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The Ascents of James: History and Theology of a Jewish-Christian Community (DISSERTATION SERIES
213 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
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February 7, 2014
This is a scholarly book, so for lay readers (like me) it is an effort to get through it. For instance, when it quotes a scholar who wrote in German, the quote is given in German WITHOUT a translation in the footnotes. Yet, the book is so clearly organized that a lay person can understand most of it, and it is worth the effort. For me, this book is an introduction to the written records of the second-century Christian community--records that provide a window into the history of the period. The author's "Summary and Conclusion" ending the book will provide some idea of the content.
"In this study, we have isolated a hypothetical source in (Reflections) 1.33-71, and identified it as 'The Ascents of James' (AJ). The 'AJ' stems from a Greek-speaking Jewish-Christian community living probably in Transjordan (Pella), and can be dated in the second half of the second century. This community practices baptism in the name of Jesus and observes the law of Moses, of which circumcision is possibly a part. It exalts James as leader of the Jerusalem church, and denigrates Paul as the one who prevented the conversion of the whole Jewish nation to faith in Jesus as Messiah. It has been separated from the main body of Judaism by its belief in Jesus and from the Great Church (gentile church) by its insistence on law-observance. But the community of the 'AJ' clings faithfully to its main belief, the one around which the 'AJ' revolves: Jesus is the Prophet like Moses and Messiah." (parenthesis are mine)
'The Ascent of James' is not so much history as it is the accepted legends of the second century "Jewish Christians" based on earlier documents of the community and oral tradition. It is fact mixed with interpretation, socialization and conflation; much of which this book clarifies. The Jewish branch of Christianity would not long survive the period represented in this scholarly analysis.
"In this study, we have isolated a hypothetical source in (Reflections) 1.33-71, and identified it as 'The Ascents of James' (AJ). The 'AJ' stems from a Greek-speaking Jewish-Christian community living probably in Transjordan (Pella), and can be dated in the second half of the second century. This community practices baptism in the name of Jesus and observes the law of Moses, of which circumcision is possibly a part. It exalts James as leader of the Jerusalem church, and denigrates Paul as the one who prevented the conversion of the whole Jewish nation to faith in Jesus as Messiah. It has been separated from the main body of Judaism by its belief in Jesus and from the Great Church (gentile church) by its insistence on law-observance. But the community of the 'AJ' clings faithfully to its main belief, the one around which the 'AJ' revolves: Jesus is the Prophet like Moses and Messiah." (parenthesis are mine)
'The Ascent of James' is not so much history as it is the accepted legends of the second century "Jewish Christians" based on earlier documents of the community and oral tradition. It is fact mixed with interpretation, socialization and conflation; much of which this book clarifies. The Jewish branch of Christianity would not long survive the period represented in this scholarly analysis.
Displaying 1 of 1 review