Reflections on Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity

Description

This book written by Israeli scholars reflects the centrality of 'the Parting of the Ways', an issue of focal concern to the question where and when came into being the boundary line separating between Judaism and Christianity. It is reflective of the diversity within the research community in Israel, much like in the field of research worldwide. Cover Copyright Information Table of Contents List of Contributors About the Editors Preface Introduction Typological Figures for Jesus 1 The ‘Christian’ Message of John the Baptist in the Synoptic Gospels (Rivka Nir) The Christian Message of John the Baptist Baptism and Repentance (Mark 1:4; Matthew 3:2, 11; Luke 3:3) What Is This Kingdom of Heaven? John’s Baptism Is a Christian Baptism ‘The One Who Is More Powerful than I Is Coming After Me’ – about Whom Does John Prophesy? ‘I Have Baptized You with Water, But He Will Baptize You with the Holy Spirit’ (Mark 1:8) The Call to ‘Bear Fruit Worthy of Repentance’ – John’s Speeches in Matthew (3:7–10) and Luke (3:7–9, 16–17) The ‘Coming Wrath’? How, According to John, Is One to Flee from ‘the Wrath to Come’? Against Who Is the Wrath Targeted? The Fire of the Last Judgment Baptism in Fire Ethics and Society (Luke 3:10–14) Concluding Comments 2 The New Jeremiah in the New Testament: Concerning Some Narrative Strategies in Luke (David (Dmitry) Kopeli) 3 Moses and Jesus as Bearers of God’s Logos in the Prologue of John and the Question of John’s Christology (Serge Ruzer) Excursus Conclusion Jewish and Christian Identity 4 Would the Christian Paul Consider Himself a Jew? (Daniel R. Schwartz) 5 The Fiscus Judaicus: A Touchstone of Jewish (-Christian) Identity (Jonathan Bourgel) The Fiscus Judaicus under the Reigns of Vespasian and Titus The Administration of the Fiscus Judaicus under Domitian Nerva’s Reform of the Fiscus Judaicus The Interaction between Christianity and the Rabbis 6 Extra Ecclesiam nulla Salus Birkat ha-minim Reconsidered – Text and Context (Dan Jaffé) State of Research Rabbinic Sources Is the Birkat ha-minim of Yavneh Origin? The Question of minim 7 ‘Like Snake Venom’? The Rabbis and Christian Charity (Yael Wilfa) Introduction Texts and Methodology Urbach’s Theory: Early Rabbinic Charity as a Response to Christian Charity The Evidence Tosefta Soṭah Pesiqta de Rab Kahana The Babylonian Talmud Conclusion 8 Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa and his Hasidic Image in Light of Talmudic Tradition (Yerushalmi v. Bavli) (Menachem Ben Shalom) Introduction and General Background to Research Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa and His Hasidic Character Sayings • Halakhot and Deeds in the Social Realm Fear of Sin Prayer A. yBerachot 5:1, 9a28 B. mBerakhot 5:5 C. bYebamot 121b50 Tithing yDemai 1:3; 22a bTa’anit 24b Kohelet Rabbah 1:1 Sabbath Laws Summary Appendix 9 The Trial of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus and the Parting of the Ways (Yaakov Teppler) The Roman Concept of Political and Religious disturbances The Messianic Challenge – Jesus and Christianity Jews and Judaism in Roman Eyes after the Great Revolt Jewish Sages in Rome Rabban Gamaliel the 2nd and Rome Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus The Trial Eliezer ben Hyrcanus vs. the Yavneh Leadership The Trial from a Roman Perspective The Function of the Trial’s Story within a Broader Framework Conclusion Early Christian Communities 10 Dating Anti-Christian Sources in the Babylonian Talmud (Barak S. Cohen) Introduction Late Babylonian Halakhic Traditions? Analysis of Sugyot Summary and Conclusions Appendix 11 The Christian Community in Syria (110–180 CE): The Creation of ‘Syrian Christianity’ (Ben Zion Rosenfeld, Arie Levene) Syrian Christians in Turmoil (110–150 CE): Historical Background On the Edge of a Turning Point: 150–180 CE A Turning Point Conclusion 12 Were the Early Christians Sectarians?: Searching for Sectarianism in the New Testament (Eyal Regev) The Sect Model in New Testament Scholarship: A Critical Appraisal The Absence of a Social-Scientific Model (Free/Common Use of the Term ‘sect’) Troeltsch’s Church-Sect Model Scroggs’ Use of Werner Stark Wilson’s Sect Model(s) Stark & Bainbridge’s Model The Lack of Sectarian Characteristics in Early Christianity Social Separation General Observations Matthew63 John James Paul’s Letters Early Rabbinic Literature Prerequisites, Discipline and Sanctions Social Organization: Name, Leaders, Institutions Comparisons with the Qumran Sects and the Essenes Conclusions Series Index