Judeophobia and the New Testament (Eerdmans)

NEW BOOK FROM EERDMANS:

Judeophobia and the New Testament
Texts and Contexts

Edited by Sarah E. Rollens, Eric M. Vanden Eykel and Meredith J. C. Warren

Imprint: Eerdmans

372 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in

HARDCOVER
9780802882882
Publication Date: April 24, 2025
$44.99
£34.99

EBOOK
9781467466158
Publication Date: April 24, 2025
$44.99
£34.99

DESCRIPTION

An essential resource for understanding the troubling role of the Christian scriptures in anti-Semitism

This eye-opening collection of essays is essential reading for anyone concerned about the ways that Christian scripture has been used—both in the past and the present—in service of anti-Semitism. The authors seek to identify, contextualize, and problematize New Testament “Judeophobia,” a broad heading that encompasses anti-Semitism, supersessionism, and various discriminatory practices against Jews at different points in history.

In the first half of Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts, readers engage with the subject matter through thematic essays. In the second half, readers engage with text-based essays that focus on individual books of the New Testament as well as relevant non-canonical literature. Throughout, the book’s goal is to educate readers about the ways that New Testament texts have been used to engender Judeophobia from the early church to today. While the book is designed primarily as a resource for teachers and students, it also aims to help New Testament scholars account for Judeophobic interpretations, take responsibility for them, and encourage the discipline to work against its own role in rising anti-Jewish rhetoric and violence.

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Benjamin (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Deuteronomy

NEW BOOK FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS:

The Oxford Handbook of Deuteronomy

Edited by Don C. Benjamin

Oxford Handbooks

£97.00

Hardback
Published: 23 April 2025
528 Pages
248x171mm
ISBN: 9780190273552

Description

The Oxford Handbook of Deuteronomy is a gateway to what legal traditions teach about the cultural identity and social world of the people of YHWH — how they thought about themselves, and about their world and how they faced and resolved the challenges of daily life. More than a record of values of a by-gone era, Deuteronomy continues to inspire audiences to take on the challenges of living their values with confidence. The Oxford Handbook of Deuteronomy introduces readers to significant topics in the thriving conversation and the rich diversity in the academic community studying Deuteronomy. An international collection of scholars, the contributors are specialists in a variety of critical methods for understanding and appreciating legal traditions. Considering the literary development, motifs, social world, intertextuality, and reception history of Deuteronomy this Handbook offers a ready reference to anyone wishing to learn more about one of the most formative books of the Hebrew Bible.

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Smithsonian returns Chinese "Dead Sea Scrolls" to China

REPATRIATION: The Smithsonian Transfers Rare 2,300-Year-Old Silk Manuscripts to China. The Zidanku Silk Manuscripts were smuggled into the United States in the 1940s. Scholars say they provide remarkable insights into ancient Chinese philosophy and religion (Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine).

Dating to around 300 B.C.E., the Zidanku Manuscripts are the oldest known silk manuscripts found in China and the only ones from the Warring States period. They’re thought to be a divination guide that offers rare insights into ancient Chinese philosophy and religion.

Volume II, also known as “Wuxing Ling,” contains lunar calendar illustrations and accompanying text that explains “seasonal taboos and auspicious practices,” per the Chinese news agency Xinhua. The texts in Volume III, or “Gongshou Zhan,” are arranged in a rare circular pattern and are read clockwise. They may offer guidance for attacking and defending cities.

“The Dead Sea Scrolls are foundational to understanding the religious roots of Judaism and Christianity,” Li Ling, a scholar of Chinese studies at Peking University, tells the Chinese broadcaster CCTV, perSouth China Morning Post’s Luna Sun. “The Zidanku manuscripts are no less vital to Chinese civilization. They speak to our ancient knowledge systems, our understanding of the cosmos and the details of everyday life.”.

This story has been getting a lot of attention, with predictable emphasis on the parallels to the Dead Sea Scrolls. For example here, with some additional details.

