Preface to the First Edition

               
5th Gospel–Told by Jesus' Beloved Apostle

               
A Novel by Richard Jewell

You certainly don't need to read this "Preface" to enjoy or start reading 5th Gospel. But if you want to learn more about the writing of 5th Gospel before you read it,, here is a little information.

5th Gospel is a novel in two parts. The first, Book I, is about Jesus' childhood, his years as a young man, and his travels when he was in his twenties. The second, Book II, is about his ministry in Israel in his thirties.

I finished the First Edition of Books I and II in 1978. It was, at that time, a physically typed manuscript. (There were no personal computers, yet.) I did not send it to any publishers between 1978 and the present. I am retired, now, have a good pension and Social Security in retirement, and so don't need to make money from publishing 5th Gospel. Thus offer it free to you on the web.

As I typed the 1978 edition to this website, I made only a few, small editing changes. I made corrections of spelling errors and punctuation, small corrections of grammar, and a very occasional update to now obsolete or antiquated words. In addition, I have added a new subtitle to each chapter,  describing its contents. Otherwise, this is the same as the original 1978, hand-typed manuscript.

I also soon will work on a Second Edition. It will have more details, more development of several key characters, and more of Jesus' teachings to his immediate followers.

Please remember that this is fiction. However, it is based on extensive research and experience. To see more about these, you may go to Author's End Notes from the 1978 Edition.

My own resume included--by the time I finished this in 1978--two seminary degrees in theology and divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary, an undergraduate degree in philosophy, additional readings in psychic phenomena and Asian religions, and eighteen years of meditation practice. In the present, I retired in 2019 after a thirty-six year career teaching college literature, composition, and humanities. I also continue, since 2007, to volunteer as the General Coordinator of Minnesota Writing and English (MnWE.org), which holds an annual two-day conference for college and university English and Writing faculty in Minnesota and surrounding states.   To see more of my resume, you may visit www.RichardJewell.net.

To all of you regarding this book:

        Peace be With You.

        Shalom Aleichem -- "Peace be with you."

        As-Salaam-Alaikum -- "Peace be unto you."

        Naniboujou -- "You are a messenger of the Great Spirit."

        Namaste -- "The light in me bows to the light in you."

        Blessed Be.

--Richard Jewell

---
Most recent revision of text: 1 Nov. 2020