Christian Scriptures, Jewish Commentary
Christian Scriptures, Jewish Commentary | Carl E. Olson | Catholic World Report
An interview with the co-editors of the Jewish Annotated New Testament.
The recently published Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford University Press, 2011), marks the first time, as the volume's Preface states, "that Jewish scholars have annotated and written essays on the complete New Testament." It is co-edited by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, and Dr. Marc Zvi Brettler, who is Dora Golding Professor of Biblical Studies at Brandeis University.
I recently interviewed the two by e-mail about the volume: how it came about, what is unique about it, and how it might contribute to Catholic-Jewish dialogue. (My review of the Jewish Annotated New Testament appeared in the March 4, 2012, issue of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)
Catholic World Report: How and why did this project come about?
Dr. Brettler: About fifteen years ago, I co-edited the Jewish Study Bible for Oxford University Press with Adele Berlin. After finishing that project, I thought of producing a Jewish Annotated New Testament using the same format: Jewish contributors would provide annotations and short essays on background material. Since I work primarily in the Scriptures of Israel (the Tanakh, or the Hebrew Bible), I needed a co-editor with expertise in Christian origins. Oxford and I agreed that, given her knowledge of the New Testament, her familiarity with early Judaism and its writings, and her involvement in Jewish-Christian relations, Amy-Jill Levine would be the ideal candidate.
CWR: How did you decide upon contributors? What criteria were set for contributors to follow in writing their commentary?
Carl E. Olson's Blog
- Carl E. Olson's profile
- 20 followers
