Synopses & Reviews
In Judaism in the New Testament, Bruce Chilton and Jacob Neusner, the most prolific author writing in English today, contend that, contrary to conventional wisdom, early Christians identified not as Christians, but as Jews. Drawing upon parts of the Gospels, the Letters of Paul, and the Letters to the Hebrews, Neusner and Chilton read the early Christianity as a formation of Judaism--a comprehensive, religious system that is nothing short of a Judaic account of Holy Israel.
Bound to be controversial, Neusner, an accomplished Talmudic scholar and Chilton examine the New Testament as a statement of the Torah of Sinai.
This important work provides a provocative and trenchant critique of existing scholarship that seeks to view Christianity as autonomous from Judaism. By examining Christianity as an extension of Judaism, Neusner and Chilton place Christianity in its proper historical, literary and religious context.
Synopsis
Judaism in the New Testament explains how the writings of the early church emerged from communities which defined themselves in Judaic terms even as they professed faith in Christ. These two extremely distinguished scholars introduce readers to the plurality of Judaisms of the period. They show, by examining a variety of texts, how the major figures of the New Testament reflect distinctly Judaic practices and beliefs.
This important study shows how the early movement centred on Jesus is best seen as Christian Judaism'. Only with the Epistle to the Hebrews did the profile of a new and distinct Christian religion emerge.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-199) and index.