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In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity (2002) is a book by Oskar Skarsaune.

Abstract

"Oskar Skarsaune makes a fresh contribution to our understanding of the development of the early church in its practice (e.g., worship, baptism and Eucharist) and doctrine (e.g., Scripture, Christology, pneumatology). This book offers the new perspective that Christians were in ongoing and deep conversation with Jews during the early centuries leading up to Constantine. The common perception of a drastic "parting of the ways" after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. has tended to distort our understanding of the succeeding decades and centuries of Jewish and Christian history. Notwithstanding the fact that there were points of bitterness and strife, the relationship is better viewed as that of a younger and older sibling. There is much evidence of interaction between the early Christians and rabbinic Judaism, both at the level of leadership and laypeople, and this left its impression on the church. Skarsaune gives us numerous fascinating episodic and topical glimpses into this untold story."--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in Downers Grove, IL (InterVarsity Press, 2002).

Contents

The mother soil : Judaism from the Maccabees to the rabbis. The cultural dimension : Judaism & Hellenism ; The political dimension : Jews & the Roman empire ; The geographical dimension : the land of Israel & the Diaspora ; Jerusalem : the city of the temple ; How many "Judaisms"? -- Christian beginnings : from Jewish party to Gentile church. Jesus within Judaism ; The early Jerusalem community of believers in Jesus ; The mission to the Gentiles & the question of the Torah ; The land of Israel : the church of Jewish believers ; The Diaspora : the church of Jews and Gentiles ; Encounter with paganism & the Jewish heritage ; Orthodoxy & heresy : the challenge from Gnosticism & Marcion ; Elder & younger brothers : the second-century debate with Judaism -- The persistence of the Jewish heritage : faith & order in the early church. Which books belong in the Bible? : the question of canon ; Christology in the making (I) : the Messiah ; Christology in the making (II) : the incarnate Word ; The creative Spirit ; Conversion, baptism & new life ; Worship & calendar : the Christian week and year ; Passover & Eucharist -- Epilogue. The church facing a new era.

External links