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Provides an account of the role of the Torah in ancient Judaism, exploring key moments in its history, beginning with the formation of Deuteronomy and continuing through the Maccabean revolt and the rise of Jewish sectarianism and early Christianity.
List of contents
Preface
Introduction: Jews, Judeans, and the Maccabean Crisis
1. Deuteronomy and the Invention of the Torah
2. Torah in the Persian Period
3. The Persistence of Non-Mosaic Judaism
4. Torah as Narrative and Wisdom
5. Torah as Law
6. Torah and Apocalypticism
7. The Law in the Diaspora
8. Paul, Torah, and Jewish Identity
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Sources
Index of Modern Authors
About the author
John J. Collins is Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale Divinity School. His books include Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography and The Apocalyptic Imagination. He is general editor of the Yale Anchor Bible Series.
Summary
Provides an account of the role of the Torah in ancient Judaism, exploring key moments in its history, beginning with the formation of Deuteronomy and continuing through the Maccabean revolt and the rise of Jewish sectarianism and early Christianity.
Additional text
"The Invention of Judaism is well worth one's time, particularly if one wants to familiarize oneself with the lay of the land in the Second Temple period or is well-versed in Greco-Roman customs and literature behind the NT but need a refresher over debates in Jewish tradition from the same time period."
