James Tabor notes that he is still receiving questions regarding the ossuary which purportedly bears an ancient inscription reading "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." In a noble attempt to clear the considerably muddied waters, he provides links to Joseph Fitzmyer's essay on the subject, as well as the report of a "Conference on Forgery" which met in Jerusalem in January 2007.
I'm sure that this matter is incredibly compelling to some, but not to me. The bitter debates between Hershel Shanks (editor of Biblical Archaeology Review) and the Israel Antiquities Authority--which often seemed to be driven by personal interests rather than objective scholarship--became especially wearisome. Moreover, I'm not entirely convinced of the stakes accompanying the controversy. The book which Shanks co-wrote with Ben Witherington shortly after the discovery proclaims that the ossuary is "the first archaeological link to Jesus and his family." But if I may be blunt, so what? Only the most radical or the most naive scholars would deny Jesus' existence, given the relatively large amount of extant testimony from both Christian and non-Christian sources. Even if it is authentic, the ossuary can make only four firm contributions to the historical record:
1) Both Jesus and James actually lived.
2) Jesus and James were brothers.
3) At some point, James died and was buried.
4) The early Christian community (to which James and those who buried him belonged) retained some Jewish practices.
Again, none of these facts--with the possible exception of the second, which is still occasionally challenged by Roman Catholic scholars--were seriously disputed prior to the recent discovery. So while I'm excited by the potentiality of a tangible link to Jesus of Nazareth, I'm not sure how much it adds to our understanding of Jesus and his world.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Goodman on Rome and Jerusalem
I found this in my e-mail inbox this morning:
As those ridiculous commercials for monster truck rallies at the fairgrounds used to say, "Be there! If you're at work... get off! If you're in jail, break out!" ;-)
The Program in Judaic Studies, the Department of History, and Yale Divinity School present
Martin Goodman,
University of Oxford
Rome and Jerusalem: A Comparison of Lifestyles
Thursday, October 25, 2007
4:00 P.M.
211 Hall of Graduate Studies
320 York Street
Free and Open to the Public
Sponsored by the Barbara & Morris Levinson Fund of the Program in Judaic Studies
As those ridiculous commercials for monster truck rallies at the fairgrounds used to say, "Be there! If you're at work... get off! If you're in jail, break out!" ;-)
Memorial Service for Letty Russell
YDS has announced that a memorial service for Letty Russell (who passed away July 12) will be held in Marquand Chapel on October 23 at 5:30. Thanks to Yale ITS, the service will also be broadcast online.
Prof. Russell's full obituary may be viewed here. She was truly an inspiration to generations of scholars, students, and practitioners of Christianity.
Prof. Russell's full obituary may be viewed here. She was truly an inspiration to generations of scholars, students, and practitioners of Christianity.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Blogger of the Month: Philip Harland
BAR Highlights: 10/17/07
More recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
Stone Age Artists
Five-to-eight-thousand-year-old rock carvings in western Egypt were made by shepherds, according to Polish investigators.
Temple Mount Bridge Approved
After much controversy, Jerusalem city officials have agreed on a plan to replace a damaged walkway to the Mount; the design, which still awaits final approval from the Interior Ministry, calls for a much smaller structure than previously proposed.
Tomb Threat?
Protesters in Iran claim that a new dam will cause indirect damage to the tomb of Cyrus the Great.
That’s Fine in Practice but Will It Hold Up in Theory?
A Harvard researcher has found that the ancients were capable of building complex machines long before they understood the mathematics behind them.
Waiting for the Big One
A Tel Aviv University seismologist says historical records of earthquakes in the past indicate that the area on the Dead Sea Fault, including Jerusalem and Amman, Jordan, is overdue for a major tremor.
How the Pyramids Were Built
A Czech researcher has made a specialty of studying the tools used by the ancient Egyptians.
Stone Age Artists
Five-to-eight-thousand-year-old rock carvings in western Egypt were made by shepherds, according to Polish investigators.
Temple Mount Bridge Approved
After much controversy, Jerusalem city officials have agreed on a plan to replace a damaged walkway to the Mount; the design, which still awaits final approval from the Interior Ministry, calls for a much smaller structure than previously proposed.
Tomb Threat?
Protesters in Iran claim that a new dam will cause indirect damage to the tomb of Cyrus the Great.
That’s Fine in Practice but Will It Hold Up in Theory?
A Harvard researcher has found that the ancients were capable of building complex machines long before they understood the mathematics behind them.
