer: Because Greek non-eyewitness texts served political purposes better than authentic Hebrew sources.

The Real Story:
This wasn't "Christians vs. persecutors" - it was multiple religious movements using the name of Jesus, each claiming authenticity, while political powers gradually selected which version would survive based on imperial usefulness, not historical accuracy.
The "winners" wrote the history to look inevitable, but in real time it was theological chaos with the most politically convenient version eventually gaining imperial backing.