Another famous set of Chinese manuscripts comparable in date to the Scrolls (and also compared to them, e.g. here) is the Ma-wang-tui silk manuscripts of Lao-Tzu's Tao-Te-Ching (and some other works). They were discovered in 1973 in an ancient tomb dated to 168 BCE. Robert G. Hendricks published an English translation of the Lao-Tzu texts in Lao-Tzu: Te-Tao Ching: A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China) (Random House, 1989 with reprints).

And for some other Warring-States-era manuscripts, Confucian texts written on bamboo, see here. They too "have been compared to the Dead Sea scrolls."

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Coptic-era building with mural, inscriptions, etc. excavated in Egypt

COPTIC WATCH: Coptic period structure unearthed in Assiut, Upper Egypt (Nevine El-Aref , ahramonline).

An Egyptian-led archaeological team unearthed the remains of a mudbrick structure in the Monqabad area of Assiut in Upper Egypt, believed to date back to the sixth and seventh centuries AD during the Coptic era in the country. ...

These inscriptions and carvings include a unique depiction of multiple eyes surrounding a central face, which is interpreted as representing spiritual insight and inner vision, key themes in Coptic religious tradition.

Another striking mural features a man holding a child, believed to represent Saint Joseph carrying the Christ Child. The mural is flanked by figures thought to be Jesus' disciples, with inscriptions in the Coptic language.

There are some nice photos in the article, but I can't find any of the face-carving or the mural there, or anywhere so far.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

A new inscribed ostracon from Lachish

HEBREW EPIGRAPHY: Discovered: Lachish Ostracon Bearing Biblical Name ‘Shaphan’. A rare name in the Bible and archaeology (for good reason) (CHRISTOPHER EAMES, Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology).

The sherd dates to the end of the Iron Age—discovered in a layer destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 b.c.e. (Level ii)—and though it doesn’t tell us much, as far as content goes, it does bear the rare name of a particular biblical figure also on the scene at the same time: Shaphan.

The article links to the underlying open-access article in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology:

New Hebrew Ostracon from Lachish

Daniel Vainstub, Hoo-Goo Kang, Barak Sober, Iris Arad, and Yosef Garfinkel

Abstract

In an archaeological excavation conducted in 2016 on the northern slope of Tel Lachish, the triangular lower-right corner of a Hebrew ostracon was found. It was assigned to Level II, which was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Despite the very faded condition of the inscription, the following phrase can be cautiously reconstructed for its bottom line: “On the 1[6?] (day of the month) Shapan [son (of) ].” This phrase probably summarizes or closes an administrative document.

For some comments on the Shaphan mentioned in the Bible, the discoverer (composer??) of the book of the law during Josiah's reign, see here. For a discussion of the excavated seal impression belonging to his son, Gemaryahu, see the article by Lawrence J. Mykytiuk linked to here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

More on the Mount Zion stone-cup cryptic inscription

CRYPTIC EPIGRAPHIC ARTIFACT: Jewish Secrets Scratched in Stone: 2,000-year-old Cryptic Text Found in Jerusalem. Excavating on Mount Zion, Shimon Gibson's team found a bewildering stone mug with a script type only seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Adonai is mentioned (Ruth Schuster, Haaretz).

In Gibson's mind, the inscribed mug from his Mount Zion dig speaks to the diverse complexity of ancient Judaism that was still finding its way 2,000 years ago. Was ritual prayer something only to be done at the Temple, or could it be done at home? Could chanting be used? Did it use a repetition of words, with an uplifting of the voice, and when was it to be done? The mug is a small piece of evidence pointing to an entire world hidden from view, one we can only glimpse at, like looking through a crack in a wall.

Did the Mount Zion mug have any kind of an association with the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, whether they were Qumranite sectarians or perhaps even the Essenes themselves, based on their mutual use of cryptic writing? Maybe cryptic writing was much more common at that time than has previously been thought, and not just among sectarians but also among city dwellers as well? We don't know; the crack we have been peering through simply hasn't widened enough to show us a corpus of texts from every other part of the country; Judaism at the time had certain commonalities, but it was also very diverse, Gibson asserts.

A typically throughly-researched article by Ms. Schuster.

I noted the discovery of the cup in 2009 and followed up with quite a few posts. I talked with Stephen Pfann about it later that year and posted on the conversation here. For the other posts, start here and follow the links.