Waiting for the Big One
A Tel Aviv University seismologist says historical records of earthquakes in the past indicate that the area on the Dead Sea Fault, including Jerusalem and Amman, Jordan, is overdue for a major tremor.
How the Pyramids Were Built
A Czech researcher has made a specialty of studying the tools used by the ancient Egyptians.
RBL Highlights: 10/17/07
A few highlights from this week's Review of Biblical Literature:
William Arnal
The Symbolic Jesus: Historical Scholarship, Judaism and the Construction of Contemporary Identity
Reviewed by Milton Moreland
Richard Cassidy
Four Times Peter: Portrayals of Peter in the Four Gospels and at Philippi
Reviewed by Timothy Wiarda
James H. Charlesworth, editor
Jesus and Archaeology
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes
A History of Ancient Israel and Judah
Reviewed by Kenton Sparks
Jürgen Zangenberg and Michael Labahn, editors
Christians as a Religious Minority in a Multicultural City: Modes of Interaction and Identity Formation in Early Imperial Rome
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
William Arnal
The Symbolic Jesus: Historical Scholarship, Judaism and the Construction of Contemporary Identity
Reviewed by Milton Moreland
Richard Cassidy
Four Times Peter: Portrayals of Peter in the Four Gospels and at Philippi
Reviewed by Timothy Wiarda
James H. Charlesworth, editor
Jesus and Archaeology
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes
A History of Ancient Israel and Judah
Reviewed by Kenton Sparks
Jürgen Zangenberg and Michael Labahn, editors
Christians as a Religious Minority in a Multicultural City: Modes of Interaction and Identity Formation in Early Imperial Rome
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Jesus and His Siblings
Although my "Sibling Rivalries" course is primarily concerned with the occurrences of this phenomenon in the Hebrew Bible, I always have to be unique (read: difficult)... and so my term paper will analyze narrative and exegetical perspectives on the relationship between Jesus of Nazareth and his siblings. An abstract and an initial bibliography are available here. If anyone has any brilliant insights or additions, send them my way. If anyone doesn't like this topic, keep it to yourself. ;-)
And, providentially, Tony Chartrand-Burke has just posted his own missive on the family of Jesus, which he is currently covering in his "New Testament Apocrypha" course. Check it out.
And, providentially, Tony Chartrand-Burke has just posted his own missive on the family of Jesus, which he is currently covering in his "New Testament Apocrypha" course. Check it out.
Sean Freyne's Coming to Town!
If you're anywhere near New Haven on Friday afternoon, be sure not to miss this:
See you on Friday!
Sean Freyne
Emeritus Professor of Theology at Trinity College, Dublin and Visiting Professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School
"Josephan Perspectives on the Galilean Social World: Some Reconsiderations"
Friday, October 19, Yale Divinity School
The lecture, free and open to the public, will begin at 12.15 p.m. in Latourette Hall.
Freyne has conducted significant research on the Synoptic Gospels, most recently in the context of ancient biography and its social roles. He has contributed numerous articles and papers on the current 'third wave' of historical Jesus studies. Freyne's publication Jesus: A Jewish Galilean (2004) gathers together many of his ideas on both Jesus and Galilee developed over the years.
See you on Friday!
Monday, October 15, 2007
New in the Princeton Theological Monographs Series
A couple recent announcements from Wipf & Stock Publishers:
New from Pickwick Publications
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
The Sacred Text
Biblical Authority in Nineteenth-Century America
by Ronald F. Satta
“Ronald Satta provides a careful and lucid defense of a position I had thought to be mistaken until his research persuaded me otherwise.”
—Edward Wierenga, University of Rochester
Ronald F. Satta is Senior Pastor of Webster Bible Church and an associate faculty member in American history at SUNY Brockport.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-55635-298-0 / 132 pp / $16 Retail / Paper
Geoffrey Fisher
Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945–1961
by David Hein
“Hein’s work skillfully blends biography and theological analysis with political, cultural, and social history.”
—David L. Holmes, College of William and Mary
David Hein is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Hood College and coauthor of The Episcopalians.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-59752-824-5 / 140 pp / $17 Retail / Paper
New from Pickwick Publications
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
The Sacred Text
Biblical Authority in Nineteenth-Century America
by Ronald F. Satta
“Ronald Satta provides a careful and lucid defense of a position I had thought to be mistaken until his research persuaded me otherwise.”
