Jewish Writings of the Second Temple Period

Van Gorcum

1984

xxiii, 697 p.

Compendia rerum Iudaicarum ad Novum Testamentum ; 2

Includes indexes. Bibliography: p. 603-653

9780800606039

The historical background / I. Gafni -- Stories of biblical and early post-biblical times / G.W.E. Nickelsburg -- The Bible rewritten and expanded / G.W.E. Nickelsburg -- Historiography / H.W. Attridge -- Josephus and his works / H.W. Attridge -- Philo of Alexandria / P. Borgen -- Wisdom literature / M. Gilbert -- Testaments / J.J. Collins -- The Sibylline oracles / J.J. Collins -- Apocalyptic literature / M.E. Stone -- Qumran sectarian literature / D. Dimant -- Psalms, hymns and prayers / D. Flusser -- Epistolary literature / P.S. Alexander

This volume describes that part of the rich literary production of ancient Judaism which was not contained in the Hebrew Bible nor in rabbinic literature. these writings originated in the Second Temple period, which proved highly creative in the midst of strong external influences and internal movements. Prime example are the Dead Sea scrolls, documents of an extremely separatist sect. Their discovery in 1947 revolutionized our understanding of the Second Temple Judaism and its literature. The scrolls appear more or less related in spirit to a group of writings transmitted by Christianity and known as the Pseudepigrapha. Yet another group are the Apocrypha, closely related to later biblical writings and incorporated within the Greek Old Testament. Finally, the encounter with Greek culture is documented by Jewish authors writing in Greek, notably Philo and Josephus. After a historical outline which sets the stage, the chapters in this book describe and analyze these documents. Selective bibliographies for further reading conclude the chapters. An index of sources and of names and subjects, as well an exhaustive list of modern works quoted, complete the volume. It addresses no only scholars and students, but any reader interested in Judaism and Christianity in the ancient period

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