For more on 4Q186, the cryptic Qumran horoscope text, see here.

Back to the current article, regarding this:

Another expert on ancient Jewish paleography, Dr. David Hamidović of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, noted another similarity, with incantation and curse texts from a somewhat later time, which often feature seemingly meaningless words or letters known as nomina barbara. This mug seems amply blessed with nomina barbara.

As far as I am aware, nomina barbara in esoteric and ritual texts are only currently known in late-antique and later texts. If a ritual cup from the first century CE really does have them, that would be important news.

That said, given the present state of its decipherment, it's possible that the "nomina barbara" are just actual words that the decipherers have not yet figured out. It's hard to tell before a decipherment is published.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Another gold ring excavated at the Givati Parking Lot

STILL MORE ANCIENT BLING: 2nd gold ring found in City of David sheds light on enigmatic Hellenist era in Jerusalem. The artifacts might have been buried by a young girl on the eve of her wedding, but whether she was Judean, Greek or both remains a mystery (Rossella Tercatin, Times of Israel).

n exquisite gold ring set with a red gemstone, dating back some 2,300 years, has been unearthed beneath the floor of a Hellenistic structure in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the City of David announced Wednesday.

Strikingly similar to another ring discovered in the same spot a year ago, the artifact was found in the Givati Parking Lot excavation in the Jerusalem Walls National Park, only steps away from where the ancient Temple stood at the time. Yet, according to the researchers, whether the owners were wealthy Judaeans, Greek elites, or possibly individuals who straddled both cultures remains a mystery.

[...]

PaleoJudaica noted the discovery of that other ring almost exactly a year ago. The current article reports that a bronze earring was previously excavated at the same spot. I didn't know about that one, although another gold earring was found at the Givati Parking Lot in 2018.

For PaleoJudaica posts on the Givati Parking Lot excavation and the many discoveries there, see the links collected here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Phoenician coin exhibition at American University of Beirut

PHOENICIAN WATCH: Minting Power: Phoenician Coins and the Politics of Identity (Patricia Khoder, ​Office of Communications, American University of Beirut).

A war galley, a winged seahorse, two rocks floating in the sea, and a dog searching for a seashell — these are just a few of the tiny inscriptions and motifs found on ancient coins from Phoenicia, on display until fall 2025 at the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut (AUB).​

The exhibition, titled Coined for Power: Rulers, Myths and Propaganda, is curated by Dr. Nadine Haroun Panayot, curator of the AUB Archaeological Museum, and Dr. Jack Nurpetlian, lecturer and numismatist in the Department of History and Archaeology at AUB. The exhibition showcases around 20 coins from the university's remarkable and visually striking collection, which spans every major historical period. It takes visitors on a journey through time, tracing the rich history of the Mediterranean and Levantine shores.

[...]

For more on that coin propaganda feud between the major Phoenician cities, see here.

Cross-file under Numismatics. Some more posts on Phoenician coinage are here, here, here, here, and here. For lots of posts on Carthaginian and Tunsian (Punic) coinage, follow the links from here, plus here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Durham appoints Grant Macaskill to Lightfoot Chair

DURHAM UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION: Professor Grant Macaskill appointed as new Lightfoot Professor of Divinity.

We welcome Professor Grant Macaskill to our University as our new Lightfoot Professor of Divinity. He will join our leading Department of Theology and Religion in September.

Grant Macaskill earned his PhD at the University of St. Andrews. In fact, I was the internal examiner for his PhD viva. He also served as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the Divinity School of the University of St. Andrews before his move to Aberdeen University. More details on his career are at the link.

Grant is a highly respected New Testament scholar and also an expert on 2 Enoch, one of those Old Testament pseudepigrapha preserved largely in Old Church Slavonic which I mentioned yesterday. I noted his monograph on it here last year.

Congratulations to Professor Macaskill and to Durham University!

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Cyril and Methodius Day 2025, second round

OLD CHURCH SLAVONIC WATCH: Saints Cyril and Methodius: A Legacy Etched into Bulgarian Script (Katerina Taneva, BGNES News Agency).

