Vatican City, Mar 2, 2011 / 02:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In his new book, the second volume of "Jesus of Nazareth," Pope Benedict XVI demonstrates again that "scientific" study of the Scriptures can be joined with a prayerful attitude to yield penetrating spiritual insights. The Vatican press office unexpectedly released portions of the book on March 2 -- a week ahead of the scheduled publication date. Ignatius Press will publish the book March 10 in the United States. The book, the second in a proposed three-volume scholarly work on the Gospel accounts of Christ's life, studies his final weeks -- from his entrance into Jerusalem to his resurrection from the dead. The Vatican released excerpts concerning Judas, the dating of the Last Supper, and Christ's trial before Pontius Pilate. Jesus' Blood and the Jews In his section on Jesus' trial scene, the Pope explains that in the Gospel of John, "the Jews" who instigated Christ's death should not be interpreted as "racist" or as a blanket condemnation of the people of Israel. "After all, John himself was ethnically a Jew, as were Jesus and all his followers," the Pope notes. "The entire early Christian community was made up of Jews. In John's Gospel this word has a precise and clearly defined meaning: he is referring to the Temple aristocracy." The Pope argues from a close scholarly reading that passages speaking of Jesus' "blood" being upon the Jewish people and their children (Matt. 27:25) must be "read in an entirely new <b>...</b>