—Edward Wierenga, University of Rochester
Ronald F. Satta is Senior Pastor of Webster Bible Church and an associate faculty member in American history at SUNY Brockport.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-55635-298-0 / 132 pp / $16 Retail / Paper
Geoffrey Fisher
Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945–1961
by David Hein
“Hein’s work skillfully blends biography and theological analysis with political, cultural, and social history.”
—David L. Holmes, College of William and Mary
David Hein is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Hood College and coauthor of The Episcopalians.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-59752-824-5 / 140 pp / $17 Retail / Paper
Thursday, October 11, 2007
BAR Highlights: 10/11/07
Even more recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
Etruscan City Found
Italian archaeologists have uncovered the remains of Fanum Voltumnae, an important Etruscan political center and shrine.
City on the Hill
The Jerusalem Post profiles Sepphoris, the city in Galilee to which Rabbi Judah moved the Sanhedrin.
Lot’s to See
A new museum in Jordan, located near the traditional spot where Lot and his daughters fled after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, is set to open shortly.
Research al Frescoe
Polish scientists are shooting beams of protons on ancient Egyptian plaster in order to understand what went into the dyes used in Egyptian wall paintings.
A Delicate Find
Excavators have found a temple built by Ramesses II (perhaps the pharaoh of the Exodus) inside a mosque in Luxor and now must negotiate with Muslim religious leaders over what to do about the human and animal representations they’ve uncovered. Such portrayals are not allowed inside mosques.
A Visit to Ramat Rahel
A profile of the site south of Jerusalem highlights recent finds, including another proto-Ionic (also called proto-Aeolic) capital—the twelfth found there (another was recovered in the City of David).
Etruscan City Found
Italian archaeologists have uncovered the remains of Fanum Voltumnae, an important Etruscan political center and shrine.
City on the Hill
The Jerusalem Post profiles Sepphoris, the city in Galilee to which Rabbi Judah moved the Sanhedrin.
Lot’s to See
A new museum in Jordan, located near the traditional spot where Lot and his daughters fled after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, is set to open shortly.
Research al Frescoe
Polish scientists are shooting beams of protons on ancient Egyptian plaster in order to understand what went into the dyes used in Egyptian wall paintings.
A Delicate Find
Excavators have found a temple built by Ramesses II (perhaps the pharaoh of the Exodus) inside a mosque in Luxor and now must negotiate with Muslim religious leaders over what to do about the human and animal representations they’ve uncovered. Such portrayals are not allowed inside mosques.
A Visit to Ramat Rahel
A profile of the site south of Jerusalem highlights recent finds, including another proto-Ionic (also called proto-Aeolic) capital—the twelfth found there (another was recovered in the City of David).
Friday, October 5, 2007
BAR Highlights: 10/5/07
More recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review. This week's offering includes a link to Eric Cline's article on archaeology in the Boston Globe, which a number of bloggers have already mentioned.
Was Tut Black?
Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt’s antiquities department, has responded to critics who want to recognize King Tut as Black. "Egyptians are not Arabs and are not Africans despite the fact that Egypt is in Africa," he says.
Fighting the Nonsense
Archaeologist Eric Cline says it’s time he and his colleagues started challenging crackpot theories and amateur enthusiasts.
Tuty Fruity
When Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, he apparently missed some things: Investigators have recovered preserved baskets of fruit and intact pots from a treasure room next to the Boy King’s mummy.
A Guide to Apollonia
The Jerusalem Post profiles this scenic site, with a history ranging from the Phoenicians to the Crusaders.
Nighttime Fishing
Excavators off the coastal city of Dor have recovered a wire basket used for fishing at night. A fire in the basket attracted and illuminated fish.
Anchor Bible Hums New Tune: Boolah, Boolah
The distinguished Bible commentary and reference series has been acquired by Yale University Press.
Back to the Fortress
Iranian and French excavators are returning for a second season of digging at a fortress that served as the spring capital of Parthian kings.
Was Tut Black?
Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt’s antiquities department, has responded to critics who want to recognize King Tut as Black. "Egyptians are not Arabs and are not Africans despite the fact that Egypt is in Africa," he says.
Fighting the Nonsense
Archaeologist Eric Cline says it’s time he and his colleagues started challenging crackpot theories and amateur enthusiasts.
Tuty Fruity
When Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, he apparently missed some things: Investigators have recovered preserved baskets of fruit and intact pots from a treasure room next to the Boy King’s mummy.
A Guide to Apollonia
The Jerusalem Post profiles this scenic site, with a history ranging from the Phoenicians to the Crusaders.
