Tenth Anniversary Edition - The Didymus Contingency

I absolutely loved this story. I really enjoyed the friendship of the two main characters and the friendship they developed with Jesus as they time-traveled back and forth between time...it was a great story-line and Jeremy pulled it off and made it into a fantastic adventure. I definitely am going to recommend it to all my friends.

This is the first book by Jeremy Robinson/Knight/Bishop I have read. The subject and plot were very clever and an enjoyable read.

I will definitely seek out other books by this author. His voluminous production of books can be intimidating though. I recommend this book for anyone interested in historical fiction.

Time travel, action, and Jesus. it truly works on so many levels!!!

Now. you dont have to be a Christian, like myself, to enjoy this novel.
Yes, it follows the Bible's accounts of the last 2+ years of Jesus Christ's life.
but, these accounts are from the perspective of two scientists from our time. one a Christian - the other an Atheist.
There are some modern adventures mixed in as well.

Soooo Good!!!

Ten Years Later and still one of my favorite books. Jeremy puts a new twist on time travel and the age old question " If you could go back in time would you change history". If you like a book that makes you think and surprises you at every turn, you need to read this book. You will not regret it.

I'm a huge science fiction fan, and I particularly enjoy stories with time travel themes. I'm also a committed Christian. I've long felt that there's a lack of quality Christian fiction, and there's almost no Christian science fiction. I can understand the difficulty in creating a sci-fi/Christian story line, but Jeremy Robinson accomplished it. The Didymus Contingency is one of the very few spiritually oriented fiction books that I've thoroughly enjoyed.

I couldn't put this book down. It was a great read on many levels. The science fiction angle was compelling. The characters were well developed and the story was creative and entertaining. At the same time I felt uplifted spiritually. What else can you ask for! I can strongly recommend this book!

The below review refers to the original edition of this book.

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I'd heard a lot about "The Didymus Contingency," and being acquainted with Mr. Robinson through our mutual relationship with Lulu Press, I've been watching his book's success for a while now. I finally got around to reading his book, and I'm very glad I did.

"The Didymus Contingency" is a time-travel adventure first and foremost. While it is a Christian thriller as well, it should be highly entertaining to anyone except those who are blatantly turned off by the ideals of Christianity, as the book's plot does center around these concepts and beliefs.

But the story isn't preachy, and it gives both the perspectives of both a true believer, and a non-believer as well. The science aspects are well developed, though not the primary focus, and the overall plot is very good. There were times when I found myself wanting David and Tom to be a bit more serious about the dangerous and frightening situations they found themselves in, but admittedly, the interaction between these two characters, during both good and bad times, is what really drives the story.

Mr. Robinson also did an excellent job of bringing Jesus and his disciples to life, depicting them as not overly dramatic Shakespearian actors, but as real, living beings. And yet throughout the author makes it clear that Jesus is no less divine because of his physical humanity.

"The Didymus Contingency" is uniquely told Christian thriller, and there seemed to be the hint that more of these adventures are yet to come. And I for one can't wait to read them.

- Gregory Bernard Banks, author of "The Highest Curse" (the store Shorts), and other works.

I'd heard a lot about "The Didymus Contingency," and being acquainted with Mr. Robinson through our mutual relationship with Lulu Press, I've been watching his book's success for a while now. I finally got around to reading his book, and I'm very glad I did.

"The Didymus Contingency" is a time-travel adventure first and foremost. While it is a Christian thriller as well, it should be highly entertaining to anyone except those who are blatantly turned off by the ideals of Christianity, as the book's plot does center around these concepts and beliefs.

But the story isn't preachy, and it gives both the perspectives of both a true believer, and a non-believer as well. The science aspects are well developed, though not the primary focus, and the overall plot is very good. There were times when I found myself wanting David and Tom to be a bit more serious about the dangerous and frightening situations they found themselves in, but admittedly, the interaction between these two characters, during both good and bad times, is what really drives the story.

Mr. Robinson also did an excellent job of bringing Jesus and his disciples to life, depicting them as not overly dramatic Shakespearian actors, but as real, living beings. And yet throughout the author makes it clear that Jesus is no less divine because of his physical humanity.

"The Didymus Contingency" is uniquely told Christian thriller, and there seemed to be the hint that more of these adventures are yet to come. And I for one can't wait to read them.

- Gregory Bernard Banks, author of "The Summoner" (the store Shorts), and other works.