May 11 and May 24, now observed as the Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and of the Slavic Alphabet, are often referred to as a “Spiritual Easter” — a time not only for remembrance but for cultural pride and renewal.

Today is the Feast Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, as celebrated in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Macedonia, and Russia.

As noted above and in the following, it is also celebrated on 11 May: Memory of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles (The Orthodox Times).

The Orthodox Church commemorates Hieromartyr Mocius, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Enlighteners of the Slavs. The Church also commemorates the founding of Constantinople.

[...]

The two brothers lived in the ninth century and were the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet. Their work is of interest to PaleoJudaica because many Old Testament pseudepigrapha survive in Old Church Slavonic or Church Slavonic.

Their feast day is also celebrated on 14 February and 5 July. For full details and links, see here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Online, interactive Egyptian hieroglyphics instruction

PEDAGOGY: Explainer - Hieroglyphs Step by Step: 1st platform for teaching ancient Egyptian language. (Shahd Hashem, ahramonline).

Egypt’s first interactive platform for learning ancient Egyptian language, the “Hieroglyphs Step by Step” website, has recently launched its second development phase, expanding its reach and educational tools.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Review of Feldman, The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source ...

ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Review | The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source, from Creation to the Promised Land (Sarah Shectman).

Liane Feldman, The Consuming Fire: The Complete Priestly Source, from Creation to the Promised Land (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2023).

... This, in the end, is part of what makes Feldman’s treatment so successful. In other words, one of the greatest benefits of separating P out is that it forces you to read it on its own, something that is virtually impossible if you’re looking at the whole canonical text. You can know in theory what P does and does not contain, but it’s different when you read it seamlessly in one go. Then you really see that in P there’s no law given at Sinai, there’s no Miriam, and the Israelites do not begin their conquest while they are in the wilderness. ...

I noted an essay by the author on the book here. And for posts on her earlier book, The Story of Sacrifice, mentioned in this review, see here and links

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A 5-minute documentary on the Sifting Project

THE TEMPLE MOUNT SIFTING PROJECT BLOG: KAN 11 SHORT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE TMSP.

But when Itay came to film and kept stopping me every time I tried to go into detailed explanations—telling me I’d already lost him—I realized he might actually be the perfect person to deliver our story into something accessible to the broader public and to younger audience.

After two days of filming, we ended up with a five-minute video. Here it is—the final result.

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The archaeology of the Cave of Salome

FUNERARY ARCHAEOLOGY: Christian pilgrim chapel and Saint Salome inscriptions found in Judean cave. Study details fifth- to ninth-century conversion of a Second Temple tomb into a worship site, complete with apse, altar and multilingual graffiti (Jerusalem Post Staff).

A new article in ‘Atiqot 117 by Nir-Shimshon Paran and Vladik Lifshits follows decades of exploration at the Cave of Salome near Amaẓya and sets out the evidence for its use as a Christian pilgrimage destination from the Byzantine through Abbasid eras . The authors record how a previously Jewish burial estate, hewn in the late first century BCE, was structurally and liturgically re-oriented between the fifth and ninth centuries CE.

[...]

The underlying ‘Atiqot is once again from the current "Archaeology of Death" volume:

Paran, Nir-Shimshon and Lifshits, Vladik (2025) "The Cave of Salome: A Second Temple Period Royal Burial Estate in the Judean Shephelah," 'Atiqot: Vol. 117, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.2254
Available at: https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol117/iss1/6

Abstract:

This paper presents the results of previous and recent archaeological work conducted at the burial estate known as the Cave of Salome in the Judean Lowlands (Shephelah). Following the new excavation at the site, and findings at nearby sites, it is suggested that the grandeur burial estate—one of the most elaborate burial complexes of the Second Temple period—belonged to a member of the royal family, whose name, “Salome,” was preserved in the later, Christian use of the site in the Byzantine period. This article considers the geographic and historic background of the region, as well as the architectural features of the burial estate compared to other contemporary enclosures, offering a new possible identification of the burial estate’s owner.