Nighttime Fishing
Excavators off the coastal city of Dor have recovered a wire basket used for fishing at night. A fire in the basket attracted and illuminated fish.
Anchor Bible Hums New Tune: Boolah, Boolah
The distinguished Bible commentary and reference series has been acquired by Yale University Press.
Back to the Fortress
Iranian and French excavators are returning for a second season of digging at a fortress that served as the spring capital of Parthian kings.
OUP Fall Sale 2007
Tis the season for book sales... Oxford University Press' Fall Sale is now underway. The complete list of religion offerings may be viewed here. It looks like there are some pretty good bargains to be had, including...
*The Oxford Bible Commentary (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $40.00)
* The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $33.00)
*The Encyclopedia of Christianity (regular price: $125.00 sale price: $65.00)
*The Jewish Study Bible (regular price: $45.00 sale price: $24.75)
... so many books, so little money!
*The Oxford Bible Commentary (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $40.00)
* The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $33.00)
*The Encyclopedia of Christianity (regular price: $125.00 sale price: $65.00)
*The Jewish Study Bible (regular price: $45.00 sale price: $24.75)
... so many books, so little money!
"Essential Guides" Sale at Eisenbrauns
For the next ten days, Eisenbrauns is offering all of the titles in Abingdon's "Essential Guides" series at a 40% discount. This is an opportunity to snatch up some excellent introductory texts at low, low prices. The complete list of available titles may be viewed here, but highlights include...
"The Apostolic Fathers: An Essential Guide"
by Clayton N. Jefford
Abingdon, 2005. Paper. English.
ISBN: 068734204X
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Christian Ethics: An Essential Guide"
by Robin W. Lovin
Abingdon, 2000. Paper. English.
ISBN: 9780687054626
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Church History: An Essential Guide"
by Justo L. Gonzalez
Abingdon, 1996. Paper. English.
ISBN: 9780687016112
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Feminism and Christianity: An Essential Guide"
by Lynn Japinga
Abingdon, 1999. Paper. English.
ISBN: 9780687077601
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Rabbinic Literature: An Essential Guide"
by Jacob Neusner
Abingdon, 2005. Paper. English.
ISBN: 0687351936
List Price: $16.00 Your Price: $9.60
"The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide"
by Warren Carter
Abingdon, 2006. Paper. English.
ISBN: 0687343941
List Price: $16.00 Your Price: $9.60
"Worship in Ancient Israel: An Essential Guide"
by Walter Brueggemann
Abingdon, 2005. Paper. English.
ISBN: 0687343364
List Price: $14.00 Your Price: $8.40
"The Apostolic Fathers: An Essential Guide"
by Clayton N. Jefford
Abingdon, 2005. Paper. English.
ISBN: 068734204X
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Christian Ethics: An Essential Guide"
by Robin W. Lovin
Abingdon, 2000. Paper. English.
ISBN: 9780687054626
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Church History: An Essential Guide"
by Justo L. Gonzalez
Abingdon, 1996. Paper. English.
ISBN: 9780687016112
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Feminism and Christianity: An Essential Guide"
by Lynn Japinga
Abingdon, 1999. Paper. English.
ISBN: 9780687077601
List Price: $15.00 Your Price: $9.00
"Rabbinic Literature: An Essential Guide"
by Jacob Neusner
Abingdon, 2005. Paper. English.
ISBN: 0687351936
List Price: $16.00 Your Price: $9.60
"The Roman Empire and the New Testament: An Essential Guide"
by Warren Carter
Abingdon, 2006. Paper. English.
ISBN: 0687343941
List Price: $16.00 Your Price: $9.60
"Worship in Ancient Israel: An Essential Guide"
by Walter Brueggemann
Abingdon, 2005. Paper. English.
ISBN: 0687343364
List Price: $14.00 Your Price: $8.40
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
A Priest and a Rabbi...
Prof. Joel Kaminsky (currently a visiting profssor at YDS; normally seen gracing the halls of Smith College, Northampton, MA) has quickly established himself as one of the funniest scholars I've ever encountered. Now, I know that "funny" and "scholar" are not normally used in the same sentence (at least, not in a positive way), but check out this joke, which appeared during our most recent "Sibling Rivalries" class. Not only was it funny, but it also had something to do with what we were talking about at the time! (Now that Yale's reading week--and a brief vacation in Louisville--is nearly upon us, I should have time to report on the course's academic side, in addition to its humorous one.)
