Modes of Scriptural Interpretation in Early Judaism and Early Christianity

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Modes of Scriptural Interpretation in Early Judaism and Early Christianity

Edited by: Benjamin Edsall , Joseph Verheyden and Jens Schröter

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2026

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This book is in the series

Volume 265 | Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

About this book

The present contributions examine three modes of interpretation—rewriting, appropriation, and commentary—within early Jewish and Christian texts. As is well known, scriptural interpretation was important, even central, for the process of identity formation in early Jewish and Christian communities. The modes of scriptural interpretation covered in the present volume not only betray deep commonalities in their approach and discursive field, but also illuminate the practical side of interpretation to which communal and/or polemical application is intrinsic. These different modes co-exist, operating side by side across the early period, rather than conforming to any clear developmental scheme. In the end, the category of interpretation itself turns out to be capatious, including material from sectarian Halakhah to Valentinian mythology to Rabbinic heresiological discourse. Further, contributors note that in a myriad of ways we remain the heirs of the interpretive projects explored here. Attending to the reception of scriptural texts in their ancient interpretation offers the opportunity for scholars to highlight their possibilities, promises and difficulties, opening them for others with ears to hear.

Author / Editor information

B. Edsall, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne; J. Schröter, Humboldt University Berlin; J. Verheyden, Catholic University Leiden.

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Frontmatter
I

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Contents
V

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Introduction: Prolegomena to Modes of Scriptural Interpretation
1
Benjamin A. Edsall, Joseph Verheyden and Jens Schröter

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Forms, Significance, and Limits of Exegesis in the Halakhic Texts from Qumran
11
Lutz Doering

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Philo of Alexandria, Allegorical Commentary, and the Soul’s Road to Virtue
39
Courtney J. P. Friesen

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“. . .written for our instruction” (Rom 15.4): Scriptural Reasoning and Cultural Translation in Pauline Letters
59
Kathy Ehrensperger

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Matthew’s Interpretation of Scripture
81
Paul Foster

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Christianizing Jewish Scriptures: Luke-Acts and the Re-sacralization of “Law and Prophets”
115
Anthony Giambrone

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Failing to Communicate: Isa 6:9–10 in the New Testament
143
Adele Reinhartz

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Tatian’s Diatessaron between Rewritten Scripture and Cento: On the Origins of the Gospel Harmony Genre
161
Matthew Crawford

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The Sophia Myth of Irenaeus’ Grande Notice (Haer . 1.1–9) as a Poetic Reflection on Jewish and Christian Scripture
189
Johanna Brankaer

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Multiplicity and Diversity in the Interpretation of Jewish Scriptures, according to the Valentinian Tractatus Tripartitus
211
Jean-Daniel Dubois

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The Bat and the Rooster: on Jewish-Christian Literary Interactions in the Babylonian Talmud
229
Michal Bar-Asher Siegal

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List of Contributors

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Primary Sources Index

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Authors Index

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Subject Index

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Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

February 2, 2026

eBook ISBN:

9783111329536

Hardcover published on:

February 2, 2026

Hardcover ISBN:

9783111329253

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Front matter:

6

Main content:

263

Tables:

5

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111329536

eBook ISBN: 9783111329536

Hardcover ISBN: 9783111329253

Keywords for this book

Scriptural Interpretation; Jewish-Christian Relations; Biblical Reception

Audience(s) for this book

Scholars, students, and institutes of Biblical studies and early Christianity

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Modes of Scriptural Interpretation in Early Judaism and Early Christianity

About this book

Author / Editor information

Topics

Frontmatter

Contents

Introduction: Prolegomena to Modes of Scriptural Interpretation

Forms, Significance, and Limits of Exegesis in the Halakhic Texts from Qumran

Philo of Alexandria, Allegorical Commentary, and the Soul’s Road to Virtue

“. . .written for our instruction” (Rom 15.4): Scriptural Reasoning and Cultural Translation in Pauline Letters

Matthew’s Interpretation of Scripture

Christianizing Jewish Scriptures: Luke-Acts and the Re-sacralization of “Law and Prophets”

Failing to Communicate: Isa 6:9–10 in the New Testament

Tatian’s Diatessaron between Rewritten Scripture and Cento: On the Origins of the Gospel Harmony Genre

The Sophia Myth of Irenaeus’ Grande Notice (Haer . 1.1–9) as a Poetic Reflection on Jewish and Christian Scripture

Multiplicity and Diversity in the Interpretation of Jewish Scriptures, according to the Valentinian Tractatus Tripartitus

The Bat and the Rooster: on Jewish-Christian Literary Interactions in the Babylonian Talmud

List of Contributors

Primary Sources Index

Authors Index

Subject Index

Modes of Scriptural Interpretation in Early Judaism and Early Christianity

Overview

About this book

Author / Editor information

Topics

Table of contents

Frontmatter

Contents

Introduction: Prolegomena to Modes of Scriptural Interpretation

Forms, Significance, and Limits of Exegesis in the Halakhic Texts from Qumran

Philo of Alexandria, Allegorical Commentary, and the Soul’s Road to Virtue

“. . .written for our instruction” (Rom 15.4): Scriptural Reasoning and Cultural Translation in Pauline Letters

Matthew’s Interpretation of Scripture

Christianizing Jewish Scriptures: Luke-Acts and the Re-sacralization of “Law and Prophets”

Failing to Communicate: Isa 6:9–10 in the New Testament

Tatian’s Diatessaron between Rewritten Scripture and Cento: On the Origins of the Gospel Harmony Genre

The Sophia Myth of Irenaeus’ Grande Notice (Haer . 1.1–9) as a Poetic Reflection on Jewish and Christian Scripture

Multiplicity and Diversity in the Interpretation of Jewish Scriptures, according to the Valentinian Tractatus Tripartitus

The Bat and the Rooster: on Jewish-Christian Literary Interactions in the Babylonian Talmud

List of Contributors

Primary Sources Index

Authors Index

Subject Index

Bibliographic data