The Jewish Roots of Christological Monotheism : Papers from the St Andrews Conference on the Historical Origins of the Worship of Jesus

Second Temple Judaism exerted a profound and shaping influence upon early Christianity. TheJewish Roots of Christological Monotheism documents this influence by exploring thewaysin whichthe Christian praxisofChrist-devotion in the first two centuries of the Common Era can be understood as a manifestation of Jewish monotheism. The volumeapproaches this phenomenonalongfour distinctivelines of inquiry: (1)reexamining (and problematizing) the theological force of monotheismduring the Second Temple period; (2)retracing the historical steps of Christianity's adaptation, mutation, and/or redefinition of Jewish monotheism; (3)exploring and debating the influence of non-Jewish traditions on this process; and (4)mappinghowChristianity's unique appropriation of Jewish monotheism helps explain the intriguing relationships among emerging Christian, Jewish,andgnosticcommunities. Eighteen chapters, each from an expert in the study ofearlyJudaism and Christianity, comprise the volume.The chapters collectively demonstratehow the creationofnew mythic narratives, the revelatory power of mystical experiences, and the sociology of community formation capitalized on Jewish mediator traditionsto initiate thepraxis of Christ-devotion.