In short, the argument is that this is the tomb of Salome, the sister of Herod the Great. But later Christian tradition took it to be the tomb of Salome the disciple of Jesus (Mark 15:40–41, 16:1-2).

Neither is to be confused with Salome, daughter of Herodias, who is inferred to have danced before Herod and then asked for the head of John the Baptist. Also not to be confused with Salome the daughter of Herod or the probably legendary Salome the midwife in the Protevangelion of James. Etc. There were lots of Salomes in and around the biblical tradition.

For more on the Cave of Salome, see here and here.

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Review of Faraone Festschrift

BRYN MAYR CLASSICAL REVIEW: Magic and religion in the ancient Mediterranean world: studies in honor of Christopher A. Faraone.

Radcliffe G. Edmonds III, Carolina López-Ruiz, Sofía Torallas Tovar, Magic and religion in the ancient Mediterranean world: studies in honor of Christopher A. Faraone. Abingdon; New York: Routledge, 2023. Pp. 396. ISBN 9781032341262.

Review by
Marko Vitas, École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris Sciences et Lettres). vitas.marko@gmail.com

... The present volume highlights the importance of Faraone’s interdisciplinary work for the study of ancient magic in two parts through the contributions of his colleagues and former students: Materials and Cross-Cultural Contexts. I evaluate individual chapters first, and then discuss the book as a whole. ...

I noted the publication of the book here. Follow the links from there for more on Faraone's work.

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Roman-era pine coffin excavated on the Incense Road

FUNERARY ARCHAEOLOGY: First Aleppo-pine coffin found on the Nabataean Incense Road near Avedat. Discovery of a uniquely preserved Roman-period burial, just meters from Israel’s Route 40, adds a rare wooden coffin to the Negev corpus and sits opposite a later Byzantine Christian cemetery (Jerusalem Post Staff).

The underlying article is published in the current ("Archaeology of Death") volume of the open-access journal 'Atiqot:

Sapir, Tal and Erickson-Gini, Tali (2025) "A Wooden Coffin from the Incense Road and Other Wooden Coffins from Southern Israel," 'Atiqot: Vol. 117, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.2256
Available at: https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol117/iss1/8

Abstract:

In 2022, a hewn tomb was discovered along the course of the Nabataean Incense Road, c. 2 km northwest of the ancient site of ‘Avedat (Oboda) in the Negev Highlands of southern Israel. The excavation of the grave revealed the remains of a wooden coffin from the Roman period, in the second or third centuries CE. Although wooden coffins have been uncovered elsewhere in the region, this coffin is the first of its kind to be discovered along the Incense Road. This article presents the coffin and discusses its historical and archaeological context, as well as the distribution of wooden coffins in southern Israel, their origin and use.

For PaleoJudaica posts involving the Nabatean (Nabataean) site of Avdat (‘Avedat, Ovdat, Uvdat), start here and follow the links. Cross-file under Nabatean Watch (?).

Other articles in this volume of 'Atiqot are noted here and links.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Review of Fredriksen, Ancient Christianities

ANCIENT JEW REVIEW: Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years (Joseph Foltz).

Fredriksen, Paula. Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2024.

Paula Fredriksen begins Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years with a question: considering the variety of gods and local deities present in both the ancient Mediterranean and the Roman Empire, how did one singular god end up dominating the focus of the late Roman Empire? Ultimately, Fredriksen not only answers this question but also introduces her reader to the numerous intricacies of narrating the history of Christianity. ...

Cross-file under New Book.

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A Roman pig-jaw funerary offering at the Legio VI Ferrata camp?

OSTEO-PORCINE FUNERARY ARCHAEOLOGY: First Evidence of Roman Pig-Jaw Funerary Ritual Uncovered in Israel. (Abdul Moeed, Greek Reporter).

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a Roman funerary pig ritual at a military camp near the base of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel, once home to more than 5,000 Roman soldiers.

Known as Legio, the site served as a permanent base for nearly 180 years, from around 117 to 300 CE. The discovery sheds light on burial customs practiced by Roman legions stationed far from the empire’s center.

[...]

