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The first author in which the traditions of Judaic thought and Greek philosophy flow together in a significant way is Philo of Alexandria. This study presents a detailed and comprehensive examination of Philo's knowledge and utilization of the most popular philosophical work of his day, the "Timaeus" of Plato. A kind of "commentary" is given on all passages in Philo's oeuvre in which the "Timaeus" is used or referred to, followed by a "synthetic" account of the influence that it had on Philo's thought.
Sabbath worship as a communal event does not feature in the Hebrew Bible. In the context of the first century CE, according to Philo and Josephus, the sabbath gatherings took place only for the purpose of studying the law, and not for the liturgical recital of psalms or prayer. Classical authors depict Jews spending the sabbath at home. Jewish inscriptions provide no evidence of sabbath-worship in prayer-houses (proseuchai), while the Mishnah prescribes no special communal sabbath activities. The usual picture of Jews going on the sabbath to the synagogue to worship thus appears to be without foundation. It is even doubtful that there were synagogue buildings, for "synagogue" normally meant "community." The conclusion of this study, that there is no evidence that the sabbath was a day of communal Jewish worship before 200 CE, has far-reaching consequences for our understanding of early Jewish-Christian relationships. This publication has also been published in hardback, please click here for details.
In the late fourth century, tales began to circulate of 'anthropomorphites' dwelling in the Egyptian desert-uneducated monks who crudely believed God to have a body. This characterization was accepted until the nineteenth-century discovery of "The Life of Apa Aphou of Pemdje". Although clearly defending the 'anthropomorphites,' this text does not promote any sort of anthropomorphism. Further analysis led many scholars to conclude that what the anthropomorphites were actually defending was the legitimacy of forming images of the Incarnate Christ in prayer. However, this view fails to fully explain numerous anti-anthropomorphite writings (those of Theophilus, Jerome, Cassian, Cyril and Augustine). Taking these into account, as well as certain Nag Hammadi texts and the works of Philo, Paul A. Patterson shows that the anthropomorphites were bearers of an ancient tradition, seeking in prayer the vision of the eternal, divine body of Chris
Discusses social, economic, and political aspects of antisemitism in the ancient (Greco-Roman) world, based extensively on the writings of Josephus Flavius and Philo.
Since Origen and Chrysostom, John's Gospel has been valued as the most spiritual among the New Testament writings. Although Origen recognizes the Stoic character of John's statement that "God is pneuma" (4:24), an examination of the gospel in light of Stoic physics has not yet been carried out. Combining her insight into Stoic physics and ancient physiology, the author situates her thesis in the major discussions of modern Johannine scholarship- e.g. the role of the Baptist and the function of the Johannine signs- and demonstrates new solutions to well-known problems. The Stoic study of the Fourth Gospel reveals a coherent narrative tied together by the spirit. The problem with which John's ...
When writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul used figurative temple language repeatedly to shape the identity of his audience (“Temple of God,” “Temple of the Holy Spirit,” and “Temple of the Living God”). While other scholars have identified the place of the Jerusalem temple in Paul’s thinking or the impact of temples in the life of Corinth, there has been no comprehensive study of the way that figurative temple language in philosophy could have influenced the Corinthians’ worldview. Hellenistic philosophy was pervasive in the first century and provided theological guidance for faith and practice to Paul’s Gentile audience before their conversion. Philip N. Richardson...
Same essence, same food: nourishment, formation, and education in early Christianity -- The symbolic power of food in the Greco-Roman world -- Mother's milk as ethno-religious essence in ancient Judaism -- Ruminating on Paul's food in the second century -- Animal, vegetable, milk: Origen's dietary system -- Gregory of Nyssa at the breast of the bridegroom -- Milk without growth: Augustine and the limits of formation -- Conclusion
In a moment of great crisis, the apostle Paul gave new meanings to characters and events within Genesis 16-21 without completely denying or replacing their prior meanings. This interpretive practice, as found in Galatians 4:21-31, has troubled interpreters of Scripture since the fourth century. This book demonstrates that Paul's practice was allegorical and provides a more precise understanding of his practice by comparing Paul with three roughly contemporary interpreters of Scripture: the sectarian interpreters of texts in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the interpreter Philo, and the author of the Epistle of Barnabas. This book identifies Paul's interpretive work, explains how he used his allegorical practice to accomplish it, and reveals the implications of this practice for understanding him as an interpreter of Scripture. It helps resolve a debate ongoing for nearly two millennia by answering the questions, What does Paul do in Galatians 4:21-31, and why does it matter?
This classic study of the idea of Noahide law traces the concept’s historical development and shows how it is relevant to practical discussions of the halakhah pertaining to non-Jews and to relations between Jews and non-Jews. Individual analyses of each of the seven Noahide laws, drawing primarily on classical rabbinic texts by traditional commentators, are followed by a discussion of the underlying theory.
Essays examine the work of prophets in Second Temple Judaism.