BOOK REVIEW IN BMCR:

Mark A. Chancey, Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus. Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, 134. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Pp. 304. ISBN 0-521-84647-1. $90.00.

Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus, Hilpoltstein (t.j.kraus@web.de)

Conclusion:

C. succeeds in challenging the overstating of a Greek setting for first century Galilee (and Palestine). His references to numismatic, epigraphic, and architectural evidence are compelling. They can serve as a role model for further studies in that field and direction. However, one may be skeptical about C.'s interpretation of Hengel's work (cf. C.'s introduction), which itself may be an overstatement. Furthermore, C. often rejects suggestions by others, who did not offer adequate archeological findings as evidence. That can turn out as tricky and deceitful. History is a discipline that can't help doing without filling gaps and bridging lacks of evidence from archeological artifacts now and then; and it can't do without suggestions and imaginative hypotheses. Some of C.'s reflections will need further discussion. Some others will need to be challenged in order to prove whether they can stand plausible counterarguments or not. Leaving these points of criticism aside, C. presents many essential and interesting details about first, second, and third century Galilee. With this volume C. brings his readers one more step closer to the environment in which Jesus lived and taught, the days in which the writings of the New Testament were written, and the impact Hellenism and Romanization actually had. Further studies will prove whether C.'s archeological evidence can really serve as a foundation for judgments on 'Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus'.

(Via the Agade list.)