Classical Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism: Comparing Theologies

Among the world's religions, Christianity and Judaism are the most symmetrical. But in our day of religious tolerance, a tendency to overlook the vital differences between the two religions in the name of good will can undermine constructive Jewish-Christian dialogue. In this book, Bruce D. Chilton describes early Christian thought and Jacob Neusner describes early Judaic thought on fundamental issues such as creation and human nature, Christ and Torah, sin and atonement, and eschatology. At the end of each chapter, each assesses the other's perspective, and a final chapter explains why the authors believe theological confrontation--not just comparison--defines the task of interfaith dialogue today.

Bruce D. Chilton (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion and chaplain of the college at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Jacob Neusner (Ph.D., Columbia University) is research professor of religion and theology at Bard College. Their earlier joint publications include Comparing Spiritualities: Formative Christianity and Judaism on Finding Life and Meeting Death.