Synopses & Reviews
John Meierand#8217;s previous volumes in the acclaimed series A Marginal Jew are founded upon the notion that while solid historical information about Jesus is quite limited, people of different faiths can nevertheless arrive at a consensus on fundamental historical facts of his life. In this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the series, Meier approaches a fresh topicand#151;the teachings of the historical Jesus concerning Mosaic Law and moralityand#151;with the same rigor, thoroughness, accuracy, and insightfulness on display in his earlier works.
and#160;
After correcting misconceptions about Mosaic Law in Jesusand#8217; time, this volume addresses the teachings of Jesus on major legal topics like divorce, oaths, the Sabbath, purity rules, and the various love commandments in the Gospels. What emerges from Meierand#8217;s research is a profile of a complicated first-century Palestinian Jew who, far from seeking to abolish the Law, was deeply engaged in debates about its observance. Only by embracing this portrait of the historical Jesus grappling with questions of the Torah do we avoid the common mistake of constructing Christian moral theology under the guise of studying and#147;Jesus and the Law,and#8221; the author concludes.
Review
and#8220;John Meier is the most distinguished Roman Catholic biographer of Jesus.and#8221;and#8212;Harold Bloom
Review
"The quest for the historical Jesus requires the quest for his historical context, late Second Temple Judaism in the land of Israel. With learning both broad and deep, John Meier constructs this context and uncovers therein a prophet and healer and teacher of the Lawand#8212;an historical Jesus fully incarnate within the Judaism of his time. This is a masterful study and an enduring contribution to scholarship."and#8212;Paula Fredriksen, author of
From Jesus to Christ,, and
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jewsandnbsp;
Review
"This definitive work on Jesus and the law displays mastery of the legal heritage of Judaism in clarifying critical issues. Meier's monumental research illuminates long debated issues and resolves a century of debate."and#8212;Jacob Neusner, Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard College
andnbsp;
Review
"As he turns to the complex, disputed subject of Jesus and the law, John Meier moves systematically, comprehensively, and judiciously through the relevant texts and topics, ever faithful to the criteria that have guided his entire project. All readers stand to benefit from his vast accumulation of material pertinent to the halakhic Jesus and Meier's astonishing control of it."and#8212;James VanderKam, University of Notre Dame
Review
"John Meier demonstrates, through rigorous textual analysis, Jesus' intimate and profound involvement with Halakhah. This work will profoundly affect the ways Judaism and Christianity understand each other and themselves."and#8212;Hindy Najman, Director of the Centre for Jewish Studies, University of Toronto
Review
and#8220;Monumental . . . staggering erudition and thoroughness.and#8221;--Commonweal
Review
and#8220;Meierand#8217;s book contains a wealth of useful information, acute observations, and penetrating argument . . . the breadth and depth of Meierand#8217;s scholarship call for high admiration.and#8221;--Robert H. Gundry,
Books and CultureReview
"There is plenty to be gained from the scholarly quest for the historical Jesus, and John Meier's Law and Love is a masterful guide."and#8212;Jonathan Klawans, Interpretation
Review
"This engaging study will be of interest to scholars, preachers, and all others interested not only in the historical Jesus but also in Second Temple Jerusalem, the NT, rabbinic literature, and the Church Fathers."--Adele Reinhartz, Catholic Biblical Quarterly
Review
"The fourth volume of John P. Meier's A Marginal Jew is, possibly, the most exciting in this excellent series.and#160;Meier breaks new ground for understanding first century Palestinian Judaism."and#8212;Russell Morton, Ashland Theological Journal 2010
Review
"Meier, of course, is a giant in historical Jesus studies. The depth and meticulous nature of his historical research causes him to stand head and shoulders over nearly everyone in the field."and#8212;Dennis Ingolfsland, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Review
andldquo;John Meierand#39;s refusal to belong to a particular and#39;schooland#39; of Gospels research is clearly evident in this latest volume in the
andnbsp;Marginalandnbsp;Jew series. His remarkable erudition both in the primary sources and in the extensive secondary literature is palpable throughout. He is the very model of a sober and learned contrarian!andrdquo;andmdash;Simon Gathercole, University of Cambridge
Review
andldquo;The subject of the parables is one of the more daunting areas of historical Jesus research. Yet, with his characteristic wisdom and wit, John Meier guides us through the many parables that are attached to Jesusand#39; name. Freely conceding that in many cases utter certainty will escape us, Meier shows us which parables are most likely from the lips of Jesus and why.andrdquo;andmdash;Gary A. Anderson, University of Notre Dame