-------
-------
A Roman Catholic priest and a rabbi sit down together in a bar and begin discussing their respective vocations. The rabbi asks the priest about his opportunities for advancement within the church hierarchy. The priest replies that although he currently serves a single small parish, he could someday become the archbishop of a major metropolitan area. "Is that it?" asks the rabbi. The priest hesitates for a moment, and responds that while the chances are much more remote, he might one day be chosen to serve as a cardinal. Once again the rabbi asks, "Is that it?" The priest (who is probably becoming a little annoyed at this point) replies that he is at least eligible to be elected to the papacy, and thus become the head of the entire church and God's leading representative on earth. But much to his surprise, the rabbi asks yet again, "Is that it?" The priest sarcastically exclaims, "What? Do you think that I can actually become God?"
To which the rabbi responds, "Why not? One of our boys did it."
More Exciting Markdowns From Dove!
Dove Booksellers has compiled another fine list of monthly markdowns, including works published by Brill, T & T Clark, and Eerdmans. Although I normally select a few choice items for your viewing (and potentially buying) pleasure, I will refrain for the moment (because I've been folding laundry and I'm tired), and simply allow you to peruse the list for yourselves:
Dove Markdowns: October 2007
Happy Hunting!
Dove Markdowns: October 2007
Happy Hunting!
New Edition: The Shadow of the Galilean
A recent announcement from Augsburg Fortress Publishers:
The Shadow of the Galilean:
The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Narrative Form
A contemporary classic, The Shadow of the Galilean is an acclaimed and popular work of historical fiction about Jesus. Written by one of this generation's great New Testament scholars, Gerd Theissen, the work vividly captures the tensions and turmoil of Jesus' time, as well as the enormous attraction and unpredictability of the figure of Jesus as he affects his Jewish environment under Roman sway.
First published in 1987 by Fortress Press, this 20th anniversary edition includes careful documentation in the footnotes showing that much of the narrative is based on ancient resources and also includes a new Afterword from the author.
"An achievement in 'narrative theology', illuminating the social world of Jesus from rich sources and imaginative reconstructions. Theissen's book combines scholarship and story. The author supplements his fictional creations with letters to a professional colleague, Dr. Kratzinger, illuminating methodology. The book should be a boon to preachers of the Gospels."
—John Reumann, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
Gerd Theissen is Professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Order your copy today!
The Shadow of the Galilean:
The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Narrative Form
A contemporary classic, The Shadow of the Galilean is an acclaimed and popular work of historical fiction about Jesus. Written by one of this generation's great New Testament scholars, Gerd Theissen, the work vividly captures the tensions and turmoil of Jesus' time, as well as the enormous attraction and unpredictability of the figure of Jesus as he affects his Jewish environment under Roman sway.
First published in 1987 by Fortress Press, this 20th anniversary edition includes careful documentation in the footnotes showing that much of the narrative is based on ancient resources and also includes a new Afterword from the author.
"An achievement in 'narrative theology', illuminating the social world of Jesus from rich sources and imaginative reconstructions. Theissen's book combines scholarship and story. The author supplements his fictional creations with letters to a professional colleague, Dr. Kratzinger, illuminating methodology. The book should be a boon to preachers of the Gospels."
—John Reumann, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
Gerd Theissen is Professor of New Testament at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Order your copy today!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Luke the Historian? Or the Storyteller?
On The Forbidden Gospels Blog, April DeConick asks a very important question: Is Luke a trustworthy historian? Or, to put it differently, "Why is Acts written off today as a Lukan myth with little or no historical value? Why do scholars who wish to argue for the historicity of elements of Acts have to go through an inordinate amount of justification before doing so?" She presents a number of arguments for an increased appreciation of Luke as a historian, including the contention that Luke does not redact Mark (or Q, for that matter) as much as his Matthean counterpart, as well as Luke's own admission that he relied upon earlier sources as the basis for his own gospel (Luke 1:1-3). I'm not a Q scholar, and therefore am not qualified to evaluate his use of this source (although Mark Goodacre, who is an expert in this field, has raised a number of interesting points in his own response). Furthermore, I'm certainly willing to grant that Luke probably had access to written and/or oral sources during the composition of Acts. I find it likely that there are at least some vestiges of authentic first-century Christianity in this work.
