What is the best resources on early Judaism in the NT?
Okay, you lost me .. early Judaism predates the New Testament ... or are you really asking about early Rabbinic Judaism?
My guess is you're looking for resources on Second Temple Judaism?
My absolute favorite:
Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins: Diversity, Continuity, and Transformation
Extremely detailed, both documents, and subjects. This is one of the few that discusses end-time dating equations, leading to the 'delay' vs 'shortening the time' (NT).
Second Temple Judaism and the origins of Judaism.
Alfred Edersheim Collection (4 vols.) | Logos Bible Software
I am looking for the literature associated with this tradition and its work within the biblical and theological history of the era. The book DMB posted looks good and I bought it. I am looking for more like that.
I understand that Judaism flourished from the 1st century CE to the closure of the Babylonian Talmud, c. 600 CE, in Babylonia. I am looking for the works that deal with the first century CE and the years before.
While I recommend it with reservations: Neusner, Jacob, ed. Christianity, Judaism and Other Greco-Roman Cults: Vol. 1-4. Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2004. Several of his works overlap e.g. Neusner, Jacob. First-Century Judaism in Crisis: Yoḥanan Ben Zakkai and the Renaissance of Torah. Augmented Edition. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2006. OR Neusner, Jacob. The Rabbinic Traditions about the Pharisees before 70, Parts I–III. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2005.
Where is the roadblock to your finding such resources for yourself? Building a search against the Logos catalogue? Finding a starting point for tracking references down so one book leads to another? Evaluating where or not a book is worth pursuing further? Using the beta web app Search - Logos Bible Study I can enter first century Judaism to get:
and using the summarize (article) option I get:
It seems to me that the beta version here could help you find resources on your own.
MJ I am looking to find the thoughts of others who study this topic. This beta resource is good. But it is only the processes of a computer. I want human thoughts.
Okay, you have me totally confused. Unless you are using the summarize option after selecting a particular resource/article, this beta search is simply providing a list of resources that match you request criteria. It is simply easier to build the search criteria. Are you confusing it with a chat bot? It isn't one or even close to one.
Paul was Torah observant even as he didn't push it on new believers. Reading Paul in Acts and in the epistles contextually gives a remarkably useful way to think about how one deals with things. I can think of no one better than Paul.
