The Judaeo-Christian Tradition

140 Pages·1995·6.009 MB·English

by  J.h. Hexter

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First edition published 1966 by Harper & Row.
Second edition published 1995 by Yale University Press.
Copyright © 1966 by J. H. Hexter. All rights reserved. This book may not be
reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form (beyond that
copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except
by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers.
Designed by Nancy Ovedovitz, and set in Perpetua type by Keystone Typesetting,
Inc. Printed in the United States of America by BookCrafters, Inc., Chelsea,
Michigan.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hexter, J. H. (Jack H.), 1910—
The Judaeo-Christian tradition / by J. H. Hexter. — 2nd ed.
p- cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
International standard book numbers: 0-300-04571-9 (cloth)
O-300-04572-7 (pbk.)
1. Judaism—History—To 7o A.D. 2. Christianity—Early church,
ca. 30-600. I. Title.
BM165.H48 1995
296'.09'01—dc2o 94—22138
GIP
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Io 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
TOON CESS
CHRONOLOGY vii
MAPS x—xii
PREFACE xiii
ISRAEL et
ISRAEL AND THE WESTERN WORLD, 1
THE CIVILIZED WORLD, 1500-1000 B.C., 3
THE ADVENT OF THE ISRAELITES, 6
FROM MONARCHY TO EXILE (1000—586 B.C.), 11
THE SURVIVAL OF ISRAEL, 15
THE RELIGION OF ISRAEL, 17
THE GOD OF THE JEWS, 30
THE JEWS AND THE “WORLD,” 34
GOD, NATURE, AND HISTORY, 39
vi CONTENTS
CHRISTIANITY 49
THE CHRISTIAN CONQUEST OF ROME, 49
THE JEWS AFTER THE CAPTIVITY, 51
THE LIFE OF JESUS, 60
THE PROBLEMS OF THE EARLY FOLLOWERS
OF JESUS, 63
THE LIFE AND MISSION OF PAUL, 66
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH AND CREED, 73
CHRISTIANITY AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE, 84
THE APPEAL OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY, 90
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 101
INDEX 115
ely udo se aha 2 il a
2000—1500 B.C. Period of the Patriarchs, migration of the ancient
Hebrew tribes out of Tigris-Euphrates Valley into
Canaan and Egypt.
I500—1200 Contest between Egypt, Crete, and Hittite Em-
pire for control of eastern Mediterranean.
ca. 1300 Exodus from Egypt led by Moses.
Migration of Hebrews into Canaan.
ca. 1200
11th century Struggles with the Philistines; Hebrews allied in a
loose confederation of tribes under Saul (d. ca.
1005).
1005—925 Hebrew empire ruled by David and Solomon.
Building of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Division of Hebrew empire into two rival king-
9335925
doms, Ephraim in the north and Judah in the
south.
CHRONOLOGY
Vili
gth century The “opposition prophets”: Elijah, Elisha.
ca. 750-550 The “writing prophets”: Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel, the Second Isaiah.
729 Fall of Ephraim to the Assyrians.
586 Conquest of Judah by the Babylonians.
586-539 The Babylonian exile.
Cyrus of Persia begins repatriation of the Jews.
538
The expansion of Judaism in the eastern Mediter-
ca. §§0 B.C.—§0 A.D.
ranean, Babylonia, Persia, the Hellenistic, and the
Roman world.
538-332 Jews under Persian rule. The rebuilding of the
Temple.
332-198 Jews under rule of Alexander and his successors.
168—63 Maccabean rebellion and establishment of
Hasmonean dynasty, which rules until 63 B.c.
63 Conquest of Palestine by Romans.
37-4 Rule of Herod the Great as king of Judea, by Ro-
man authority.
31 5B.C.—T4,A.D. Rule of Augustus Caesar.
6—4 B.C. Birth of Jesus; crucified in 29 A.D.
Ca. 34-64 A.D. Paul’s missionary activity; according to tradition,
beheaded at Rome under rule of Nero.
66-73 Revolt of the Palestinian Jews against Rome.
Jo Jerusalem destroyed by Titus.
13213 5 Rising of the Palestinian Jews against Rome put
down.
Emperor Hadrian bars Jews from Jerusalem.
135
135—18th and rg9th Ascendancy of rabbinic Judaism throughout the
centuries Diaspora.
235-284 Period of crisis (invasions, plagues, civil wars) in
Rome; first systematic persecution of Christians
by Roman state under Decius (249—51).
284-305 Rule of Diocletian, last Roman emperor to per-
secute the Christians systematically and openly.
306-337 Rule of Constantine the Great, a convert to
Christianity, who in 313 proclaimed equal rights