Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism

Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism PDF Author: Jonathan Klawans
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199928622
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 320

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Book Description
Though considered one of the most important informants about Judaism in the first century CE, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus's testimony is often overlooked or downplayed. Jonathan Klawans's Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism reexamines Josephus's descriptions of sectarian disagreements concerning determinism and free will, the afterlife, and scriptural authority. In each case, Josephus's testimony is analyzed in light of his works' general concerns as well as relevant biblical, rabbinic, and Dead Sea texts. Many scholars today argue that ancient Jewish sectarian disputes revolved primarily or even exclusively around matters of ritual law, such as calendar, cultic practices, or priestly succession. Josephus, however, indicates that the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes disagreed about matters of theology, such as afterlife and determinism. Similarly, many scholars today argue that ancient Judaism was thrust into a theological crisis in the wake of the destruction of the second temple in 70 CE, yet Josephus's works indicate that Jews were readily able to make sense of the catastrophe in light of biblical precedents and contemporary beliefs. Without denying the importance of Jewish law-and recognizing Josephus's embellishments and exaggerations-Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism calls for a renewed focus on Josephus's testimony, and models an approach to ancient Judaism that gives theological questions a deserved place alongside matters of legal concern. Ancient Jewish theology was indeed significant, diverse, and sufficiently robust to respond to the crisis of its day.

Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism

Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism PDF Author: Jonathan Klawans
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199928622
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Get Book Here

Book Description
Though considered one of the most important informants about Judaism in the first century CE, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus's testimony is often overlooked or downplayed. Jonathan Klawans's Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism reexamines Josephus's descriptions of sectarian disagreements concerning determinism and free will, the afterlife, and scriptural authority. In each case, Josephus's testimony is analyzed in light of his works' general concerns as well as relevant biblical, rabbinic, and Dead Sea texts. Many scholars today argue that ancient Jewish sectarian disputes revolved primarily or even exclusively around matters of ritual law, such as calendar, cultic practices, or priestly succession. Josephus, however, indicates that the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes disagreed about matters of theology, such as afterlife and determinism. Similarly, many scholars today argue that ancient Judaism was thrust into a theological crisis in the wake of the destruction of the second temple in 70 CE, yet Josephus's works indicate that Jews were readily able to make sense of the catastrophe in light of biblical precedents and contemporary beliefs. Without denying the importance of Jewish law-and recognizing Josephus's embellishments and exaggerations-Josephus and the Theologies of Ancient Judaism calls for a renewed focus on Josephus's testimony, and models an approach to ancient Judaism that gives theological questions a deserved place alongside matters of legal concern. Ancient Jewish theology was indeed significant, diverse, and sufficiently robust to respond to the crisis of its day.

Studies in Josephus and the Varieties of Ancient Judaism

Studies in Josephus and the Varieties of Ancient Judaism PDF Author: Shaye J.D. Cohen
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9047410971
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
Former students, colleagues and friends of the eminent classicist and historian Prof. Louis H. Feldman are pleased to honor him with a Jubilee volume. While Prof. Feldman has long been considered an outstanding scholar of Josephus, his scholarly interests and research interests pertain to almost all aspects of the ancient world and Jews. The articles in Judaism in the Ancient World: Louis H. Feldman Jubilee Volume relate to the fields studies by Prof. Feldman such as biblical interpretation, Judaism and Hellenism, Jews and Gentiles, Josephus, Jewish Literatures of the Second Temple, History of the Mishnah and Talmud periods, Jerusalem and much more. The contributors to this volume are among the most prominent in their fields and hail from the international scholarly community.

