Book Introduction: Saint Andrew: The Greatest CFO in History who Supported Jesus Christ

Hello everyone!
Today, I will introduce in detail a very unique book titled "Saint Andrew: The Greatest CFO in History Who Supported Jesus Christ," published by Nihonbashi Publishing on April 28, 2025. Although this book is written in Japanese, reading it will surely provide new insights into the Bible, Christianity, and Saint Andrew as a historical figure!

1. The inspiration behind this book:    What happens when a Buddhist reads the Bible?

The author of this book, "Kissakoh," is actually not a Christian. He was raised as a Buddhist, with his family's graves at a temple. So why did he write a book about the Christian saint St Andrew?

The catalyst was when the author's mother fell ill, and in her quest for healing, he read various religious books and came across the Bible. After reading the Bible multiple times and delving into related books, he was particularly captivated by Bruce Burton's "The Man Nobody Knows." This book portrays Jesus Christ from the perspectives of a "historical figure" and a "business leader," which resonated deeply with the author.

At the time, the author was serving as a CFO (Chief Financial Officer), and he thought to himself, "The group Jesus was leading during his ministry was also an 'organization.' If it was an organization, there must have been someone like a CFO responsible for managing finances and coordinating people. If that's the case, who was that CFO?"

This question led the author to research the figure of Saint Andrew. Using his business experience and deep curiosity about history, the author sought to unravel the mystery of the CFO who supported Jesus Christ. It is precisely because he is not a Christian that he was able to approach Saint Andrew not as an object of faith, but as a historical figure, using an objective perspective and knowledge of history and business. This is the greatest charm of this book and the author's primary reason for writing it.

2. Who was Saint Andrew?  The forgotten great supporter

According to the New Testament, Saint Andrew was Jesus Christ's first disciple and the brother of the famous apostle Peter. However, strangely enough, his activities are not described in detail in the New Testament. Why was Jesus' first disciple not passed down to posterity? This book touches on the reasons for this.

After Jesus' death, as his disciples spread his teachings, differences in their beliefs began to emerge. For example, there was a major debate over whether to adhere to the rules of Judaism (such as dietary restrictions and lifestyle habits) when spreading Christianity, or whether these rules could be disregarded. The author suggests that Saint Andrew's contributions may have been intentionally overlooked or insufficiently recorded in the Bible due to the complex historical background of such ideological conflicts, the discovery of differing policies among believers, and the division of the church.

However, Jesus' group was not merely a "gathering of people." They functioned as an "organization" that traveled across the country to spread "Jesus' teachings." To gather many people, eat together, and travel, funds were inevitably needed, as well as various coordinators. This book boldly hypothesizes that Saint Andrew was the one who supported this "organization" behind the scenes, managing finances, coordinating people, and ensuring that Jesus' activities ran smoothly, much like a "CFO (Chief Financial Officer)." He may have been the "strongest CFO in history," selflessly supporting the group behind the scenes so that Jesus could focus on his teachings.

3. What you'll learn from this book: Interpreting the Bible from historical and managerial perspectives

This book provides deep insights that cannot be gained simply by reading the Bible. It examines how Saint Andrew was perceived as a "human being" within the organization and how he acted, through the dual lenses of history and business management.

The author has thoroughly researched not only Saint Andrew, but also other important figures in the Bible, such as Saint Philip and Saint Thomas, who were disciples of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, who is not often mentioned in the Bible. By examining them not only as "saints" but also as "real human beings" living in the society of their time, we can gain a more three-dimensional understanding of the "true nature" of Jesus and his early disciples. By delving deeply into the human emotions and choices behind historical events, the world of the Bible becomes much more relatable.

4. Is the New Testament really Jesus' words?  Edited history

We tend to think of the Bible as "the exact words of Jesus Christ," but this book offers a slightly different perspective. The New Testament is actually a collection of documents written by many people over a period of about 100 years after Jesus' death, which were later compiled and edited.

To put it another way, it's like many people from long ago recorded their experiences in diaries or letters, which were later compiled into a single "historical text." This process of compilation involved various "human elements," such as the beliefs and political circumstances of the people at the time, as well as the desire to emphasize certain teachings. The author points out that it is possible that Jesus' words were interpreted differently or that certain aspects were emphasized as they were written or passed down.

During this time, while Jesus' teachings existed, there was no Bible. The Bible was not the essence of Jesus' teachings. Understanding this relationship is crucial to grasping Jesus' true message, according to the book's perspective.
This is precisely why this book values the perspective of "history." By delving deeply into not only the surface words but also the background in which they were born and what happened in the process of their transmission, we should be able to see more clearly the message that Jesus truly wanted to convey (the true gospel) and the original roles of people like St. Andrew. This book also examines Jesus' message (the gospel).

