Anders Runesson

A Jew to the Jews

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In this monograph, a revised edition of his award-winning doctoral thesis, David Rudolph presents a comprehensive treatment of a much-debated passage in First Corinthians where Paul seems to relativize his Jewish identity (1 Cor 9:19-23). Far from supporting a traditional portrait of a Torah-free Paul, Rudolph argues that the position of the self-identified Apostle to the Gentiles builds on the similar strategy of Jesus to practice commensality with all, sinners and righteous alike, as he tries to win all--ordinary Jews, strict Jews, and Gentile sinners--for Christ. This is a major contribution to Pauline research, which locates Paul firmly within Judaism. It is essential reading for all students of Paul as well as for those interested in the relationship between the Jesus movement and other forms of Judaism.”

Capernaum

History & Biography

“This is an extraordinary book. At a time when studies of ancient Jews and Christians--and all those in between--have increased dramatically, often concentrating on either texts or archaeology, pinpointing a single moment in time or making sweeping descriptions lacking geographical and chronological anchors, Wally Cirafesi breaks new ground in this fascinating study. By focussing attention on one specific site and analysing all available sources, and then following historical developments closely over several centuries, Cirafesi substantially increases our knowledge of ancient Jewish-Christian relations, all the way from the first century into the early Islamic period. This is exactly what the field needs at this moment. Highly recommended!”

Reading Revelation After Supersessionism

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In this important book, Ralph Korner argues that Revelation has a very clear supersessionist agenda, but not in relation to Jews and Judaism. Rather, from within a Jewish symbolic universe, Revelation targets the Roman Empire on multiple fronts, claiming that its days are counted; Rome will be replaced by the eschatological new Jerusalem. Arguing his case, Korner ingeniously brings his expertise in ancient institutions, notably those called ekklçsiai, to bear on several interpretive cruces, showing convincingly that reading Revelation as a Jewish text unlocks key aspects of its message. Highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding Revelation, but also more generally for those seeking to know more about what it means to read the New Testament from a late first-century Jewish perspective.”

Reading Romans after Supersessionism

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“‘Paul was no supersessionist.’ Approaching Romans from a ‘Paul Within Judaism’ perspective and employing social identity theory, Brian Tucker sets out to prove just that. The study tackles key issues such as the validity of Torah within Christ Groups and the status of God’s covenant with the Jewish people. Concluding in each case that Paul’s argument assumes continuity, Tucker’s book is cogent and essential; no one interested in Romans, or Pauline theology more generally, can afford to ignore it.”

Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In this carefully argued study, New Testament scholar Jonathan Bernier addresses the deceptively simple but exceedingly complex question of when the texts included in the New Testament—as well as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas—were written. Most scholars routinely accept what has become the majority view regarding these dates without themselves engaging the multiple problems that lurk below the surface. Here we find, for the first time in fifty years, a full monograph dedicated to offering the reader a synthetic treatment of the issues involved. Regardless of whether one accepts Bernier’s conclusions, this book is the new must-read volume for anyone who wants to examine the dates of these ancient compositions.”

Salvation in Continuity

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In this thought-provoking and well-argued book, Mothy Varkey shows that Matthew’s notion of salvation is far more complex than a narrow focus on the effects of his death on the cross would allow for. Tracing continuity in salvation from Israel’s past and beyond Jesus’ resurrection into the future, as embodied in the ekklēsia, and focusing especially on the salvific efficacy of the Jewish law, Varkey rewards his readers with a nuanced understanding of Matthean soteriology that challenges many long-held assumptions about the First Gospel. While some conclusions will surely trigger debate and further discussions, this is a study that should not be ignored in future Matthean scholarship.”

The Role of the Synagogue in the Aims of Jesus

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“The quest for the historical Jesus is, again, moving in new directions. Current approaches range from paying close attention to first-century Galilean society as an explanatory matrix for understanding Jesus, to the application of recent memory studies to the analysis of the source material. In this excellent study, Jordan Ryan goes further as he engages with great care the issue of philosophy of history. Discussions of hermeneutics, truth, and knowledge in the practice of history lay a critical foundation for the detailed reconstruction of Jesus and his aims that Ryan presents. Importantly, focussing on an all too often overlooked context within which to decipher Jesus—the ancient synagogues—Ryan is able to paint a convincing portrait of Jesus in tune with the Jewish world in which he lived. This book is a must read for everyone interested in what Jesus wanted to achieve in the world he inhabited.”

The So-Called Jew in Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In The So-Called Jew in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, the reader will find a collection of thought-provoking essays by a group of international Pauline scholars addressing a frequently neglected question, which nevertheless has far-reaching interpretive implications: Does Paul’s 'Jew' in Romans 2:17 in reality refer to non-Jews who imitate Jewish ways of being and keep Torah? Engaging Runar Thorsteinsson's 2003 thesis claiming that this is indeed the case, this volume presents a number of approaches to this issue, all of which shed critical light not only on Romans 2:17 but on the consequences of such a reading for our understanding of Romans as a whole. A must-read not only for students and scholars of Romans, but also for those interested in the relationship between Jews and gentiles in Pauline theology more generally.”