Some Early Jewish and Christian Exegetical Problems and the Dynamics of Monotheism

• Published in: Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman period Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 548 - 593
• Main Author: Kister, Menahem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Netherlands BRILL 2006; American Theological Library Association; Brill
• Subjects: General subjects. History of religions. Religious anthropology; Gnostic Christianity; Gnosticism; History and sciences of religions; Judaism; Monotheism; Parables; Polemics; Rabbis; Studies in religion; Theology; Wisdom; Christian exegesis; Rabbinical exegesis; Ancient judaism; Monotheism; Bible
• DOI: 10.1163/157006306778946731
• ISSN: 0047-2212

The thesis of this article is that a Jewish theological formula or an interpretation of biblical passages which, in one period, successfully served one side of a polemic, became, in a later period and in another context, a springboard for an adversary's attack, or an insidious internal theological problem. The author attempts to illuminate the inner dynamics of Judaism as a monotheistic religion, and to observe the potential of inherent theological tensions in Judaism of the Second Temple period and rabbinic Judaism for the emergence of Christian and Gnostic theological concepts and interpretations which were in conflict with the Jewish ones.