Like many who have discovered this book, I found it cited time and again here at the store by those who had read and reviewed it. I was initially reluctant simply because of the so-called religious angle of the novel. I am not what you would call a Christian Fiction reader--in fact to my knowledge I have never read one before...and I certainly did NOT want to start, but the story seemed almost too creative to pass up, and I am happy to say that if you are like me, go ahead and put those thoughts behind you and GET THIS BOOK.

If you could go back in time and witness ANY event in history, where would you go? Talk about an interesting premise for a book! I had to admit I have wondered about this from time-to-time in my life, and on more than one occasion the idea of going back to actually witness the life of Jesus had crossed my mind. I never took it any further however because as we all know (or at least most of us), traveling through time isn't possible. But the tremendous What If scenario here explores this premise in great detail in what has to be one of the best uses of Time Travel I have personally read.

In a particular nasty and very unfortunate event, Tom Greenbaum loses his wife to those of African terrorists simply because of her belief in Jesus. Tom does NOT share her views, in fact he believes the whole idea of Jesus as the Son of God working miracles is utter nonsense causing more problems than it can possible solve. Decades after losing his wife, Tom, along with a close religious friend actually build a working Time Machine. In a drunken stupor shortly after celebrating its first successful test, Tom uses the machine to debunk what he believes is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated in all of history. Tom's deeply religious co-worker David makes an all-out attempt to stop Tom before he does something horrific and irrevocably alters History. His initial attempt fails (and provides a great opportunity to see Jeremy Robinson's storytelling talent) and then decides a visit 2,000 years in the past is warranted. Before David even really knows how to solve the situation with Tom, they are face-to-face with Jesus of Nazareth as he begins selecting his Twelve Disciples. What happens next is tremendous tour-de-force through time that is very difficult to describe without ruining the plot.

Personally for me, towards the end when Tom's true purpose is revealed--and which I cannot tell you without seriously compromising the great revelation for those who have yet to read it--I actually found myself sitting in amazement at how it all came together. Now for those who are worried that reading this novel will be some veiled attempt to convert you, nothing could be further from the truth. Although at first glance, the idea of a Time Traveling Action Adventure read featuring Jesus Christ and His Teachings may sound like a tough pill to swallow, I MUST tell you that Jeremy Robinson pulls it off admirably. At NO point did I feel that I was being preached to, and while knowing the story of Jesus as contained in the Four Gospels helped me to have an idea of what would happen next, HOW it unfolded truly was as unpredictable as it was entertaining.

Some have criticized the earlier publication due to typos and grammar errors...while I never won any awards in school for my writing skills, as I see it, unless the errors somehow corrupted the actual story, I cannot understand why it was such an issue. I read a later edition, so I didn't see this as a problem anyway. I say buy it, read it and judge for yourself based on the STORY. I can't promise that this story will do for you what it has done for me, but I say go for it anyway. If it means anything, I quickly started his follow-up, 'Raising The Past' literally within moments of finishing. I think that speaks for itself.

This review applies to the Lulu published version.
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I don't know if this was the purpose of the novel but Jeremy Robinson has given a phenomenal Christian testimony with the Didymus Contingency. The time travel thriller will keep you glued to its pages like flypaper. More importantly, it will stick to your mind and soul as well. Robinson's portrayal of a human, accessible Christ is a service to Christianity. His blending of real Biblical scenes and fictitious happenings is masterful. His ability to create fantastic dialog between characters is extraordinary. I found his character development of characters like Judas and Jesus to be touching and enlightening. Any Christian would be well-served in reading this work. It will give you a brand new view on how to look at the personalities in the Bible. Mr. Robinson makes it clear that his work is fiction but some of us would love to believe it to be fact. The main characters Tom and David are equally deep and interesting personalities. Their dynamic of a religiously faithful man and a secular-thinking scientist makes for engaging and interesting conversations. Let me say that the ending is nothing short of fantastic.

Bottom-line: If you are a sci-fi fan, buy this novel. If you are a Christian or not, this time bending, roller coaster ride is not to be missed! And you might find yourself thinking about God in the process.

I really enjoyed this book. I was entrenched in it every night until I reached the end. I have been reading it before bed for about a week and a half and have found that it has set my mined ablaze. I finished last night. Do to stresses in life it is rare that my mind is able be fully captured by a story enough to forget for 60 minutes what my day has been like. This book managed to achieve that.

