Jewish Believers in Jesus: The Early Centuries

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 930 pages
• Published by: Hendrickson Publishers August 30, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1565637631
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1565637634
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.7 x 1.7 inches
• Weighs: 3 pounds

Product Description
Jewish Believers in Jesus: The Early Centuries looks at the formative first five centuries of Christian history as experienced by individuals who were ethnically Jewish, but who professed faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Offering the work of an impressive international team of scholars, this unique study looks at the first five centuries of texts thought to have been authored or edited by Jewish Christians, including the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, the New Testament Apocrypha, and some patristic works. Also considered are statements within patristic literature about Jewish believers and uses of oral traditions from Jewish Christians. Furthermore, the evidence in Jewish, mainly rabbinic, literature is examined, and room is made for a judicious sifting of the archaeological evidence. The final two chapters are devoted to an enlightening synthesis of the material with subsequent conclusions regarding Jewish believers in antiquity.

About The Author
Dr. Oskar Skarsaune is Professor on Patristic Studies and Early Church History at the Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology in Oslo, Norway and Chief Editor of The History of Jewish Believers in Jesus.

Dr. Reidar Hvalvik is Professor of New Testament at The Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology, Oslo. He is Chairman of the Caspari International Board and Project director and co-editor of The History of Jewish Believers in Jesus.

Reader Reviews
The previous review, which accuses this massive volume of engaging in apologetics is actually an example of apologetics itself. In point of fact, the scholars involved in this project on the history of Jewish believers in Jesus are far more nuanced in their treatment than the reviewer imagines, and they are well aware of the different groups that would be included under heading of "Jewish believers in Jesus." This volume is actually the first of its kind, demonstrating the ongoing presence and influence of these believers in the early centuries of Church history, despite the every-growing influences of supersessionism. Church historians and historical theologians cannot ignore this important book, which represents the first in a series authored by a multi-national, multi-confessional team of scholars, not polemicists or apologists.