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corpus-paul - Re: [Corpus-Paul] Judaism: a missionary religion or just open to converts?

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  • From: Jeff Peterson <peterson AT austingrad.edu>
  • To: Corpus-Paul <corpus-paul AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Corpus-Paul] Judaism: a missionary religion or just open to converts?
  • Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 16:14:57 -0500

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





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