Between Athens and Jerusalem: Jewish Identity in the Hellenistic Diaspora
A landmark study of Hellenistic Judaism by one of the world's recognized experts.\ One of the most creative and consequential collisions in Western culture involved the encounter of Judaism with Hellenism. In his widely acclaimed study of the intellectual and moral relationship between "Athens and Jerusalem," John J. Collins examines the literature of Hellenistic Judaism, treating not only the introductory questions of date, authorship, and provenance, but also the larger question of Jewish...
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A landmark study of Hellenistic Judaism by one of the world's recognized experts.One of the most creative and consequential collisions in Western culture involved the encounter of Judaism with Hellenism. In his widely acclaimed study of the intellectual and moral relationship between "Athens and Jerusalem," John J. Collins examines the literature of Hellenistic Judaism, treating not only the introductory questions of date, authorship, and provenance, but also the larger question of Jewish identity in the Greco-Roman world.Catholic David E. Aune in Biblical Quarterly"A remarkable book. . . . Collins has provided us with an exceptionally well-crafted discussion of the variety of religious self-definitions that characterized Egyptian diaspora Judaism."
PrefacexiiPreface to the Second EditionxiiiAbbreviationsxivIntroduction1The Diaspora Setting3Gentile Perceptions of Judaism6Jewish Apologetics14Hellenistic Judaism and Judea16The Constraints of the Tradition19Relations with the Gentile Environment24Prospect25Part 1National and Political Identity1.The Uses of the Past29The Faithful Chroniclers33Demetrius33The Followers of Demetrius35History and Romance37Artapanus37Eupolemus46Pseudo-Eupolemus?47Thallus and Cleodemus51Pseudo-Hecataeus52The Epic Poets54Philo54Theodotus57Jewish Historiography in the First Century C.E.60Conclusion622.Religion and Politics: The Ptolemaic Era64The History of the Jews in Ptolemaic Egypt64Onias and Leontopolis69The Background of Onias73The Tale of the Tobiads742 Maccabees and the Oniads772 Maccabees and the Diaspora78The Third Sibyl83The Content of Sibylline Oracle 387The Seventh King88The Analogy with the Persian Period91The King from the Sun92Jerusalem and the Gentile Kings95A Ptolemaic Messiah95The Provenance of Sibylline Oracle 396The Letter of Aristeas97Joseph and Aseneth103Greek Esther1103.Religion and Politics: The Roman Period113The Status of the Jews in Roman Egypt113The Third Book of Maccabees122Philo's Politics131The Events of 66-73 C.E.138The Background of the Great Revolt140The Fifth Sibyl143The Later Sibyllines150Conclusion151Part 2Identity Through Ethics and Piety4.The Common Ethic155Judaism according to Hecataeus155The Basis for a Common Ethic157The Sibylline Oracles160The Third Sibyl160Sibylline Oracle 5165Sibylline Oracle 4166The Sibylline Fragments167Pseudo-Phocylides168The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs174The Testaments and the Covenant Form177The Content of the Exhortations179Homiletic Material in the Testaments179The Ethic of the Testaments183The Role of the Synagogue1845.Philosophical Judaism186Aristobulus186Poetic Forgeries190Pseudo-Aristeas191The Wisdom of Solomon195Fourth Maccabees2026.The Mysteries of God210Mystic Judaism210A Mystic Ritual?211Mystic Philosophy214Esotericism217Heavenly Revelations219The Pseudo-Orphic Fragments219Ezekiel the Tragedian224Joseph and Aseneth230Ritual Elements in Joseph and Aseneth?232Group Membership234The Episode of the Honeycomb235The Representative Roles of Joseph and Aseneth236A Corpus Permixtum237Lack of Sectarian Character238The Prayer of Joseph239The Testament of Job240The Struggle with Satan242The Confrontation with the Friends243The Role of the Women244The Religion of the Testament of Job245The Books of Adam and Eve246The Testament of Abraham248The Perspective on Death250The View of Judaism2512 Enoch252The Hortatory Message2533 Baruch255The Attitude toward Jerusalem257A System of Individual Rewards258Conclusion2597.Jews and Gentiles261A Jewish Mission?262The "God-fearers"264The Function of the Literature270Conclusion273Bibliography276IndexesSubjects303Modern Authors307Ancient Literature315
\ Catholic David E. Aune in Biblical Quarterly"A remarkable book. . . . Collins has provided us with an exceptionally well-crafted discussion of the variety of religious self-definitions that characterized Egyptian diaspora Judaism."\ \ \ \ \ Journal of Biblical LiteratureThis important work is fresh and suggestive. . . . An impressive display of insight and careful scholarship. . . . Exemplary in both its design and its execution.\ \ \ Religious Studies Review"As an introduction and an exegetical tool, this book is indispensable for study of the ancient literature and especially of the fragmentary material. It provides us with an innovative perspective on Jewish religion, theology, and culture in the Greco-Roman period."\ \
