By JOSÉ MICAELSON LACERDA MORAIS*
Author's introduction to newly published book
The central thesis of this essay holds that the New Testament must be understood, first of all, as an eminently and profoundly humanist work. Although traditionally recognized as a record of divine revelation, it reflects in a striking way the anxieties, hopes and contradictions of a society in transformation. For its unique historical, cultural and political context emerges as a product of the complexities of its time, marked by the expansion of the Roman Empire, the lasting influence of Greek philosophy and the cultural and spiritual resistance of the Jewish people.
This more humanistic look at the New Testament not only does it not diminish its religious dimension, but essentially expands its social relevance. By highlighting the way in which he captures the realities of the ancient world, one realizes that his texts, while announcing the divine message, also offer a panorama of the social relations, ideological conflicts and hopes that permeated the lives of those who lived under imperial oppression and sought meaning in a scenario of rapid transformations.
Thus, as much as it is a spiritual document, it is also a mirror of the human experience in Antiquity, where relations between peoples were marked by an incessant cycle of domination and submission; and extreme violence played a central role in both the maintenance of power and survival. Territorial conquests, the subjugation of populations and the destruction of cities were recurrent practices, legitimized by the political and cultural structures of the time.
War was seen not only as a tool for expansion, but as an essential mechanism for securing resources—grains, slaves, and taxes—, prestige, and internal stability. In this scenario, conquerors and conquered alternated positions, highlighting how violence structured both power relations and perpetuated a state of constant tension and conflict.
Therefore, this essay proposes to explore the New Testament in light of its historical context, connecting this experience with the challenges and dynamics of the 21st century. The analysis seeks to go beyond theological interpretation, considering the historical, social and cultural events that shaped its narratives, as well as the dilemmas, hopes and aspirations that drove its protagonists. By questioning how its authors responded to the profound transformations of their time, we see the complexity of the political, cultural and spiritual tensions of a society in transition emerge.
More importantly, it is worth noting that these texts, written in an environment permeated by Roman oppression, Jewish resistance and Hellenistic influence, engage with universal issues that continue to challenge humanity. In addition to being a work of its time, New Testament was the result of a revolutionary movement, Christianity.
A movement that, by integrating principles of justice, equality and love for one's neighbor, offered an ethical and spiritual alternative to the logic of domination and exclusion that characterized the ancient world. Christianity would profoundly transform human history, but it would also be co-opted, transformed and adapted to its social and political dynamics. From a certain point in its trajectory, it would even begin to promote, to the benefit of its institutional interests, social relations characterized by inequality and exploitation among human beings.
Through its historical developments, Christianity emerged as an organized faith, culminating in the formation of the Catholic Church, which would become a political and spiritual institution of vast influence in the Western world. The transition from a small movement of followers of Jesus to a dominant religion reflects not only the strength of its messages, but also the challenges and compromises that marked its trajectory.
Taking this into account, it is worth asking how early Christianity influenced the social and cultural structures of the Roman Empire itself? Or, even, how did it adapt to them and to Greek philosophy? What elements of the message of Jesus and his followers allowed its overwhelming expansion? How did the internal and external conflicts of the Jewish people shape nascent Christianity? And, finally, how did it continue to inspire debate and reflection, even in a world radically different from the one in which it was written?
The human dimension of New Testament is also revealed in the plurality of voices that compose its texts, both those of the canon and those considered apocryphal and/or heretical. The GospelsThe Epistles (letters written by apostles and leaders of the early Church to Christian communities or individuals with the aim of guiding Christians in theological, moral and practical matters), and the Apocalypse offer different and, at times, even contradictory perspectives. Despite this, such diversity is not a defect, but rather an asset, as it reflects the complexity of human experience and the incessant search for meaning in the midst of chaos.
At the center of these reflections is Jesus: a human being deeply embedded in his historical context, but whose words and actions pointed to a universal understanding of the human condition, challenging individuals and societies to question their structures, priorities, and values. He emerges as a singular figure whose words and actions challenge both the political power and religious structures of his time. His message reflects a new worldview, radical in its essence, as it is also a glimpse into themes such as inclusion, equality, and social justice.
In the following pages, we propose to investigate the process of Jesus’ divinization, covering the period from the first to the fourth century. We will seek to understand how human experience shaped the perception of the sacred, while at the same time distancing itself from immediate existential realities. Our objective is to explore how the transcendent ideal, when elevated to an exclusively future plane, often operates as a double mechanism: of consolation in the face of the difficulties of existence and of devaluing the possibilities of transformation in the present.
This dynamic, by shifting the focus to the “afterlife”, tends to disconnect individuals from the challenges and potential of their lives. praxis social in everyday life, reinforcing the idea that solutions to humanity's problems reside in a time and space distinct from the here and now.
In this context, revisiting the New Testament from this perspective, it allows us not only to interpret their messages, but also to engage in dialogue with them, considering how cultural, social and political transformations have shaped the interpretations of these texts over time. This can allow us, in the present, to reflect on alternatives for a new society, based on social values such as freedom, equality and justice, both within a people and among all peoples, promoting the construction of more just and supportive social relations.
Therefore, Jesus’ message transcends its historical time and remains relevant as a profound invitation to reflect on who we are, who we aspire to be, and what barriers prevent us from building a new society. For this message to reach its full transformative potential, it is essential to overcome interpretations that confine it to the promise of a life beyond death or reduce it to Enlightenment legal fictions—which mask inequalities and perpetuate injustices.
By reinterpreting his words in light of contemporary challenges, we can rescue the transformative meaning of early Christianity: a continuous call to reflection and action in a world still deeply structured in inequalities, conflicts and unfulfilled hopes.
*José Micaelson Lacerda Morais He is a professor at the Department of Economics at the Regional University of Cariri (URCA).
Reference

Michaelson Morales. The New Testament in the light of the 21st century: thinking about a materialist theology. Joinville, Authors Club, 2025. 254 pages. [https://abrir.link/TWjwd]
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