Description
Book SynopsisThese five essays deal with the influence of Judaic haggadah or lore, especially in the form of creative historiography or imaginative dramatization, on four enigmatic passages in the Gospels, and one in Acts. They point to their deeper theological truths and negate the alternatives of true or false, historical or non-historical, usually applied to the narratives.
Trade ReviewIn these sharply focused essays addressing perennially puzzling passages from the Gospels and Acts, Roger Aus combines an impressive command of rabbinic sources with imaginative, probing exegetical analysis to produce richly textured interpretations that challenge some cherished assumptions, while advancing our understanding of the ways in which "imaginative dramatization" (Judah Goldin) shaped early Christian discourse. These artfully executed studies are models of clarity and methodological precision that exemplify how the world of the rabbis can illuminate the world of the New Testament. -- Carl R. Holladay, Charles Howard Candler Professor of New Testament, Emory University
In the five studies of this book, Roger Aus forcibly argues that rabbinic texts should not be neglected when interpreting the Gospels of the New Testament. Through detailed analyses of narratives in the Synoptic Gospels, John and Acts, he shows how the Jesus tradition of the New Testament frequently exhibits common points of contact with the traditions, the motifs, and the way narratives are presented in rabbinic texts. The author also treats the issue of dating the materials. He presents noteworthy arguments why rabbinic traditions should not be excluded from the study of the Gospels’ history of tradition by simply pointing to the late origin of the present texts. There are only few scholars who can deal with rabbinic sources with such sovereignty as the author of these studies does. The essays presented here provide important impulses for the investigation of the early Gospel tradition. -- Jens Schröter, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction I. The Cursing of the Fig Tree in Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 and Judaic Tradition on Ps 1:3 II. Jesus' Refusal to Drink the Wine Offered Him in Mark 15:23. Getting Behind the Text III. Luke 1:37 in Light of Gen 18:14 and Judaic Traditions on the Wondrous Conception of Isaac by the Rejuvenated Virgin Sarah IV. John 19:28-30 and the Significance of Hyssop V. "The Severe Famine to Come upon 'the Whole World'" in Acts 11:28 Sources and Reference Works Author Index Index of Sources Cited About the Author