But it seems to me that a number of pericopes in Luke-Acts show signs of subtle yet unmistakable redaction. First among these is the Lukan account of Jesus' return to Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30), which has been dramatically expanded (to include Jesus' participation in the local synagogue, his public self-identification as the fulfillment of prophecy, and the Nazarenes' unsuccessful attempt on his life) and placed at the inception of his ministry. It cannot be a coincidence that the basic narrative elements of this meticulously crafted episode--Jesus' status as an unabashed prophetic messiah, his initial confession of said status among his own countrymen, their ignorant and futile response, and his subsequent departure to carry his message elsewhere--represent a microcosm of Luke's vision of the rise and spread of the Christian movement which is revealed in the following chapters. There may well be a kernel of history here, but it is difficult to crack.
Luke's description of the "Jerusalem Conference" (Acts 15) is another provocative example, as most scholars assume that the events at the heart of this description are identical to those mentioned by Paul in Galatians (Gal. 2:1-10). If this is indeed the case, then the critically sensitive reader is faced with a number of perplexing problems. Paul declares that he attended the meeting only in response to a (presumably divine) revelation; Luke states that Paul and Barnabas were appointed to attend by the Antiochene church. Paul identifies himself as the one "entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised" (2:7); Luke includes a speech in which Peter identifies himself as "the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the good news and become believers" (Acts 15:7). Paul hints that the ultimate decision to allow Gentiles to "convert" to Christianity without adopting Jewish practices was a joint one; Luke grants the last word to James the brother of Jesus, who abruptly brings the debate to a close by intoning, "I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood" (15:19-20; italics added). One need not assume that one of these depictions is true and the other false; personally, I find it much more likely that both writers were adapting the historical framework to serve their larger apologetic needs. Given the fact that ancient historiography cannot and should not be measured according to the modern obsession with "objective history," no negative stigma should accompany the conjecture that Luke, or Paul, or any other early Christian writer did not faithfully represent the actual historical record. It simply serves as a reminder to the reader not to blithely accept the text at face value.
It must be noted that the above examples are only a minute sampling of the traditions found in Luke-Acts, and certainly do not invalidate DeConick's basic thesis that there is some authentic historical material to be had in these works. But even if she is correct and we are in danger of "throwing the baby out with the bath water," it's still time to take the baby out of the bath. We just have to be careful while doing it. ;-)
But it seems to me that a number of pericopes in Luke-Acts show signs of subtle yet unmistakable redaction. First among these is the Lukan account of Jesus' return to Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30), which has been dramatically expanded (to include Jesus' participation in the local synagogue, his public self-identification as the fulfillment of prophecy, and the Nazarenes' unsuccessful attempt on his life) and placed at the inception of his ministry. It cannot be a coincidence that the basic narrative elements of this meticulously crafted episode--Jesus' status as an unabashed prophetic messiah, his initial confession of said status among his own countrymen, their ignorant and futile response, and his subsequent departure to carry his message elsewhere--represent a microcosm of Luke's vision of the rise and spread of the Christian movement which is revealed in the following chapters. There may well be a kernel of history here, but it is difficult to crack.
Luke's description of the "Jerusalem Conference" (Acts 15) is another provocative example, as most scholars assume that the events at the heart of this description are identical to those mentioned by Paul in Galatians (Gal. 2:1-10). If this is indeed the case, then the critically sensitive reader is faced with a number of perplexing problems. Paul declares that he attended the meeting only in response to a (presumably divine) revelation; Luke states that Paul and Barnabas were appointed to attend by the Antiochene church. Paul identifies himself as the one "entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised" (2:7); Luke includes a speech in which Peter identifies himself as "the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the good news and become believers" (Acts 15:7). Paul hints that the ultimate decision to allow Gentiles to "convert" to Christianity without adopting Jewish practices was a joint one; Luke grants the last word to James the brother of Jesus, who abruptly brings the debate to a close by intoning, "I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood" (15:19-20; italics added). One need not assume that one of these depictions is true and the other false; personally, I find it much more likely that both writers were adapting the historical framework to serve their larger apologetic needs. Given the fact that ancient historiography cannot and should not be measured according to the modern obsession with "objective history," no negative stigma should accompany the conjecture that Luke, or Paul, or any other early Christian writer did not faithfully represent the actual historical record. It simply serves as a reminder to the reader not to blithely accept the text at face value.