To be truthful I didn't even buy the book. My wife picked it up after a friend recommended it. She loved it, tried to get me to read it and I resisted. I resisted because in general, books with religious overtones seem to more often than not to aggravate me with their agendas. Last week, I found myself without anything to read in the facilities (to much detail I know) because my wife threw out all the magazines. The book was on her dresser so out of desperation I grabbed the book and the rest is history. I adopted it for a week of reading.

Before I started to write this review I read the review below. I am not even sure the person who wrote that review read the whole book because some of the comments are way off in left field. The one comment that I really want to rebut is the one in relation to Jesus and how the writer portrayed him. I can't reiterate enough how much an over the top portrayal and overly analytical representation of Jesus in this book would have turned me off.

Clearly I am not someone who minds a good wordy review but I don't respect reviewers who give away large parts of the story, especially when they misrepresent the story (there is most definitely a clear and dramatic conclusion to Tom's quest.) Christian or not this book should leave you with, at the very least, a fun topic for discussion. My daughter is reading it now and I am looking forward to hearing what she thinks. As for me, I think this book is wonderful.

What a great subject for a book! Robinson managed to take me back to the days in which Jesus walked the earth. I could see myself walking and talking with Jesus who had a wonderful sense of humor.

The fantasy of time travel in and of itself makes for interesting reading and when that is mixed with the physical Jesus along with a mysterious and dangerous plotline, then the reader is sure to get a tale of intrigue and excitement and in Jeremy Robinson's exploration you get exactly that!

I recommend the book to anyone that likes a good adventure. You don't need to be a believer to enjoy this book...but if you deny that Christ actually existed then you may miss the relevancy, but I highly recommend it anyway!

I was so disappointed; it could have been so good. An interesting premise, about two time travelers from 2005 going back to walk and talk with Jesus Christ. But it was so badly written (misspellings and bad grammar) it was hard to read. I am very surprised that it made it to print with so many typos in it, e.g., "he wretched into the grass with force," "the man who lied on the ground," "the Yankee fan whom had already taken aim," "his eyebrows raised into his forehead." And this is all in the first 50 pages. Plus the plot was somewhat corny. It read like a comic (there were a lot of `Pangs' and `Whacks' and `Arghs') not to mention stuff like hospital charts hanging at the foot of the bed (they haven't done that in 50 years!). The whole time travel thing befuddled me so I didn't even try to keep track of how and when people went and came back. And the ending was rather lame. I thought Tom's reaction at the end was out of character, but just a nice expected wrap-up to the story.

This book was amazing! Once i started it I couldn't put it down, I have enjoyed other Robinson novels, but this was my favorite. It didn't have as much action as I expected from the description, but was even more riveting than anticipated. I don't want to say too much and give away some of the twists, but it does have a lot about Jesus in it. Unfortunately I fear that this book will be criticized because of it. I wish there were more books out there like this one.

Really nice concept, Otherwise it is a poorly written Christian tract. Looks like most of the high reviews came from that group of folks, which is totally fine guess. The low review from me is more about bad grammar and mediocre storytelling. But what more does anyone want from a pulp beach read?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was hooked from the very first couple of pages. I was sad when I finished reading it because I wanted to read more and didn't want it to end. Each page is filled with adventure and the fast moving plot will leave you spellbound thinking, what if this could really happen....great science fiction! Loved the characters and how they were interweaved through time. Enjoyed how the main characters interacted with Jesus and the events surrounding his life. Also enjoyed the demons and twists and turns of the plot. This book would make an exciting movie. My KUDOS to the author. So buy the book and sit back and enjoy the very fast-paced adventure.

I picked up this book after stumbling across it while looking for authors like James Rollins, Steve Alten, and Matthew Reilly. I did like this book and thought it was a very interesting concept using time travel and Jesus together in a book. Recommended.

I picked up this book after stumbling across it while looking for authors like James Rollins, Steve Alten, and Matthew Reilly. I did like this book and thought it was a very interesting concept using time travel and Jesus together in a book. Recommended.

This was probably the most gripping novel I've read in a long time. The plot was complex. The action was tense. The science was cool. The characters were believable, driven and falable. This book kept me up many a night, first reading it and second, even after I finished it I was still thinking about it.

Coolest of all, I looked up some of what happens in this book in the Bible and it's all there! It was so surreal. It made it seem even more like this book, which was so fantasical (and fantastic), could have really happened. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and think just about everyone, probably ranging in age from 13 to...how old do people get these days? 114? Ages 13 to 114 will love this book. It's a new classic in my mind.

