Crossing over Sea and Land

by Bird, Michael F.

• ISBN13: 9781598564341
• ISBN10: 159856434X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-01-31
• Publisher: Hendrickson Pub

Summary

What was extent and nature of Jewish proselytizing activity, amongst non-Jews in Palestine and the Greco-Roman diaspora leading up to and during the beginnings of the Christian era? Was there a clear missional direction? How did Second-Temple Judaism recruit converts and gain sympathizers? This book strives to address these questions, representing an update of the discussion while also breaking new ground. A "source book" of key texts is provided at the end. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Michael Bird is Tutor in New Testament at the Highland Theological College in Dingwall, Scotland. His publications include How Did Christianity Begin? A Believer and Non-Believer Examine the Evidence, with James Crossley; Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission; Are You the One Who Is to Come? The Historical Jesus and the Messianic Questions; and The Faith of Jesus Christ: Exegetical, Biblical, and Theological Studies, with Preston Sprinkle.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Abbreviations	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Excursus: "Jews" and "Judaism"	p. 13
Defining "Mission" and "Conversion" in the Ancient World	p. 17
Mission and Conversion: Sociological and Ideological Elements	p. 18
Conclusion	p. 43
Excursus 1: God-Fearers	p. 44
Excursus 2: Proselytism and Demographics	p. 52
Jewish Missionary Activity in Palestine	p. 55
Forced Conversions in Palestine	p. 55
Qumran	p. 61
Matthew 23:15	p. 66
Inscriptions from Palestine	p. 70
Rabbinic Literature	p. 72
Jewish Missionary Activity in the Diaspora	p. 77
Socioreligious Context of the Diaspora	p. 77
Pagan Attraction to Judaism	p. 83
Josephus	p. 93
Philo	p. 103
Apologetic-Propagandistic Literature	p. 109
Greek and Latin Literature	p. 121
Evidence from the New Testament and Early Christian Literature	p. 133
An Early Jewish Christian Mission to Gentiles	p. 134
Missionary Competition between Jews and Christians	p. 140
Conclusion	p. 148
Conclusion	p. 149
Appendix: Source Book on Gentile Conversions and Jewish Missionary Activity	p. 157
Bibliography	p. 177
Index of Modern Authors	p. 193
Index of Subjects	p. 197
Index of Ancient Sources	p. 199
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