It must be noted that the above examples are only a minute sampling of the traditions found in Luke-Acts, and certainly do not invalidate DeConick's basic thesis that there is some authentic historical material to be had in these works. But even if she is correct and we are in danger of "throwing the baby out with the bath water," it's still time to take the baby out of the bath. We just have to be careful while doing it. ;-)
New From Sheffield Phoenix
Recent publication announcements from Sheffield Phoenix Press (via their North American distributor, the SBL):
Incarnate Word, Inscribed Flesh: John's Prologue and the Postmodern
Ela Nutu
In this ground-breaking study, Nutu offers an unremittingly postmodern scrutiny of the Logos as the incarnate word that becomes visible as it is inscribed in human flesh.
Bible in the Modern World, 6
ISBN: 978-1-905048-25-0 € Cloth $85.00 € August 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
In Other Words: Essays on Social Science Methods and the New Testament in Honor of Jerome H. Neyrey
Edited by Anselm C. Hagedorn, Zeba A. Crook, Eric Stewart
In this Festschrift to Jerome H. Neyrey, the contributors (David Aune, Zeba Crook, Craig deVos, John H. Elliott, Philip Esler, Bruce Malina and John Pilch, Halvor Moxnes, Douglas Oakman, Carolyn Osiek, Eric Stewart, Gerd Theissen) notably advance the cause of social-scientific New Testament study.
The Social World of Biblical Antiquity, Second Series, 1
ISBN: 978-1-905048-39-7 € Cloth $95.00 € August 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
The Birth of Moses and the Buddha: A Paradigm for the Comparative Study of Religions
Vanessa R. Sasson
Responding to a recent upsurge of Jewish interest in Buddhism, Sasson undertakes the first serious academic effort to uncover the common ground between the founders of the two religions, Moses and the Buddha.
Hebrew Bible Monographs, 9
ISBN: 1-905048-38-6 € Cloth $85.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
Text and Community: Essays in Memory of Bruce M. Metzger (vol. 1)
Edited by J. Harold Ellens
The first of two wide-ranging and often innovative volumes created in Metzger's honor, subtitled Interpretation of the Text for the Community, falls into two parts: The Nature of the Bible: Manuscripts, Texts, and Translation (e.g. an ancient papyrus biblical fragment, biblical exegesis in the third world), and Understanding the Bible: Hermeneutics (e.g. biblical interpretation in Paul in its cultural context).
New Testament Monographs, 19
ISBN: 1-906055-15-7 € Cloth $85.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
Text and Community: Essays in Memory of Bruce M. Metzger (vol. 2)
Edited by J. Harold Ellens
The second volume, on Implementation of the Text in the Community, has as its two parts, The Church and the Bible: Pulpit and Parish (e.g. pastoral care and the Bible) and The Academy, Science, Culture, Society, and the Bible (e.g. psychological method and the historical Jesus, Jungian and Freudian perspectives on gender in the Gospel of John).
New Testament Monographs, 20
ISBN: 978-1-906055-00-0 € Cloth $85.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
New Seals and Inscriptions, Hebrew, Idumean, and Cuneiform
Edited by Meir Lubetski
This collection of fifteen papers is a significant addition to our textual evidence for the world of the Bible: it presents over fifty inscriptions, tablets and seals from the collections of Shlomo Moussaieff, in Hebrew, Idumean, and cuneiform. Most of these texts are being published here for the first time.
Hebrew Bible Monographs, 8
ISBN: 1-905048-35-1 € Cloth $95.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
Incarnate Word, Inscribed Flesh: John's Prologue and the Postmodern
Ela Nutu
In this ground-breaking study, Nutu offers an unremittingly postmodern scrutiny of the Logos as the incarnate word that becomes visible as it is inscribed in human flesh.
Bible in the Modern World, 6
ISBN: 978-1-905048-25-0 € Cloth $85.00 € August 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
In Other Words: Essays on Social Science Methods and the New Testament in Honor of Jerome H. Neyrey
Edited by Anselm C. Hagedorn, Zeba A. Crook, Eric Stewart
In this Festschrift to Jerome H. Neyrey, the contributors (David Aune, Zeba Crook, Craig deVos, John H. Elliott, Philip Esler, Bruce Malina and John Pilch, Halvor Moxnes, Douglas Oakman, Carolyn Osiek, Eric Stewart, Gerd Theissen) notably advance the cause of social-scientific New Testament study.
The Social World of Biblical Antiquity, Second Series, 1
ISBN: 978-1-905048-39-7 € Cloth $95.00 € August 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
The Birth of Moses and the Buddha: A Paradigm for the Comparative Study of Religions
Vanessa R. Sasson
Responding to a recent upsurge of Jewish interest in Buddhism, Sasson undertakes the first serious academic effort to uncover the common ground between the founders of the two religions, Moses and the Buddha.
