In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity

The widespread perception of a decisive "parting of the ways" between Christianity and Judaism after the destruction of the temple in C.E. 70 has distorted our understanding of the following decades and centuries of Jewish and Christian history. We are left with the impression that hostile polemic or mutual avoidance between Christians and Jews was the order of the day. In the Shadow of the Temple offers a new perspective on the development of the early church in its practice (e.g., wordhip, baptism and Eucarist) and doctrine (e.g., Scripture, Christology, peumatology). Oskar Skarsaune begins by tracing the story of second temple Judaism from the crisis of the Jewish encounter with Hellenism in the second century B.C. through the diverse Judaisms of the first century C.E. Then, from the time of Jesus and the origins of the church up to the Constantinian revolution of the early fourth century C.E., Skarsaune offers us fascinating snapshots and analyses of the interactions, the arguments and the shaping influences of Judaism on the life, creed and practices of the church. This is a book that will both facinate and dinform its readers. It embraces a historical period that transcends the ordinary divisions of labor between scholars of Christian origins and early church history. And it offers insights into history that challenge the prevailing notions of the way it was - and the way it must be between Christians and Jews.

"Professor Skarsaune has long been known as a leading scholar of early Jewish and Gentile Christian history. Here he brings his outstanding specialist learning to bear in a wonderfully accessible, comprehensive introduction to the Jewish basis of Christian faith and history throughout the first three centuries. In binding together the New Testament's Jewish roots with the life of the early Jewish and Gentile church, this is an outstanding textbook of Christian origins."--Markus Bockmuehl, Cambridge University

"Nowadays the Jewish texture of the New Testament is increasingly appreciated, and rightly so. In this highly informative and stimulating book, Professor Skarsaune demonstrates how illuminating it can be to read the New Testament from the perspective of the fully Jewish character of early Christianity. This novel approach to Christian origins will enrich readers, making them more sensitive to the Jewishness of the New Testament and early Christianity and more appreciative of the debt Christianity owes to the Jews."--Donald A. Hagner, Fuller Theological Seminary

"Oskar Skarsaune is surely right on the Jewishness of early Christianity and the importance of the temple for its development. He marshals an accurate display of historical information and exercises sound judgment in weighing probabilities. The result not only establishes the Jewish influences on early Christianity but also presents a persuasive synthesis of key elements in the story of Christian origins."--Everett Ferguson, Abilene Christian University

"Although this book is written at a level that will be easily accessible to students, it is based on sound and fresh scholarship by a leading early church historian. [It] has the merit of surveying the history of the Christian movement from its beginnings with Jesus through the pre-Constantinian period from the specific perspective of demonstrating the close links between Christianity and its Jewish roots that persisted throughout this period. The author has not only harvested much specialized scholarship on this crucial question regarding Christian origins but also has his own personal contribution to make. This attractive presentation is a must for all students of the early church."--I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen

"Oskar Skarsaune's In the Shadow of the Temple is outstanding and will not only serve well the general reader, for whom the author writes, it will also serve well the scholar and student alike. Skarsaune has produced a gem that deftly lays out the major events, institutions, beliefs and figures of Judaism of late antiquity and how they shaped early Christianity. This reader-friendly book is a must."--Craig A. Evans, Trinity Western University

"[O]ffers surprising insights into how much interaction took place between early Christians and Jews. It supplements standard textbooks on early church history as it reconnects the 'disconnect' between New Testament history and early church history. It also contains 'snapshots' of thematic developments rather than continuous historical narrative and includes helpful annotated bibliographies by topic for further reading and research."--Savannah Jones, Sir Read a Lot (sirreadalot.org), December 1, 2008

"In the Shadow is an outstanding and illuminating book. And it is not for specialists by any means but for those who simply like the Bible and reading. Every chapter sheds intense light not only on the pages of the New Testament but also on the entire faith of the early church through the second and third centuries. Skarsaune has written a work on early Christian history with special attention to the often neglected Jewish background. If you are looking for something that can add significant depth to the pages of the New Testament then I recommend this fine work."--Bobby Valentine, Stoned-Campbell Disciple (stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com), September 4, 2008

"Skarsaune's fine book is balanced and rich with insight. It is highly recommended."--Craig A. Evans, Dharma Deepika, July-December 2007