It took me approximately 2 pages to get swept away in the pace of the Didymus Contingency. It took another 8 pages to get so wrapped up in the tale that I had no choice but to read the rest--in two sittings. Yes, this is absolutely a page-turner!

Time travel has always fascinated me. It isn't the science--I mean, most people could care less--it's the mind-bending philosophical issues, and above all the incredibly open-ended adventure that time travel entails. That's what captivates most of us, I think. And Jeremy Robinson pulls off the whole thing with aplomb!

We are thrown into the life of Tom, a scientist with a traumatic past, who decides to go back and prove that Jesus is not God, did not rise from the dead, and could not perform miracles. Followed into time by his friend, the pair quickly fall into an adventure more dangerous and eye-opening they ever could have imagined.

I'd like to say a few things. First, Mr. Robinson is not Dan Brown. He's nothing like him. The stories, the writing style, don't expect Dan Brown here. Robinson has a style all his own, but if I had to compare... well, I'd say this is Michael Crichton-style material, with a tiny touch, perhaps, of Tim Lahaye thrown in for good measure. Dispel any "soft and light" Christian connotations, this is truly a gritty world populated by realistic characters. Even Jesus' portrayal is surprisingly realistic, and incredible human.

What didn't I like? That's easy. Too short! Although the novel weighs in with a respectable page count, we could have easily spent more time with the characters, gotten to know them even better. Still, there is a lot of great stuff crammed into these 289 pages, and thus it earns the highest approval rating--5 stars! Check it out.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book as soon as I read it. The ending was suberb and the writing was mostly flawless. My only complaint is it did get repetitive at times. I would reccommend it with the caution that it starts to slow down towards the middle a bit, but blows you away by the end.

Although I found The Didymus Contingency entertaining, at times, I was constantly pulled out of the story when running across writing mistakes -- one in particular. If someone is going to call themself a writer, much less an author, they better know the simple difference between 'then' and 'than.' I can't count how many times I ran across this mistake. Trust me -- I know it's inevitable to run across a typo or two when reading any given novel. I'm sure a reader would find a couple in my novel, The Domino Effect, too.

In this case, however, you can't even call it a typo, 'cause it's blatantly obvious that Robinson didn't catch it after any number of edits because he didn't think it was used incorrectly; otherwise, he would have corrected this before making it available to the public -- at least I hope he would. I can't be the only person to have noticed this. At the minimal, why didn't James Rollins bring this to his attention? Nothing pulls me out of the moment faster 'than' a sloppy mistake like that.

I can appreciate where Robinson was trying to go with this unique story, and I have no doubt that I would've enjoyed it a lot more had this mistake been eliminated. It makes it impossible to get lost in the moment, ultimately affecting my opinion of any book.

I am an avid reader of science fiction, and particularly enjoy time travel novels. I also read quite a bit of supernatural fiction. I don't read much in the way of novels built around Christianity. However, I am the author of numerous articles on Christian theology for academic journals, have a book on Christian theology under contract with a major publisher, and have a graduate degree from a divinity school.

When I came across the Didymus Contingency, I thought it would offer an interesting blend of my professional life and principal hobby. Sadly, the novel's characterization was extremely cliched and superficial. Character types (such as security guards, business men, etc.) were treated as thoughtless, petty, selfish, evil. The scientist, Tom, who was the novel's religious skeptic, traveled with Jesus for years --- and despite all the wonders he saw, held firm to the view that Jesus was a fraud, until, that is, his resurrection. After dozens of healings, the resurrection of Lazarus, and many other miracles, Tom didn't believe. He always explained away what he was as some sort of con, a magic trick, something set up in advance, etc.. Why, then, would he respond any differerently when he saw Jesus after the crucifixion? Why after years of nay-saying would this change his mind? Lazarus did not, nor did two years worth of other experiences. So, it made no sense for the character to then suddenly shift and just accept that Jesus did really rise from the dead. Tom never wondered whether Jesus faked being dead on the cross, for instance.

Furthermore, why would Tom (or David for that matter) assume that the only two possibilities for Jesus was that he was an ordinary human (albeit a nice bloke) or God incarnate? They surely would be familiar with other possibilities out of sci-fi? Would not Tom, in particular, rather than jumping to the divinity hypothesis consider instead some of the other options? Maybe Jesus was a mutant (like an X-MAN), maybe an alien, maybe he also was from the future and had embedded within his body various technologies? Surely these would be more plausible to Tom and for the author to try to blend time travel and Jesus yet ignore all these conjectures undermined whatever aim the author had to speak to Tom-like readers.

