Review of Osborne, The origins of Christianity in the Calendar Wars of the second century BCE

BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: The origins of Christianity in the Calendar Wars of the second century BCE.

Alfred Osborne, The origins of Christianity in the Calendar Wars of the second century BCE. Studia traditionis theologiae, 60. Turnhout: Brepols, 2025. Pp. 325. ISBN 9782503613062.

Review by
Amit Gvaryahu, University of Copenhagen. amgv@teol.ku.dk

Excerpt:

Osborne’s book is erudite, and the sources dealt with span the gamut between the Hebrew Bible and the Cairo Genizah, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. His command of Josephus, the books of the Maccabees, and the New Testament is impressive, as is his ability to cogently present a historical narrative. At the end of the day, however, it is unconvincing. As Osborne cheerily admits often, none of this narrative is explicit in the sources. ...

I haven't read the book, but from the description, that sounds about right to me. And if the calendar were so important for the origins of Christianity, I would expect the debate to figure, or at least to surface periodically, in the New Testament.

But feel free to read the book and decide for yourself.

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