Review
andldquo;This book is a breath of fresh airandmdash;refreshingly forthright about what can and cannot be said about the parables attributed to Jesus. Meier shows that the parables can no longer be seen as the bedrock for reconstructing the historical Jesus. Yet four parables have a demonstrable origin in his teaching.andrdquo;andmdash;Adela Yarbro Collins, Yale University
Review
andldquo;Seldom in the history of scholarship has one scholar so attractively combined both scientific and theological sophistication as does John Meier, one of our leading experts on the Historical Jesus. In this fifth volume of his definitive Marginal Jew series, Meier explores the authenticity of Jesusandrsquo; parables.andrdquo;andmdash;James H. Charlesworth, Princeton Theological Seminary
Review
andquot;Father Meierand#39;s amazingly disinterested accounts of the career of Jesus will now include this subtle and astute exegesis of the parables.andrdquo;andmdash;Harold Bloom,andnbsp;Sterling Professor of the Humanities,andnbsp;Yale University
Synopsis
John Meier's previous volumes in the acclaimed series
A Marginal Jew are founded upon the notion that while solid historical information about Jesus is quite limited, people of different faiths can nevertheless arrive at a consensus on fundamental historical facts of his life. In this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the series, Meier approaches a fresh topic--the teachings of the historical Jesus concerning Mosaic Law and morality--with the same rigor, thoroughness, accuracy, and insightfulness on display in his earlier works.
After correcting misconceptions about Mosaic Law in Jesus' time, this volume addresses the teachings of Jesus on major legal topics like divorce, oaths, the Sabbath, purity rules, and the various love commandments in the Gospels. What emerges from Meier's research is a profile of a complicated first-century Palestinian Jew who, far from seeking to abolish the Law, was deeply engaged in debates about its observance. Only by embracing this portrait of the historical Jesus grappling with questions of the Torah do we avoid the common mistake of constructing Christian moral theology under the guise of studying "Jesus and the Law," the author concludes.
Synopsis
A leading scholar of the historical Jesus clarifies and illuminates Jesus' teachings on Jewish law
John Meier's previous volumes in the acclaimed series A Marginal Jew are founded upon the notion that while solid historical information about Jesus is quite limited, people of different faiths can nevertheless arrive at a consensus on fundamental historical facts of his life. In this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the series, Meier approaches a fresh topic--the teachings of the historical Jesus concerning Mosaic Law and morality--with the same rigor, thoroughness, accuracy, and insightfulness on display in his earlier works.
After correcting misconceptions about Mosaic Law in Jesus' time, this volume addresses the teachings of Jesus on major legal topics like divorce, oaths, the Sabbath, purity rules, and the various love commandments in the Gospels. What emerges from Meier's research is a profile of a complicated first-century Palestinian Jew who, far from seeking to abolish the Law, was deeply engaged in debates about its observance. Only by embracing this portrait of the historical Jesus grappling with questions of the Torah do we avoid the common mistake of constructing Christian moral theology under the guise of studying "Jesus and the Law," the author concludes.
Synopsis
Since the late nineteenth century, New Testament scholars have operated on the belief that most, if not all, of the narrative parables in the Synoptic Gospels can be attributed to the historical Jesus. This book challenges that consensus and argues instead that only four parablesandmdash;those of the Mustard Seed, the Evil Tenants, the Talents, and the Great Supperandmdash;can be attributed to the historical Jesus with fair certitude. In this eagerly anticipated fifth volume of A Marginal Jew, John Meier approaches this controversial subject with the same rigor and insight that garnered his earlier volumes praise from such publications as the New York Times and Christianity Today. This seminal volume pushes forward his masterful body of work in his ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.
About the Author
John P. Meier is William K. Warren Professor of Theology (New Testament) at the University of Notre Dame and the author ofand#160;A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus.and#160;He has also written six other books and over seventy articles. At various times he has been the editor or associate editor ofand#160;The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, New Testament Studies,and#160;andand#160;Dead Sea Discoveries.