The puzzle and politics of historical reconstruction: The case of the rise and development of Christianity and Judaism

This essay focuses on the topic of the emergence of Christianity and Judaism as related but distinct religious traditions, as an example of a process of religious and cultural change, which has had an enormous impact on Western and other societies around the world. At the heart of this question lies what appear to be contradictions between normative practices in antiquity and those we know of today, leading us to consider the historical and hermeneutical issue of continuity and change over time; its how, when and why. Rejecting the idea that theological differences between Judaism and Christianity necessitated a ‘parting of ways’ between them, it is argued that social, political and colonial decision-making was essential to this process, and that, furthermore, a historical focus on institutional realities in the ancient Mediterranean world, including in Jewish society, will challenge many long-held assumptions about the origins not only of Christianity but also of Judaism. The general historical reconstruction offered is then applied to a specific archaeological site, Capernaum, showing how traces of the larger pattern of development from the first to the fifth century CE may be seen in the histories of two buildings in this town

Bibeltolkningens mekanismer bortom metod och perspektiv. Om Anton Fridrichsen och judarna

Focusing on the New Testament scholar Anton Fridrichsen and his presentation of Jews and Judaism in his book Fyrahanda sädesåker, the present article deals with the problem of factors beyond the conscious application of methods and perspectives that influence the interpretation of the Bible. It is argued that Fridrichsen, who had worked with questions pertaining to methods used in Biblical scholarship and the relation between the academic world and the church (insisting on the purely historical task of the scholar) did not apply his methodological program “realistisk bibelutläggning” when describing Judaism. Thus, Fridrichsen’s negative view on Jews and Judaism was not the result of a conscious methodological approach. The negative portrayal of Judaism is nevertheless consciously and consequently applied as a negative background to Jesus and Christianity. A possible reason for this, it is argued, could have been that Fridrichsen interpreted Judaism, especially Pharisaism, as intellectual elitism and wanted to preserve his church from such influence. Finally, it is stated that the present article is not to be seen as in any way a final answer to the interpretation of Fridrichsen’s works but more as a call for a more comprehensive analysis of his writings regarding these questions

The Origins of the Synagogue : A Socio-Historical Study

In the first century CE, synagogues existed not only in the land of Israel but in all parts of the Roman Empire where Jews lived. Although incorporating a number of activities, the most characteristic features of this institution were the public reading and teaching of torah, making the synagogue an unparalleled institution in the ancient world. But how, when, where, and why did this unique institution originate? Which historical, social, or political factors determined its rise and development? Since the dawn of modern history writing, scholars have wrestled with these questions, not least since the synagogue informs on the earliest history of two world religions, Judaism and Christianity; in fact, the influence of this ancient institution is still felt in large parts of the world through the impact of these religions. However, no one solution to the complex problem of its origins has yet been accepted by the majority of scholars. Taking into account literary, epigraphic and archaeological material, and adopting a socio-political perspective towards the sources, the present study constitutes a new approach to an old enigma. The investigation spans from the sixth century BCE to the second century CE and argues that behind the word ‘synagogue’ in the first century, there are concealed two types of institution: the public village assembly and the so-called voluntary association. The former originated as a result of the radical implementation of Persian imperial policy in Yehud, while the latter developed when Hellenistic influence was felt in the region. In the Diaspora, synagogue liturgy gradually replaced Jewish sacrificial cult so that temples eventually were transformed into synagogues. The results of this study not only touch upon questions of how Judaism was formed in the Persian period, but also affect the understanding of the social situation in the first century and the relation between different Jewish groups, such as the Jesus movement and the Pharisees

The Oldest Original Synagogue Building in the Diaspora: A Response to L. Michael White

In 1997, the Harvard Theological Review published an article written by L. Michael White in which he “presents and analyzes evidence for the social location and organization of Jewish groups in the environs of Rome, specifically from the port city of Ostia” during the first centuries CE. White draws from two sources in his examination: archaeological remains of the Ostia synagogue and rather scanty—but important—epigraphical material, the Mindius Faustus and the Gaius Julius Justus inscriptions. White's study is the most extensive discussion of the archaeological evidence in English since the excavator, Maria Floriani Squarciapino, presented her preliminary reports from the excavations of the synagogue in the early 1960s. Despite the great interest that the synagogue at Ostia aroused when it was unearthed and excavated during two campaigns in 1961 and 1962, it has since been neglected by scholars.</jats:p