Essays in the Judaic Background of Mark 11:1214, 2021; 15:23; Luke 1:37; John 19:2830; and Acts 11:28

By (author) Roger David Aus

Not available to order

Publication date:

02 July 2015

Length of book:

259 pages

Publisher

UPA

ISBN-13: 9780761866138

These 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.

Preface
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

In 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.