5. The two mysteries this book focuses on: uncovering the truth of Saint Andrew

However, this book delves deeply into two major mysteries surrounding Saint Andrew.

The first mystery is,

in the desperate situation where Jesus was arrested, many disciples fled, Judas betrayed him, and Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, where was Saint Andrew, who was supposed to be responsible as CFO? What was he doing? And what was he thinking? Did he also flee? Or was he trying to support Jesus in another way?  This question highlights Saint Andrew's humanity and the qualities of a leader in extreme circumstances.

The second mystery is,

"What drew Saint Andrew to Jesus in the first place, and what made him decide to support him? And did his strong resolve ultimately come to fruition?" What was his life like before he met Jesus, and how did that encounter change him and what he sought to achieve?  Through these questions, we can deeply consider the meaning of devoting oneself to something and supporting it. Unraveling these mysteries is crucial to understanding the true nature of Saint Andrew and the influence he has on our way of life.

6. Can everyone be saved? A surprising hypothesis and connections to the East

In this book, the author puts forward a surprising hypothesis that the original teaching of Jesus Christ was a very broad and warm message that "all people, regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles (all people other than Jews), and regardless of gender, nationality, or social status, can be saved."

Even more intriguing is the author's bold hypothesis that Jesus' teaching that "all people will be saved" spread through the Silk Road to distant Eastern countries, transformed into Japanese Buddhism, particularly the belief in Amida Buddha, and further influenced the establishment of Mahayana Buddhism, a major branch of Buddhism. Amida Buddha is a Buddha who wishes to save all people, and his teachings share many similarities with Jesus' message of universal love. By delving deeply into history and exploring the connections between different cultures and religions, we may be able to get closer to the "universal truth" shared by all humanity.

This book also teaches us that the "saints" who appear in the Bible, such as Jesus, Peter, and Paul, were actually "real human beings" who, like us, sometimes struggled and sometimes failed. However, through their faith, they overcame their weaknesses and achieved remarkable changes. Jesus may have been a figure who deeply understood the worries and sufferings we face and provided us with hints and strength to escape from them.

7. Saint Andrew’s Profile revisited

Let's take another look at Saint Andrew's profile here.

The name "Andrew" is of Greek origin. Saint Andrew became a disciple of John the Baptist and later joined Jesus's group. He became one of Jesus's first disciples and introduced his younger brother Peter (who later became the first Pope of Rome) to Jesus (John 1:40-～ :42). Therefore, Saint Andrew is often referred to as both the first Christian and the first missionary in history.
Additionally, Saint Andrew arranged the first missionary work among non-Jewish Gentiles (John 12:20～ 12:26).

W. Barclay described Saint Andrew as "the backbone of the Christian Church and a man like salt of the earth."

His exact dates of birth and death are unclear, but November 30 is celebrated as "Saint Andrew's Day" every year.

He is said to have died in the Greek city of Patras, but he is also said to have preached along the Black Sea and the Dnieper River. As a result, there is a legend that he blessed the current capital of Ukraine, Kiev. He is also revered as a patron saint in the surrounding countries.

He is also very famous as the patron saint of Scotland. The white X on the blue field of the Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom, represents the X-shaped cross on which Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred.
In this book, based on biblical accounts, Saint Andrew is positioned as the CFO of the Jesus sect. The book also examines the sect's income statements and balance sheets, so please read the book for more details.

8. Saint Andrew's Distinctive Episodes: A Leader of Wisdom and Action

Here, we will introduce two episodes that reveal the character of Saint Andrew.

(1) The Miracle of the Two Fish and Five Loaves

This miracle took place by the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is a very important episode that appears in all four Gospels: Mark (6:30–44), Matthew (14:12–21), Luke (9:10–17), and John (6:1–13).

At that time, Saint Andrew brought a boy who had five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus. It is said that this was enough to feed 5,000 people.

Some people might think, "It couldn't have happened that conveniently." However, the author believes that it is a story that could actually happen under certain conditions. Those conditions are as follows.

In normal circumstances, when food is distributed, people tend to take as much as they can, as they don't know when they will get hungry again. But what about this situation?

It was around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, and most of the crowd had already eaten lunch. Some had brought bread with them to prepare for hunger or to give to Jesus and his disciples. In other words, the hypothesis is that only a small number of people were truly in need of food, while most had already eaten.

