Types of Authority in Formative Christianity and Judaism

by Bruce Chilton, Jacob Neusner

Overview

Bruce Chilton and Jacob Neusner study the points of comparisons and contrast between formative Christianity and Judaism. By identifying three categories of authority in each of the two religious worlds, they show how they have both worked in compelling or failing to get someone to do a given action.
The arguments are introduced by a general discussion of the founding figures of the two religions, Moses and Jesus, and how their inherent authority distilled itself through the structure of their religious institutions and intellectual thoughts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415173254
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/18/1999
Edition description:	ANN
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1430L (what's this?)

About the Author

Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Research Professor of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida and Professor of Religion at Bard College, New York. Bruce Chiltern is Bernard Idding Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College, New York.

Table of Contents

Preface. Introduction. Part One: Institutional Authority. 1. Theoretical Hierarchy: The Institutional Politics of Rabbinic Judaism 2. Apostles and Bishops: A Polarity of Power in Earliest Christianity Part Two: Charismatic Authority. 3. What Ended With Prophecy, and What Happened Then in Rabbinic Judaism 4. Charismata of Guidance in Primitive and Early Christianity Part Three: Scriptural Authority. 5. The Commanding Voice of Scripture in Rabbinic Judaism 6. The Conciliar Voice of Scripture in Christianity Index.

Editorial Reviews

'The book is full of detail and stimulating judgement (and very clearly written). It not only juxtaposes ... two modes of thought, but also highlights the tensions within each community that accompanied their definitions of authority. It does so in an additionally useful way, by reversing some customary perspectives, placing in the foregorund ... what too often lurks in the shadow of historical study.' - Philip Rousseau, Heythrop Journal

From the Publisher