1st C jewish debates

Hi,

Can anyone suggest a resource (s) that covers popular topics of debate within the Jewish community at the time of Christ. We get glimpses of some in the gospels, ie, whether there was life after death, how best to summarise the law into one simple idea. I’d like to dig deeper and get acquainted with the topics that were being wrestled with during those times.

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DMB

I think you'd have to narrow down to what they didn't debate. Even the most basic tenets were up for grabs. The only one I can think of being the exception, was YHWH or the Father (and even that, the name being debated visa viz 'Theos').

The problem you'll have to overcome, is there's little available from the 1st century ... you have Philo on one end, and Josephus on the other. Then you have the Talmud, with guesses as to 'when' (commentators often just ignoring 'when').

And then your 'Jewish community' is a modern insert ... which Jewish community, and how wide-spread?

So, any discussion you get, is a guess.

David

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1219909#Comment_1219909

Thanks for the response. I guess I need a primer first before getting into more detailed questions.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1219927#Comment_1219927

Thanks for the response. I guess I need a primer first before getting into more detailed questions.

I understand what you're saying. And will 'shut up'.

But I thought it was just coincidental, I'm reading a volume on Josephus vs the Pharisees. And the author was decrying the absence of information, quoting from Neusner (a well-known about-the-jews writer; many, many detailed volumes):

"We must honestly attempt to understand not only what was going on in the first century, but also—and most crucially—how and whether we know anything at all about what was going on."

I thought that was funny.

David Wanat

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1219957#Comment_1219957

It wasn't until I became a Verbum user and started hanging about the forums that I learned that there was a dearth of information about the First Century in Judea. I guess much was lost when the Romans besieged Jerusalem.

Thomas Pape

Alfred Edersheim Collection (4 vols.) | Logos Bible Software

A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ (5 vols.) | Logos Bible Software

Classic Studies in Jewish History during the Time of Jesus (14 vols.) | Logos Bible Software

David

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1219960#Comment_1219960

Perhaps the dead sea scrolls may have input into this, if only as a reactionary response to what was going on in the cultural centres.

David

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1219967#Comment_1219967

Thanks Thomas, most useful!

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1219969#Comment_1219969

Perhaps the dead sea scrolls may have input into this, if only as a reactionary response to what was going on in the cultural centres.

Pre-1st ce. And Qumran ruins itself, an argument. 1 Enoch Parables close.

MJ. Smith

Can anyone suggest a resource (s) that covers popular topics of debate within the Jewish community at the time of Christ.

Since no one else has mentioned the "obvious", I think the question is culturally unproductive. A primary method of Jewish study is with a partner (havruta) where "debate" is a fundamental pedagogical tool. From the less than scholarly source:

Chavrusa - Wikipedia">Based on statements in the Mishnah and Gemara, chavrusa learning was a key feature of yeshivas in the eras of the Tannaim (Rabbis of the Mishnaic period, 10-220 CE) and Amoraim (Rabbis of the Talmudic period, 200 to 500 CE).

I would surmise it applies to the period you are interest in. Everything (and more) was subject to debate. But I defer to DMB for the actual details of what is available now on the topic.