In that context, leaders like Jesus and Saint Andrew kindly urged everyone, "Take only what you need." This appeal likely prevented the thought, "I should secure my share just in case," from arising in the hearts of those present. Not only did those who were truly hungry refrain from taking bread or fish, but some may have quietly added the bread they had brought from home to the baskets for those in need.

It is very difficult to inspire such a spirit of cooperation in a large group of people. The author believes that this was achieved because Jesus and Saint Andrew, who asked people to "take only what you need," were deeply trusted by the people, who wanted to support them. To live better, we must communicate better. The author believes that Jesus and Saint Andrew exemplify the ideal form of leadership that puts this into practice.

The author quotes the words of a Japanese poet:

This episode perfectly encapsulates the worldview being portrayed.

(2) The Three Dialogues with the Devil

This episode appears in the Golden Legend, a collection of Christian saints' lives written around 1267.

Saint Andrew is depicted as a figure overflowing with wisdom and compassion, respecting the individuality of people while accepting and protecting their weaknesses.

In the story, a devil disguised as an unparalleled beauty attempts to seduce a devout bishop. Saint Andrew, disguised as a pilgrim, appears at the church gate. The devil, not wanting to be interrupted, uses a priest to pose three difficult questions to the pilgrim, convincing the bishop that he cannot enter the church unless he answers them correctly.

■ First Dialogue

(Question)
What is the greatest miracle God has performed in a small thing?

(Answer)
It is the miracle that all human faces are different. From the beginning of the world to its end, there are no two people with exactly the same face. And the God in heaven has confined all the senses of the body into this small place called the face.

■ Second Dialogue

(Question)
Where is the earth located higher than any of the heavens?

(Answer)
It is in the Empyrean (the highest heaven, the fiery heaven). This is because the Holy Body of Christ is enthroned there. The Holy Body of Christ, though in this highest heaven higher than all other heavens, is made of the same flesh as ours. And our flesh is made of earth. Therefore, that earth is in the highest place, higher than all other heavens.

The bishops were impressed by the pilgrim's (Saint Andrew) accurate answer. Enraged by this turn of events, the devil posed the final question.

■ Third Dialogue

(Question)
How high is heaven above the earth?

(Answer)
Return to the one who posed this question and have him answer it. "She" knows better than I do. When "she" fell from heaven to hell, "she" must have measured the height herself. I have never fallen from heaven like the devil, so I have never measured such a height. I say this because, although "she" appears as a beautiful woman, "she" is not a woman but a devil.

The very act of asking this third question was a vulgar thing that revealed the questioner to be a devil. The priest who was surprised by the pilgrim's answer reported it to the bishop, and while everyone was in turmoil, the devil fled, and the pilgrim, who was actually Saint Andrew, also disappeared. The bishop's faith grew even stronger, and he began to venerate Saint Andrew, as recorded in the text.

What is depicted here is the figure of Saint Andrew, who is intelligent, erudite, courageous, bold, and never loses a battle. At the same time, he is also humble, behaving in a way that does not draw unnecessary attention to himself. He is the ideal figure of an administrator and manager, and not only that, but he also embodies the ideal figure for many people in the world, all within this short story. 

Indeed, few would doubt that Saint Andrew is an ideal manager. This book repeatedly highlights his characteristics: he was a reliable professional with a clear sense of mission and unwavering principles, as well as being considerate, honest, and filled with sincerity. 

9. Modern Wisdom Beyond Religion: Lessons from Saint Andrew

This book was written by a non-Christian author who felt a strong attraction to Saint Andrew as a person and wanted to learn from him. While delving deeply into Christian teachings, the author maintains an objective perspective and uses historical and scientific approaches to explore the "human" side of Jesus and Saint Andrew.

He focuses on the "exceptional communication skills" and "ideal managerial qualities" that Saint Andrew is said to have possessed, such as the ability to bring people together and solve problems. These are valuable lessons that can be applied to any situation in modern life, whether it be school, community activities, or business.

The message of this book is that by striving to understand historical figures as human beings, transcending barriers such as religious or sectarian differences, we can gain a deeper understanding of one another, reduce conflict, and build a peaceful society. From Saint Andrew's way of life and his stance in supporting Jesus, we can gain important wisdom for surviving in modern society and hints for growing as human beings.

Although this book is written in Japanese and may not reach many readers, it is highly recommended for anyone interested in history, human relationships, or leadership—regardless of religious beliefs or whether one identifies as Christian or not.