The article notes that the underlying technical article is published in the current volume of the open-access journal ʻAtiqot:

Perry-Gal, Lee; Leyfirer, Greg; Adams, Matthew J.; and Tepper, Yotam (2025) "Pig Sacrifice and Feasting in Roman Funerary Practices: A Case Study of the Roman Legionary Cemetery at Legio," 'Atiqot: Vol. 117, Article 10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.2258
Available at: https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol117/iss1/10. Abstract:

The Greek name for the pig is ὕς, once called θῦς from the verb θῦειν, that is, ‘to sacrifice’ (Varro, Rust. 4.9)

Excavations in the Roman cemetery near the Legio VI Ferrata legionary base, dated to the second–third centuries CE, exposed a pit containing the remains of at least 13 domestic pigs represented by jaws, primarily mandibles. This study presents new evidence of the role of pigs in Roman military ceremonies, specifically in funerary practices, based on comparable archaeological data and historical and iconographic evidence. The discovery provides valuable insights into the role of pigs in Roman burial practices, suggesting that these remains do not represent the economic waste of mundane consumption activities, but rather reflect practices associated with funerary ceremonies conducted at this Roman cemetery. The new evidence sheds light on burial practices within the Eastern Roman provinces in the Levant, particularly of Roman legions in the province of Syria Palastina.

Incidentally, this volume of 'Atiqot (Volume 117, 2025) is devoted to the Archaeology of Death.

This volume of ‘Atiqot focuses on the archaeology of death, discussing mortuary contexts and practices throughout the ages. The enigmatic nature of burials and their association with different perceptions of the afterlife have drawn scholarly interest, as did the frequently opulent and well-preserved burial artifacts. The diverse funerary contexts provide valuable insights into the individuals buried there, their social standing and associated ritual practices.

I have already noted articles from it here and here. There are other interesting ones that may come up.

For more on the Legio VI Ferrata (6th Legion Ironclad) Roman camp near the site of Megiddo, start here and follow the links.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

The Pilgrimage Road

ARCHAEOLOGY: Ancient road connecting ancient Mikveh to Temple unveiled by archaeologists. Orenstein emphasized that excavations like that of the Pilgrimage Road put biblical stories into historical context (JOANIE MARGULIES, Jerusalem Post).

Unveiled to The Jerusalem Post on a special visit, The Pilgrimage Road is where people made a religious journey to the Temple for Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Stretching only a couple of short miles from the complex, the road is presumed to have been followed between the Siloam Pool and the Temple, as people entered the pool in a ritual bathing process ahead of the annual religious festivals.

For many PaleoJudaica posts on the Jerusalem Pilgrimage Road excavation and its discoveries, see the links collected here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Gallagher, The Apocrypha through History (OUP)

NEW BOOK FROM OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS:

The Apocrypha through History

The Canonical Reception of the Deuterocanonical Literature

Edmon L. Gallagher

£99.00

Hardback
Published: 22 April 2025
320 Pages | 3 black-and-white illustrations
234x156mm
ISBN: 9780192869517

Also Available As:
E-book

Description

The deuterocanonical books, otherwise called the Apocrypha, have been a part of Christian Bibles for as long as there has been a Christian Bible. For just as long, there have been disputes about their authority. Are they canonical Scripture, or merely edifying literature? These opposing positions can be found in the Church Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries, who in turn influenced the entire subsequent discussion. The deuterocanonical books were almost always considered beneficial, often canonical, though there emerged with the Reformation in the sixteenth century Christian writers who disputed even the value of these books, suggesting that they might pose dangers to the faithful. The Apocrypha through History surveys the entire history of this issue, with a concentration on materials in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (for the earlier period) or English and German (for the later period). Edmon L. Gallagher explores the origins of the deuterocanonical books and their reception in Judaism and Christianity, with separate chapters on the New Testament, the patristic period, the Latin West, the Greek East, the Reformation, and the English Bible. At each stage, the book investigates who considered the deuterocanonical books to be fully canonical—or not—and why? The Apocrypha through History provides a thorough yet accessible examination of one aspect of the history of the Bible, concluding with a chapter reflecting on whether it makes a difference if one's bible includes the deuterocanonical books.

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