Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus

by Jonathan L. Reed

Book Overview

Illustrates how the archaeological record has been misused by New Testament scholars and how synthesis of the material culture is foundational for understanding Christian origins in Galilee and the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563383942
• ISBN13: 9781563383946
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Continnuum-3PL
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Not_ Integrating the Book and the Spade

Jonathan Reed has written a critique of that form of biblical scholarship which is primarily text-centered and where exegesis is the main goal. What is needed instead is not just an awareness of more more artifacts, but an examination of the material culture that impinge upon Christian origins. Reed sees the real value of archaeology as being able to reconstruct the social world of Jesus and his followers.In Part One, Reed considers the identity of the Galileans. They are not descendants of Israelites of the Northern Kingdom; there is an absence of settlements for over a century after the conquest of Tiglath-pileser. They are not Itureans; signs of their settlements may be found in adjacent areas but not in Galilee. The Galileans are primarily Jews; they settled Galilee during the Hasmonean period and used the same domestic space (artifacts and the like) as found in Judea.Some implications for the Jesus tradition are obvious. The teachings of Jesus cannot be seen as some sort of Galilean Judaism over and against some sort of Judean Judaism. Likewise passages in Q which are supposedly based upon northern tradi-tions cannot be an attempt at reviving centuries old Israelite traditions.Part Two focuses on two cities: Sepphoris and Capernaum. Though not mentioned in the Bible, Sepphoris is often used by biblical scholars to explain an influence of Hellenistic culture (such as Jesus' use of the word "hypocrite"). However most of the Hellenization of Sepphoris came after the time of Jesus. Much attention has been given to the house of Peter at Capernaum. Reed focuses on the large fishing and agricultural village which was on the lower end of the economic scale.Part Three reverses the methodological sequence of the first two parts. Rather than moving from archaeology to text, Reed moves from text to archaeology. Here Reed is attempting to show how texts fit the Galilean background and how situations in Galilee were worked into the text.Reed is on target in his critique as evidenced by the misidentification of the Galileans. Also his book is well written and amply footnoted for those who want to know more.

An Outstanding Study

As a serious amateur student of Biblical archeology, especially the Second Temple era, I enthusiastically recommend this book. The author not only brings keen familiarity with the fundaments of Israel archeology, but an unusually rich and wide appreciation of the relevant intersecting Biblical and secular literature. He puts it together with elegant clarity, caution, and moderation, and what rewarded this reader was a picture of Jesus' Galilee more detailed, vivid, plausible, well-grounded and convincing than I have gotten from any other single manuscript on this subject.

A MUST BUY

Reed has provided a very readable guide to understanding the historical Jesus in his actual context. He is an archaeologist who knows how to write stuff that can be understood by any interested reader. Anyone who wants to learn more about the setting of Jesus should have this book.

Wow!!

What an interesting and amazing book!! If you've ever been interested in the context of Jesus' life and teaching then this book is for you. By vividly placing Jesus in the sociological and economic Galilean context Reed (a noted authority on Jesus) brings the gospels to life like never before. Reed bridges the gap between those who are so text centered they are blind to historical realities with the world of the often myopic academic archeologist to fuse a new understanding (if not an entirely new discipline!) of the everyday dynamics of Jesus life and teachings. A must read for anyone seriously interested in a contemporary view of Jesus.