Wishing the author would unpack this a little more?

Since the author's entire argument rises and falls on his assertion that "people of the ancient word seldom got to know each other personally," it would be helpful if he could provide some support for this important assertion. I, for one, have never seen anyone make the remarkable statement that people of the 'ancient world' did not have personal friends. To the contrary, much of history, ancient and modern, has turned on personal interactions and feuds. Moreover, the New Testament seems to be full of personal interactions, e.g., John leaning on Jesus' breast.

Also, I disagree with the premise that the concept of Jesus as a 'friend' inappropriately lowers Him, even in the (shocking) sense of Jesus being with us and loving us as a friend loves another friend. The concept of a personal friendship with Christ does not incorrectly bring what should be a "remote" God inappropriately close to those of us on earth. The Bible itself teaches us that it is because of God's character that Christ lowered Himself by coming to the earth in the first place, being born in a manger to a lowly carpenter, and dying on a cross surrounded by thieves. This was the natural expression of God's inexplicable love for us -- and a glimpse into God's unfathomable character, something that will surely keep the heads of theologians spinning for many more centuries to come.