Markus Bockmuehl

Basically this book argues - generally very well - that there is no discontinuity between the historical Jesus and the faith of the early church. As Bockmuehl is a very respected New Testament scholar, rather than (in the first place) a theologian, this makes it a very refreshing read. The book is quite short (the main text is well under 200 pages) and very readable, relegating the more detailed discussion to footnotes, so that those who want can follow the argument, and those who just want show more the main lines don't get bogged down in the detail.

Occasionally I found the argumentation a bit sketchy, but for the most part his methodology is clear and consistently followed. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the relationship between historical Jesus research and Christology, and also to anyone who is disturbed by some aspects of modern historical Jesus research. show less

An investigation into the life and character of Simon Peter based upon the recorded memories of Peter as found in first and second century documents.

The author uses the methodology of the study of living memory of a notable character in order to develop a portrait of Simon Peter. He explores the memory of Simon Peter in the West and in the East, analyzing both New Testament as well as second century Christian witnesses to describe how Peter was understood as portrayed.

Even though the author show more maintains much of the consensus regarding lower Biblical criticism, his portrayal of Peter ultimately validates many of the traditions and past understanding regarding him. Peter is envisioned as a credible first-century Jew from Bethsaida, a more Gentile area, who moved to Capernaum and thus could be conversant in both the Jewish and Greek worlds, a prominent leader in the early Jesus movement who denied his Lord but was "converted" and established in a pastoral role by Him, remembered as having been in Galilee, Jerusalem, Antioch of Syria, Corinth, and ultimately meeting his end in Rome.

The author writes cogently and provides a great resource for studies in Simon Peter.

**--book received as part of early review program show less

NO OF PAGES: 314 SUB CAT I: Halakah SUB CAT II: Jewish - Christian Issues SUB CAT III: Ten Commandments DESCRIPTION: Why did the early Christian church, with its many Gentile members, keep Old Testament commandments about sex and idolatry but disregard many others, like those about food or ritual purity? Did Christianity inherit its ways of moral reasoning from Judaism or invent them afresh?
In Jewish Law in Gentile Churches, Markus Bockmuehl approaches such questions by examining the Jewish show more legal tradition behind the ethics of Jesus, Paul, and the early Christians. First published by T & T Clark, Jewish Law in Gentile Churches is now available to a North American audience in this affordable paperback edition.NOTES: Purchased by Brent Emery, (reimbursed by Beit Hallel) from Baker Books. SUBTITLE: Halakhah and the Beginning of Christian Public Ethics show less

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