Hebrew Bible Monographs, 9
ISBN: 1-905048-38-6 € Cloth $85.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
Text and Community: Essays in Memory of Bruce M. Metzger (vol. 1)
Edited by J. Harold Ellens
The first of two wide-ranging and often innovative volumes created in Metzger's honor, subtitled Interpretation of the Text for the Community, falls into two parts: The Nature of the Bible: Manuscripts, Texts, and Translation (e.g. an ancient papyrus biblical fragment, biblical exegesis in the third world), and Understanding the Bible: Hermeneutics (e.g. biblical interpretation in Paul in its cultural context).
New Testament Monographs, 19
ISBN: 1-906055-15-7 € Cloth $85.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
Text and Community: Essays in Memory of Bruce M. Metzger (vol. 2)
Edited by J. Harold Ellens
The second volume, on Implementation of the Text in the Community, has as its two parts, The Church and the Bible: Pulpit and Parish (e.g. pastoral care and the Bible) and The Academy, Science, Culture, Society, and the Bible (e.g. psychological method and the historical Jesus, Jungian and Freudian perspectives on gender in the Gospel of John).
New Testament Monographs, 20
ISBN: 978-1-906055-00-0 € Cloth $85.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
New Seals and Inscriptions, Hebrew, Idumean, and Cuneiform
Edited by Meir Lubetski
This collection of fifteen papers is a significant addition to our textual evidence for the world of the Bible: it presents over fifty inscriptions, tablets and seals from the collections of Shlomo Moussaieff, in Hebrew, Idumean, and cuneiform. Most of these texts are being published here for the first time.
Hebrew Bible Monographs, 8
ISBN: 1-905048-35-1 € Cloth $95.00 € September 2007
If you are within North America, click here. If you are outside of North America, click here.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
BAR Highlights: 9/26/07
More recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
“Devil’s Bible” Returns to Prague
A medieval Bible copied by a monk and, according to legend, the Devil is on view in Prague thanks to a loan from Sweden. The manuscript was captured by Swedish troops in 1648, during the Thirty Years’ War.
Jordan Contributes to Temple Mount
The Hashemite Kingdom has announced it will contribute $1.5 million to reconstruction and preservation work for the Al Aqsa Mosque and other structures on the Mount.
Second Temple Quarry Found
Northwest of ancient Jerusalem, archaeologists have discovered the quarry they believe provided the huge stones used by King Herod’s builders when they expanded the Temple Mount. For additional photos, see http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/popup?id=3642720.
Egypt in the Negev
An Egyptian administrative building from the Late Bronze Age has been uncovered in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. The excavators also revealed the remains of a seventh-century B.C. Philistine village.
Sale of Statuette Expected to Fetch Millions
The Guennol Lioness, a 5,000-year-old Mesopotamian statue, has been at the Brooklyn Museum of Art since 1948 but will be auctioned in December; proceeds will go to a charitable foundation.
Underwater Survey Yields Results
A project to map ancient shipwrecks has found a 2,400-year-old Greek vessel off the coast of Albania.
“Devil’s Bible” Returns to Prague
A medieval Bible copied by a monk and, according to legend, the Devil is on view in Prague thanks to a loan from Sweden. The manuscript was captured by Swedish troops in 1648, during the Thirty Years’ War.
Jordan Contributes to Temple Mount
The Hashemite Kingdom has announced it will contribute $1.5 million to reconstruction and preservation work for the Al Aqsa Mosque and other structures on the Mount.
Second Temple Quarry Found
Northwest of ancient Jerusalem, archaeologists have discovered the quarry they believe provided the huge stones used by King Herod’s builders when they expanded the Temple Mount. For additional photos, see http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/popup?id=3642720.
Egypt in the Negev
An Egyptian administrative building from the Late Bronze Age has been uncovered in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. The excavators also revealed the remains of a seventh-century B.C. Philistine village.
Sale of Statuette Expected to Fetch Millions
The Guennol Lioness, a 5,000-year-old Mesopotamian statue, has been at the Brooklyn Museum of Art since 1948 but will be auctioned in December; proceeds will go to a charitable foundation.
Underwater Survey Yields Results
A project to map ancient shipwrecks has found a 2,400-year-old Greek vessel off the coast of Albania.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
