Discover how Jewish thought in the Greek period helped shape early Christianity and the New Testament.
This scholarly work traces the rich dialogue between Jewish literature, canon debates, and early Christian writing from Ezra to the rise of the Gospel era. It shows how later Jewish and apocalyptic texts influenced the mindsets and writings of the New Testament, often in ways readers may not expect. The author surveys sources, translations, and the shifting boundaries between what was considered sacred scripture and what lay outside the canon, highlighting the complexity of how the early Church engaged with these materials.
By examining the broader literary landscape of the Greek period, the book reveals the practical and theological currents that prepared the way for Christian thought. It explains how translations, paraphrases, and parallel traditions provided a "mine of terms" and a common language for Jewish and Christian readers alike, shaping beliefs, rhetoric, and interpretation in the earliest Christian communities.
- How the Septuagint and other writings were used in early Christian argument and teaching
- Ways canonical and non-canonical texts interacted with New Testament thought
- Developments in prophecy, eschatology, and mediatorial ideas in Jewish literature
- Questions about canonicity and the boundaries between Judaism and early Christianity
Ideal for readers of biblical history, early Christian studies, and theology, this edition offers clear context and careful analysis of how Judaism’s “Golden Age” days helped prepare the way for the Gospel era.