DESCRIPTION:

This course provides an introduction to the history, literature, and theology of Second Temple Judaism, focusing on the importance of the Jewish context as the soil from which Christianity arose. It will help to an understanding of early Christianity as a mainly Jewish movement in its beginning and to recover the individual writings of the New Testament - besides their importance for emerging Christianity - as part of the Jewish literature, culture and history.

An understanding of the Jewish background is vitally important to the understanding of the New Testament and hence also to the preaching and teaching ministry of the church. A proper understanding of Judaism is increasingly important in our pluralistic world and vital for an ongoing, fruitful dialogue between Christians and Jews. It is also crucial in the battle against anti-Semitism.

The class will consist primarily of lectures and class discussion of the readings. Depending on enrollment, student presentations will be given on selected subjects and selected Second Temple literature. Class will meet daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.

Any modern translation of the Bible that contains the (OT) Apocrypha. (Necessary during class.)

Tomasino, A. J. Judaism Before Jesus: The Ideas and Events that Shaped the New Testament World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003.

VanderKam, J. C. An Introduction to Early Judaism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.

Selected documents of the Pseudepigrapha; portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, and Philo.

Select one of the following to be read during the course:

Barclay, J. M. G. Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora: From Alexander to Trajan (323 BCE - 117 CE). (Hellenistic Culture and Society 33). Berkeley: Univ. of California Press, 1999.

Collins, J. J. Between Athens and Jerusalem: Jewish Identity in the Hellenistic Diaspora. 2nd ed. (The Biblical Resource Series). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

Ilan, T. Jewish Women in Greco-Roman Palestine. Peabody: Hendrickson 1996.

Levine, L. I. Judaism and Hellenism in Antiquity: Conflict or Confluence? Peabody: Hendrickson 1999.

Mason, S. Josephus and New Testament. 2nd ed. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2003.

VanderKam, J. C. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.

Helyer, L. R. Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period: A Guide for New Testament Students. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Schiffman, L. H. From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. Hoboken, NJ: KTAV, 1991.

Scott, J. J., Jr. Jewish Backgrounds to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.

Skarsaune, O. In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Participation in discussions of assigned readings; Report on a chapter from the chosen book to be presented in class (and turned in [3-5 pages]); One 15-page term paper.