Attitudes to Gentiles in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity

This volume describes the attitudes towards Gentiles in both ancient Judaism and the early Christian tradition. The Jewish relationship with and views about the Gentiles played an important part in Jewish self-definition, especially in the Diaspora where Jews formed the minority among larger Gentile populations. Jewish attitudes towards the Gentiles can be found in the writings of prominent Jewish authors (Josephus and Philo), sectarian movements and texts (the Qumran community, apocalyptic literature, Jesus) and in Jewish institutions such as the Jerusalem Temple and the synagogue. In the Christian tradition, which began as a Jewish movement but developed quickly into a predominantly Gentile tradition, the role and status of Gentile believers in Jesus was always of crucial significance. Did Gentile believers need to convert to Judaism as an essential component of their affiliation with Jesus, or had the appearance of the messiah rendered such distinctions invalid? This volume assesses the wide variety of viewpoints in terms of attitudes towards Gentiles and the status and expectations of Gentiles in the Christian church.

• Table Of Contents
• Introduction - James McLaren
  
  
• Chapter 1: Gentiles, God-fearers and Proselytes David C. Sim
• Chapter 2: Philo and the Gentiles David T. Runia
• Chapter 3: Gentiles in the dead sea scrolls John J. Collins
• Chapter 4: Josephus and the Gentiles James S. Mclaren
• Chapter 5: The portrayal of Gentiles in Jewish Apocalyptic Literature Michael P. Theophilos
• Chapter 6: The Temple and Gentiles James S. Mclaren
• Chapter 7: The Synagogue and the Gentiles Donald Binder
• Chapter 8: Q and the Gentiles Christopher m. tuckett
• Chapter 9: Paul’s attitudes to the Gentiles Sean f. winter
• Chapter 10: Fishing the other side: The Gentile Mission in Mark’s Gospel Ian J. Elmer
• Chapter 11: The attitude to Gentiles in the Gospel of Matthew David C. Sim
• Chapter 12: ‘To the Ends of the Earth’: Attitudes to Gentiles in Luke–Acts Elizabeth V. Dowling
• Chapter 13: Gentiles in the Gospel of John: Narrative Possibilities – John 12.12-43 Mary L. Coloe
• Chapter 14: Greeks in Colossae: Shifting Allegiances in the Letter to the Colossians and its context Alan Cadwallader
• Chapter 15: ‘You shall not give what is holy to the dogs’ (didache 9.5): The Attitude of the Didache to the Gentiles Jonathan A. Draper
• Chapter 16: Jews, Christians and Gentiles: Observations and some concluding remarks David C. Sim
  
  
• Bibliography
• Index of References
• Index of Authors