Judaism Before Jesus: The Events & Ideas That Shaped the New Testament World

Front Cover
InterVarsity Press, 2003 M10 17 - 345 pages

Turning the page from Malachi to Matthew, we skip a lot of history.

In fact, it is something like missing several key episodes in an ongoing television saga. The setting and main plot line are familiar, but new characters have appeared and more recent events and developments are assumed.

Did anyone record the episodes we missed?

Fortunately a few did. Their reception wasn't always good, and there are annoying cuts and splices. But Anthony J. Tomasino has put together the missing episodes and skillfully retells the story of Judaism before Jesus, from the time of Ezra and Nehemiah to the Herods, and even up to Masada.

The result is an entertaining, informative and enlightening retelling of the story of Judaism and the development of the ideas, subplots and characters that shaped the world of Jesus and the first Christians.

From inside the book

 

Selected pages

Contents

List of Figures
6
Oppression Resistance and Messianic Hopes
278
Anno Domini
307
A Compendium of Jewish History
326
Scripture Index
342
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

Alexander ancient angels Antigonus Antiochus Epiphanes Antipater Aramaic Aristobulus army Babylon Babylonian believed Bible biblical century A.D. Christians conquered Darius Dead Sea Scrolls death Demetrius demons Diaspora East Egypt Egyptians emperor Empire Enoch Essenes exile Ezra faith forces Galilee Gentiles God's governor Greek Greek culture Hasmonean Hebrew Hellenism Hellenistic Herod high priest high priesthood human Hyrcanus interpretation intertestamental Israel Israelites Janneus Jerusalem Jesus Jews John Hyrcanus Jonathan Josephus Judah Judaism Judas Judea king kingdom land Lord Macc Maccabees Messiah Mishnah nation Nehemiah Old Testament Onias Palestine Palestinian persecution Persian Pharisees Philo probably prophecy prophet pseudepigrapha Ptolemy rabbis reign religion religious resurrection revolt righteous Roman Rome rule sabbath sacrifices Sadducees Samaritans Sanhedrin scholars Scriptures second century B.C. Second Temple Second Temple Period seems Seleucid Seleucid Empire Seleucus Simon soldiers spirit story Syria tells texts there's throne tion tradition translation word worship written

About the author (2003)

Tomasino (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is ordained as a minister in the United Methodist church. He currently serves as Director of the Biblical Studies Program and associate professor of Bible, Old Testament and Hebrew studies at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana. A scholar of ancient Judaism, he is also the author of Written Upon the Heart: The Ten Commandments for Christians Today.

Bibliographic information

TitleJudaism Before Jesus: The Events & Ideas That Shaped the New Testament World
AuthorAnthony J. Tomasino
Editionillustrated
PublisherInterVarsity Press, 2003
ISBN0830827307, 9780830827305
Length345 pages
  
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