Josephus and the Jews

Josephus and the Jews PDF Author: F. J. Foakes Jackson
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1666732028
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description


Josephus, Judaism, and Christianity

Josephus, Judaism, and Christianity PDF Author: Louis Harry Feldman
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9789004085541
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 452

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Book Description


Studies in Josephus and the Varieties of Ancient Judaism

Studies in Josephus and the Varieties of Ancient Judaism PDF Author: Shaye J. D. Cohen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description


Heresy, Forgery, Novelty

Heresy, Forgery, Novelty PDF Author: Jonathan Klawans
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190062517
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description
It is commonly asserted that heresy is a Christian invention that emerged in late antiquity as Christianity distinguished itself from Judaism. Heresy, Forgery, Novelty probes ancient Jewish disputes regarding religious innovation and argues that Christianity's heresiological impulse is in fact indebted to Jewish precedents. In this book, Jonathan Klawans demonstrates that ancient Jewish literature displays a profound unease regarding religious innovation. The historian Josephus condemned religious innovation outright, and later rabbis valorize the antiquity of their traditions. The Dead Sea sectarians spoke occasionally-and perhaps secretly-of a "new covenant," but more frequently masked newer ideas in rhetorics of renewal or recovery. Other ancient Jews engaged in pseudepigraphy-the false attribution of recent works to prophets of old. The flourishing of such religious forgeries further underscores the dangers associated with religious innovation. As Christianity emerged, the discourse surrounding religious novelty shifted dramatically. On the one hand, Christians came to believe that Jesus had inaugurated a "new covenant," replacing what came prior. On the other hand, Christian writers followed their Jewish predecessors in condemning heretics as dangerous innovators, and concealing new works in pseudepigraphic garb. In its open, unabashed embrace of new things, Christianity parts from Judaism. Christianity's heresiological condemnation of novelty, however, displays continuity with prior Jewish traditions. Heresy, Forgery, Novelty reconsiders and offers a new interpretation of the dynamics of the split between Judaism and Christianity.

Understanding Josephus

Understanding Josephus PDF Author: Steve Mason
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 9781850758785
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description
Josephus's thirty volumes (more consulted than read) are considered the ultimate reference work for Judaism in the Graeco-Roman period. Even the more sceptical, who would wish to read between the lines, must often resort to arbitrary techniques because it is not apparent where the 'lines' are. This volume of essays by seven prominent scholars-John Barclay, Per Bilde, Steve Mason, Tessa Rajak, Joseph Sievers, Paul Spilsbury and Gregory E. Sterling-is another step in the effort to change the way we look at this most famous/notorious ancient Jewish historian. It introduces him as a rational being, a first-century author, and a thinker, with his own literary and social contexts-on the premise that he is worth trying to understand. Three essays deal with his Jewish Antiquities, two with Against Apion, and two with the larger themes of afterlife and apocalyptic in his writings. An up-to-date assessment of Josephus and his modern scholarly interpreters, for expert and non-expert alike.

Josephus, the Bible, and History

Josephus, the Bible, and History PDF Author: Louis H. Feldman
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9789004089310
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 488

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Book Description


The Works of Josephus

The Works of Josephus PDF Author: Flavius Josephus
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781951276409
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
As a Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus gives the Christian a new perspective on the Bible and Jewish history. This collection of his works produced as an e-book by Delmarva Publications is clear easy to read and understand including a linked table of contents. You will be most pleased with this study guide to the Bible.The Works of Josephus include the following:THE LIFE OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS, his autobiography written shortly before he died.THE ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, history of the Jewish nation from creation to the first century. This book gives insight to ancient Jewish thought, background and history up until the time of Christ; giving readers a deeper perception of the Bible and a bridge between the Old and New Testament.THE WARS OF THE JEWS, the earliest of Josephus' writings. He gives a first-hand account of the Roman invasion in Israel and how the Jewish people revolted, but were eventually overtaken.AGAINST APION, a two volume defense of Judaism as classical religion and philosophy.AN EXTRACT OUT OF JOSEPHUS'S DISCOURSE TO THE GREEKS CONCERNING HADES, an alternate glimpse of Hades opposing the view of the Greeks.

The Origins of the Canon of the Hebrew Bible

The Origins of the Canon of the Hebrew Bible PDF Author: Juan Carlos Ossandón Widow
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004381619
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 284

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Book Description
In Origins of the Canon, Ossandón offers an analysis of Josephus’ Against Apion and 4 Ezra—the two earliest testimonies of the number of books of the Hebrew Bible—and proposes factors to explain the birth of the canon.