It may be that there would be no way to falsify these other hypotheses, but that itself would be relevant to a scientist. So, in effect, the author not only showed no insight into humanity when it came to the peripheral characters of businessmen, etc., he also was without insight into the scientific mind of his main characters. As a novel, it was stiff and shallow. As science fiction, unimaginative. As a work of Christian literature, unreflective and immature.

This might be a good a read for a twelve year old at a Christian summer camp, but for a thoughtful person of faith or for a curious non-believer, the novel is a very regrettable missed opportunity.

This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride back in time to explore the inner depths of the Christian faith to its core belief in the ressurection of Christ. The Author mezmorizes you right from the start with ideas so profound yet securely rooted in scientic theory that one can truely believe they are traveling through time to witness histories greatest moment ever, the dawning of a new age, after the death of Christ. But what happens after that... you'll have to read the book for yourself. Does Christ really rise? Or has it been one of the most elaborate hoaxes the world has ever seen? This is the journey of Didymus... Do you believe?

After reading The Didymus Contingency, I feel like I have witnessed Biblical events from 25 feet away instead of 2000 years away. Robinson offers a new take on time travel theories that make others obsolete and his portrayal of Jesus and other Biblical characters made them seem like my own group of friends. It's a fast-paced read, but not beyond the grasp of understanding. So it was very easy to get swallowed up in the story and feel like a part of it. I highly recommend it, not just for Christians, but people of any faith! Within a minute of reading the last page, I checked for when the next Robinson book will come out!

frankly, after reading all the positive reviews, i was very disappointed in this book. the character development was weak. while the concept of the basic story was quite unique (time travel to biblical times) the discussion around the technology and enigmas generated by visiting the past were poorly described. i also got the impression that this book was a pro-christian piece of work much as the Left Behind series is. i have never written a book review here before but i was motivated to do so after being let down by this book.

I picked up this book because the premise sounded interesting. I enjoy time travel stories and, as one raised atheist, also find religious theory fascinating. In addition, other reader reviews were filled with glowing praise for the book, which seemed to be a good sign.

It is quite possible that the ideas in this book regarding Christianity, and religion in general, are novel. As other reviewers have so enthusiastically complimented this aspect of the book, I must assume that Robinson managed to strike a magic chord. And good for him.

Robinson is not, however, a good writer. His grammar is poor, his prose unimaginative, and his dialogue unnatural. Had I not known this was a published work, I would have assumed I was reading a high school student's first draft, and begun correcting it. Although he may have some great ideas, Robinson needs courses in basic composition and creative writing in order to express them in a smooth, readable narrative. What is more disheartening is that his editor allowed the numerous grammatical errors to go uncorrected.

I am glad that so many readers felt inspired by Robinson's story. I am, unfortunately, unable to give his work a passing grade due to his failure to tell that story in an acceptable manner.

Like Raising the Past (also by Robinson), this book read very fast. The opening scene hooked me right away, and the rest of the story moved along quite well. I'll be looking for more from Robinson in the future.

This book has a very different premise...time travel to the time of Jesus. The story was very researched and a thrill to read. I loved the subject matter as it combined both "thriller" and religious aspects. It made me think, laugh and cry! I highly recommend this book!

This book combined deep spiritual insight, action, and an eye for technical detail. The premise of the book is so completely original there is little to compare it to. The book has a plot that literally pulls you through the pages with an incredible surprise ending. I enjoyed it immensely.

I absolutely loved this book! What a fantastic blend of action and adventure - mixed with the spiritual and historical side of our past! Jeremy Robinson has completed a fantastic masterpiece that I hope is only the beginning of many exciting adventures to come. If you like Rollins, Reilly or Preston/Child - this is the new author for you - a must read! I read it in two days! Absolutely Fabulous!

I loved this book, it gave me chills. Robinson's writing is so great that at times I could feel as if I was there and forgot I was reading. Highly recommend The Didymus Contingency!

Trust me you too will feel as if you have been taken back in time, and you might not want to leave...

I bought this book because of the favorable reviews and was really disappointed. Jesus is just too cool,the love story is banal, the characters undeveloped and one-dimensional,the style and grammar amateurish and the "time travel" theme has been done better.Really-- don't buy this book.