Jewish and Christian Scriptures: The Function of ‘Canonical’ and ‘Non-Canonical’ Religious Texts (Jewish and Christian Texts)
Overview
Over the past four decades, many scholars have focused on the expanding collection of alleged “extra-canonical” documents that were deemed inspired by God in numerous early Jewish and Christian groups. Eventually, these texts ceased to have an authoritative role in Judaism and Christianity and were branded “extra-canonical.” Now, these documents, once considered sacred, are recognized as fundamental in understanding antiquity, and the development of the canon. Many scholars are now according an authority to some of these texts This volume draws attention to these ancient religious texts, especially the so-called “non-canonical” texts, by focusing on how they were used or functioned in early societies. The contributors also warn us about the assumed barriers between “canon” and “extra-canon,” “texts” and “traditions,” and they suggest that we should be careful with labels such as “Jewish” and “Christian.” The contributors also indicate, intermittently or implicitly, the importance of combining disciplines that had been isolated, especially the study of texts, the exploration of the canonical process, and the relevance of sociology in studying ancient groups.
- Focuses on how non-canonical texts functioned in early societies
- Describe the ancient functions in certain social settings
- Includes responses whihc express appreciation and seek additional clarification
- Preface: James H. Charlesworth and Lee Martin McDonald Abbreviations
- Introduction: ‘What’s Up Now? Renewal of an Important Investigation’ - James A. Sanders
- What Do We Mean by Canon? Some Modern and Ancient Questions - Lee Martin McDonald
- Response: Loren Johns
- The Book of the People and the People of the Book - James H. Charlesworth
- Response: Andrei Orlov
- Citation Formulae as Indices to Canonicity in Early Jewish and Early Christian Literature - Kenneth Penner
- Response: Lee Martin McDonald
- Rewriting the Sacred: Some Problems of Textual Authority in Light of the Rewritten Scriptures from Qumran - Casey Elledge
- Response: Brent Strawn
- Jude’s Citation of 1 Enoch - Jeremy Hultin
- Response: Leslie Walck
- The Pseudepigrapha and the New Testament: The Case of the Acts of the Apostles - Craig A. Evans
- Response: Brian D. Rhea
- Apocrypha and Liturgy in the Fourth Century: The Case of the ‘Six Books’ Dormition Apocryphon - Stephen J. Shoemaker
- Response: George Zervos
- The Transfiguration Remembered, Reinterpreted, and Reenacted in Acts of Peter 20-21 - Simon S. Lee
- Response: Henry Rietz
This volume kicks off the Jewish and Christian Texts in Contexts and Related Studies Series, executive-edited by Charlesworth; McDonald is one of several on the editorial board of advisors. As the inaugural installment in that series, Jewish and Christian Scriptures charts a course investigating the uses and functions of ancient religious texts, with special focus on those texts that have been since deemed outside the canon.
—Katrina Van Heest, Biblical Interpretation
- Title: Jewish and Christian Scriptures The Function of ‘Canonical’ and ‘Non-Canonical’ Religious Texts
- Editors: James H. Charlesworth and Lee Martin McDonald
- Series: Jewish and Christian Texts
- Publisher: T&T Clark
- Publication Date: 2010
- Pages: 256
- Resource Type: Collected Essays
- Topic: Non-Canonical Texts
James H. Charlesworth is George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and Director and Editor of the Dead Sea Scrolls Project at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA.
Lee Martin McDonald is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University, Canada. He is also President of the Institute for Biblical Research.