Winner of the 2017 F. W. BEARE AWARD Judgment and the wrath of God are prominent themes in Matthew's Gospel. Because judgment is announced not only on the hypocritical but also on those who reject God's messengersand because this rejection is implicitly connected with the destruction of Jerusalemthe Gospel has often been read in terms of God's rejection of Israel, with catastrophic results. Anders Runesson sets out to show, through careful study of Matthew's composition and comparison with contemporary Jewish literature, that the theme of divine judgment plays very different and distinct roles regarding diverse groups of Jews (including Jesus' disciples) and non-Jews in this Gospel. Runesson examines various assumptions regarding the criteria of judgment in each case and finds that Matthew does not support some of the most popular slogans in Christian theology. The results and implications for our historical understanding of Christian origins and our theological estimation of Matthew's place in that story will be of vital interest to scholars and students for years to come.

Divine Wrath and Salvation in Matthew: The Narrative World of the First Gospel

Religion & Spirituality

Runesson, Anders

Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts

Fortress Press

For almost two millennia, readers of the New Testament have been trying to figure out Paul. The struggle with his words begins already within the canon itself. While Acts portrays with ease a Torah-observant, Pharisaic-messianic Paul working in partnership with James and other leaders in Jerusalem, the author of 2 Peter famously admitted that the apostle to the nations is difficult to understand. From that moment on debate has ebbed and flowed on all things Pauline; on women as leaders in assemblies and on the status of Jews and Gentiles in God's plan, just to mention two of the contentious topics associated with Paul. For clergy, scholar, and lay person, Paul's letters hold weight and continue to draw in new readers. Anders Runesson seeks to listen to the voice of the historical Paul - a Jew proclaiming a form of Judaism to non-Jews to save them from divine wrath - but also to probe what it means to breathe new life into this historical figure in the twenty-first century.

Judaism for Gentiles: Reading Paul Beyond the Parting of the Ways Paradigm (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 494)

Judaism

Mohr Siebrek Ek

Despite the recent explosion of research on ancient synagogues, investigators in the field have hitherto been forced to cull relevant evidence from a vast assortment of scholarly publications. This volume gathers for the first time all of the primary source material on the early synagogues up through the Second Century C. E. In the case of literary, epigraphic and papyrological evidence, catalog entries contain the texts in their original language and in English translation. For archaeological remains, entries provide technical descriptions along with plans and photographs. All listings are accompanied by bibliographic citations and interpretative comments. An Introduction frames the current state of synagogue research, while extensive indices and cross-references allow for easy location of specific allusions. An appendix to the catalog contains source materials on Jewish temples outside of Jerusalem.

The Ancient Synagogue from its Origins to 200 C.E.: A Source Book

History

Binder, Donald D.

Olsson, Birger

World

Brill Academic Pub

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? 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 the old enigma.

Origins of the Synagogue: A Socio-Historical Study (Coniectanea Biblica, New Testament, 37)

Almqvist & Wiksell Intl

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Books by Runesson, Anders