The Jewish Jesus (ebook)

Argumento de The Jewish Jesus (ebook)

In late antiquity, as Christianity emerged from Judaism, it was not only the new religion that was being influenced by the old. The rise and revolutionary challenge of Christianity also had a profound influence on rabbinic Judaism, which was itself just emerging and, like Christianity, trying to shape its own identity. In The Jewish Jesus, Peter Schäfer reveals the crucial ways in which various Jewish heresies, including Christianity, affected the development of rabbinic Judaism. He even shows that some of the ideas that the rabbis appropriated from Christianity were actually reappropriated Jewish ideas. The result is a demonstration of the deep mutual influence between the sister religions, one that calls into question hard and fast distinctions between orthodoxy and heresy, and even Judaism and Christianity, during the first centuries CE.

Peter Schäfer, Winner of the 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

"This volume combines several provocative theses. Schäfer suggests that arguments in the Talmud against ostensibly heretical teachings are aimed not only at opponents of the rabbis but also at circles among the ancient rabbis themselves that found such teachings attractive. . . . The author is a highly respected scholar of ancient Judaism, and the present book continues lines of thought that appeared in his earlier writings, including Jesus in the Talmud. This volume's presentation is erudite yet accessible. The arguments against scholars with other views are especially robust and forthright."--Choice

"Schäfer's book is very illuminating and fascinating. The author examines a rich collection of rabbinic texts, which shed light and better understanding on many concepts included in the Old and New Testaments. His emphasis on the geographical distinction between Palestine and Babylonia, in the evaluation of the rabbinic sources is worthy of attention. . . . [T]he book is an excellent presentation of the mutual interaction between the sister religions and deserves an important place amongst the studies about early Judaism and Christianity."--Miroslaw S. Wróbel, Biblical Annals

"There have been a number of revelatory books in recent decades on the relations between early Christianity and Judaism, especially on how each influenced the other. This book by Peter Schafer . . . is among them."--Glenn W. Olsen, European Legacy

"Watching Peter Schäfer explicate Jewish and Christian texts is like watching a great restorer work on a fresco damaged by time, wind, and water. Blurred outlines come into focus, dull colors become brilliant, and suddenly a forgotten story of exchange between the two religions comes back to dramatic life. This is great scholarship, applied to a subject so complex and difficult that nothing less could do it justice."--Anthony T. Grafton, Princeton University

"The Jewish Jesus is the natural sequel to Peter Schäfer's widely acclaimed Jesus in the Talmud. Against overly simplistic conceptions of Christian influences on Judaism, Schäfer posits a dynamic dialogue between two not yet clearly demarcated communities. Christianity grew out of Judaism, but Judaism also developed and changed in constant exchange with and differentiation from Christianity. Schäfer's fascinating and highly readable book offers an important change of perspective from traditional religious histories and deserves many readers."--Günter Stemberger, author of Jews and Christians in the Holy Land: Palestine in the Fourth Century

"Schäfer's thought-provoking book challenges readers to reimagine the relationship of early Judaism and Christianity and the theological matrices in which they developed. Must reading for students and scholars alike."--Burton L. Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary

"This excellent and important book will be seized on eagerly and read with attention. Peter Schäfer makes his argument with great clarity and a formidable command of the sources, building his case from close readings of the texts. The scholarship is impeccable."--Philip Alexander, professor emeritus, University of Manchester0List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
Abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1

Chapter 1. Different Names of God 21
Offerings 22
Creation 24
R. Simlai?s Collection of Dangerous Bible Verses 27
The Bavli Collection 37
R. Simlai and Christianity 42

Chapter 2. The Young and the Old God 55
Chapter 3. God and David 68
Aqiva in the Bavli 70
The David Apocalypse 85
David in Dura Europos 94

Chapter 4. God and Metatron 103
Rav Idith and the Heretics 104
Metatron the Great Scribe 115
The Celestial High Priest 116
The Prince of the World 123
The Instructor of Schoolchildren in Heaven 125
Two Powers in Heaven 127
Akatriel 131
Metatron in Babylonia 138
Metatron and Christianity 141

Chapter 5. Has God a Father, a Son, or a Brother? 150
Chapter 6. The Angels 160
When Were the Angels Created? 160
God?s Consultation with the Angels 165
Angels and Revelation 179
Veneration of Angels 188

Chapter 7. Adam 197
Chapter 8. The Birth of the Messiah, or Why Did Baby
Messiah Disappear? 214
The Arab 220
Elijah 222
The Messiah 223
The Mother of the Messiah 227
Christianity 228

Chapter 9. The Suffering Messiah Ephraim 236
Pisqa 34 238
Pisqa 36 242
Pisqa 37 261
Christianity 264

Notes 273
Bibliography 329
Index 343