Corpus-Paul

[Jeff Peterson <peterson AT austingrad.edu>]

Matt 23:15 is a slender reed on which to rest the reconstruction of a 
whole religion, especially as the verse admits of other interpretations 
than conversion of pagans to Judaism: it as likely refers to the 
competition among the various sects within Judaism. The Dead Sea 
Scrolls, Josephus, and the rabbinic literature offer plenty of 
corroboration that Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees, et al. argued with 
one another and competed with each other for adherents -- the image of 
traversing land and sea to win a convert fits that well attested 
characteristic of second-temple Judaism very nicely.

Jeff Peterson

Jeffrey Peterson
Austin Graduate School of Theology
Austin, Texas