This World and the World to Come: Soteriology in Early Judaism

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Did authors of Second Temple texts concern themselves with 'salvation' If so, on what terms What does one need 'salvation' from Are the parameters of who is included in or excluded from 'salvation' defined Gurtner's vision in compiling this collection is to gather contributions on a single topic as it is addressed in individual books from the Second Temple period. Working from a sound methodological basis the contributors assess the theme in different books, acknowledging that the approaches in each text are different, depending on issues of genre and provenance. This allows an acute comparison of how this topic is present across a myriad of Second Temple Jewish texts. Throughout the course of the work the notion of "soteriology" is very broadly conceived. Whilst acknowledging the obviously Christian connotation of the term 'soteriology' the volume similarly acknowledges the usefulness of the term as an heuristic category for careful analysis.

Reviews

'Soteriology' in this volume serves as shorthand for the state of well being that is the goal of life. The contributors are a distinguished selection of older and younger scholars, including some of the most prominent names in the field. The essays emphasize the diversity of 'soteriologies' in the literature of Second Temple Judaism. They provide a fascinating window on the theological diversity of Judaism in the era in which Christianity was born. -- John J. Collins, Yale University, USA

Author Bio

Daniel M. Gurtner is Associate Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary, St Paul, USA. Among his publications are The Torn Veil: Matthew's Exposition of the Death of Jesus (SNTSMS 139; 2007).