Dale C. Allison, Jr.

Summary: Six essays on Jesus addressing eschatology, Moses, miracles, women with Jesus, memory, and methods of attestation.

In 2010, after completing Constructing Jesus, Dale C. Allison Jr. told his wife, “Honey, I’m done with Jesus” to which she replied, “He’ll be glad to hear that.” In the Preface to this book, he confesses, “But I was wrong. I have been unable to stay away. What he thinks now I do not know.” I cannot speak for Jesus, but I’m glad he didn’t stay away. I show more found each of the six essays here thought-provoking, the work of a careful scholar not afraid to engage prevailing scholarship with fresh ideas.

The first essay explores the indications that Jesus believed the “last things” were imminent and that the latter days had begun. Yet his followers had to deal with delay beyond what they expected (and we all the more). However, Allison notes the indications as Jesus nears Jerusalem and faces not only unreceptiveness but imminent death, that he foresaw some form of interim period before his triumphal return. He cites the parables of the bridegroom’s delay and the master’s delay as examples. And he looks at examples of contingency in Jewish literature and allows for the possibility of the delay being contingent on the occurrence of certain events.

The next essay explores how Jesus’ life may be seen as a type of fulfillment or enactment of Moses. He does this by way of noting some of the parallels between Moses and Simeon Stylites and exploring how these map onto Jesus. Allison follows this with what I thought one of the most important essays that took exception in some ways to the radical skepticism of Jesus scholarship of the miracle accounts. He allows, with scholars like Michael Licona, that historical investigation does not require on to a priori rule out the miracle accounts. He notes credible contemporary testimony documented both in Catholicism and scholars like Craig Keener. Should the possibility of credible testimony to the miraculous be ruled out for the accounts of scripture?

The Chosen introduces the idea of women being included in the company of Jesus, sometimes traveling with Jesus and the male disciples. While Allison does not interact with this portrayal, his next essay discusses the biblical accounts. He notes the support women gave, and their presence in various accounts. Allison also notes Jesus teaching on the lustful look and other issues relating to men and women. He seems to be reluctant to allow for women as a permanent part of an itinerating band, while allowing for them to accompany a larger group to Jerusalem for feasts.

But how reliable are the memories of the eyewitnesses? Allison’s next essay addresses the question of the reliability of memory. He particularly has in view Richard Bauckham’s strong defense of the eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus. He considers the case of Peter and Mark and how the literature on memory leads him to bring a measure of caution in weighing their accounts. While not dismissing Bauckham, he raises the question of whether all memories are equally reliable. May some be more reliable than others?

The final essay is a deep dive into the criteria and methodologies used in historical Jesus scholarship. The question is what may we most confidently attribute to Jesus? For example, scholars consider themes that have multiple attestation as more likely to be authentic. They discredit independent sources. Likewise, there is the criteria of dissimilarity. That is, scholars credit Jesus with saying things found nowhere else. Allison explores a number of exceptions to this methodology.

I must confess that as a non-professional, I knew of Allison but have not read his prior works. While evangelicals may not agree with all his conclusions, his careful scholarship also offers encouragement. What struck me about these essays was a sense of even-handed fairness and an openness to modify his own views. I appreciated his engagement with scholars like Michael Licona, Craig Keener, and Richard Bauckham. And I appreciated his candor in wrestling with questions any of us who have studied the gospels at length have wrestled with.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. show less

This is a superb piece of scholarship on a non-canonical Jewish-origin text that really deserves to be better known. The story of Abraham's encounter with the archangel Michael, his misapprehensions, delaying tactics, tour of heaven and earth, change of heart, encounter with Death, and eventual death is hilarious and fascinating. If Dr. Allison does not presently have plans to publish his translation and an abridged commentary in a more popularly (and financially) accessible version, I hope show more he'll consider it!

Because as good as this book is, it is not for the faint-of-academic-heart. I skipped entirely over the text-critical notes (commenting on the various manuscripts in which the text has survived), and almost entirely over the superabundance of parenthetical references to other ancient texts (Jewish, Christian, Graeco-Roman, and others) with comparable words, themes, or ideas. I sounded out some of the Greek words and recognized some cognates, but was frustrated because I can't actually read Greek and thus much of the detailed word-analysis was lost on me.

On the other hand, the introductory chapters which present some context for the text are excellent in their own right. The translation itself, with the long and short recensions presented in parallel, reads very well. The verse by verse commentary attends to the literary structure of the text and its intense intertextuality with scripture and with other ancient writings. It also provides judicious assessments of where Christian influences likely dominate, and engages with other contemporary commentary.

The Testament of Abraham was a delightful discovery for me this semester; and if this volume is typical of the series, the Commentaries on Early Jewish Literature will be indispensable to any scholar in the field. show less

A collection of 13 studies by a major Matthean scholar, arranged in 2 Parts: (i) Exegetical Past & (ii) Literary and Historical Studies. Each chapter can be read with benefit, as well as a sense of awe at the breadth of Allison's reading, especially of early commentators. Ideal to take one beyond the scope of the average (and even an excellent) commentary, since these studies are able to spend more time providing background to interpretations that are regularly iconoclastic, always show more defensible and very often persuasive.

There are too many gems within to highlight a sampling without doing an injustice. So, perhaps a personal reflection or two. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the Magi's Angel and the Touching of Jesus' Feet - which contain eyeopening insights into ancient perceptions of stars and ghosts as they pertain to these miraculous encounters. I also gained greatly from the final study, "Slaughtered Innocents", which begins with an insight into the so-called formula quotations somewhat reminiscent of R T France's insightful essay, "The Formula-Quotations of Matthew 2 and the Problem of Communication", but rather greater in scope - moving from the two OT citations that are introduced in a significantly differently way from the others to a broader discussion of the 5 common responses Matthew makes to the problem of evil.

I believe I will return again and again to this volume when preaching through Matthew because of the insights it affords. show less

Allison's basic premise is that we can trust the patterns of the New Testament record, whether or not we believe the details. Neither believing everything literally, not complete sceptism are reasonable ways of treating the data we have.

He supports his thesis with completist lists of passages, from the gospels, the rest of the New Testament and from other ancient documents. While I didn't always read every list carefully, I found the insights into his way of working fascinating.

I also liked show more the way quotations were given in the language they were written in (with expanations). This meant not only a few German quotations, but also the various Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Coptic qotes from ancient manuscripts. His argument can be followed without these, but it was often interesting to see how closely certain NT passages followed LXX wording.

This is not a book aimed at a popular audience, but it should accessable to most people interested in his ideas. The hardest bit is not letting yourself be scared off by the academic apparatus. show less