Overview
The relationship between Early Judaism and the New Testament is a major issue in biblical studies, one that has impacted Jewish-Christian relations for centuries. This impact has often been negative due to troubling misconceptions of both the New Testament and Jewish writings contemporaneous with it. Misunderstandings have arisen from inaccurate information, religious traditions, and anti-Semitism.
Warren Carter and Ariel Feldman address and correct these misconceptions by engaging with the New Testament and major writings from Early Judaism, including the Apocrypha, Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as Philo and Josephus. The authors emphasize various interactions among these traditions for the purpose of better interpreting the New Testament and, importantly, avoiding anti-Jewish bias.
This is an ideal supplemental textbook for students of the New Testament as well as interested clergy and laity. The text is straightforward and readable, and unlike other books on the topic, it does not assume prior knowledge of Early Judaism or of New Testament engagement with it. Each chapter recognizes troubling misunderstandings that people often have about the interactions between Early Judaism and the New Testament and includes discussion prompts.
Warren Carter and Ariel Feldman address and correct these misconceptions by engaging with the New Testament and major writings from Early Judaism, including the Apocrypha, Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as Philo and Josephus. The authors emphasize various interactions among these traditions for the purpose of better interpreting the New Testament and, importantly, avoiding anti-Jewish bias.
This is an ideal supplemental textbook for students of the New Testament as well as interested clergy and laity. The text is straightforward and readable, and unlike other books on the topic, it does not assume prior knowledge of Early Judaism or of New Testament engagement with it. Each chapter recognizes troubling misunderstandings that people often have about the interactions between Early Judaism and the New Testament and includes discussion prompts.
Table of Contents
A Note to Readers
1. What Is This Book About?
2. Reusing Biblical Traditions
3. The Temple in Early Jewish Texts
4. Groups
5. Torah/Law
6. Messiah/Christ
7. Demons and Angels
8. Crucifixion
9. Resurrection
10. Eschatology
11. Revealing God: Traditions About Wisdom
12. Prayer
13. People: Women and Non-Jews/Gentiles
Postscript
Appendix: The Dead Sea Scrolls and Hungry Caterpillars
Index
1. What Is This Book About?
2. Reusing Biblical Traditions
3. The Temple in Early Jewish Texts
4. Groups
5. Torah/Law
6. Messiah/Christ
7. Demons and Angels
8. Crucifixion
9. Resurrection
10. Eschatology
11. Revealing God: Traditions About Wisdom
12. Prayer
13. People: Women and Non-Jews/Gentiles
Postscript
Appendix: The Dead Sea Scrolls and Hungry Caterpillars
Index
Endorsements
“This wonderful book directly confronts long-lived Christian misconceptions about Jews and Early Judaism on such matters as temple, law, messiah, resurrection, women, and non-Jews. The volume is ideally structured for university courses but is an accessible and fascinating guide for adult learners as well. I enthusiastically encourage wide use of this rich resource.”
Philip A. Cunningham, codirector, Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations; professor of theology, Saint Joseph’s University
“This book fills an urgent and timely need: to trouble Christian misunderstandings about Jews and Judaism. It does so by showing both the continuities and discontinuities between the texts and traditions of Early Judaism and the New Testament writings. Instructors will appreciate the questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. Clearly written and highly accessible, this book will be an asset in the undergraduate and seminary classroom. I look forward to using it in my own courses.”
Adele Reinhartz, FRSC, Distinguished University Professor, University of Ottawa
“This is a timely and significant book, rich in scholarship with its own persistent line of argument, yet fully recognizing a diversity of views, both ancient and modern. While the Jewishness of Jesus has long been reasserted, the Jewishness of the New Testament writings has not been given enough prominence. Carter and Feldman, leading experts in their fields, address this lack with clarity and vigor. I wish I had had this volume when I was teaching in seminary.”
George J. Brooke, Rylands Professor Emeritus of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis, University of Manchester
Authors
Warren Carter
Warren Carter (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is the LaDonna Kramer Meinders Professor of New Testament at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of many books, including Matthew: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist; John: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist; The Roman Empire and the New Testament; Matthew and Empire; and John and Empire.
Ariel Feldman
Ariel Feldman (PhD, University of Haifa, Israel) is the Rosalyn and Manny Rosenthal Professor of Jewish Studies at Brite Divinity School and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, where he also directs the Jewish Studies program. He has published several books and articles, most of which deal with the literature of Early Judaism.