Prophecy and Canon
A Contribution to the Study of Jewish Origins
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of Notre Dame Press
Published:28th Feb '86
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This book explores the authority of the Bible through canon criticism, focusing on the Hebrew canon's historical and theological implications.
This study introduces a fresh perspective on the authority of the Bible and religious authority, a field known as canon criticism. It seeks to foster better understanding and collaboration between Christian and Jewish biblical scholars. The author delves into the Hebrew canon, particularly examining the relationship between law and prophecy. Rather than viewing it solely as a part of the Christian canon, he approaches it as a historical and theological challenge that highlights the religious and sociological implications surrounding the formation of the tripartite canon.
The text emphasizes the claims of authority that underpin the Bible and how these claims influence the self-perception of both Judaism and Christianity. By addressing these critical issues, the author aims to bridge gaps between the two faiths, encouraging dialogue and mutual respect. Joseph Blenkinsopp, with his extensive background in Middle Eastern and European studies, brings a wealth of knowledge to this discussion. His expertise is reflected in his previous works, which include notable titles such as A Sketchbook of Biblical Theology and Sexuality and the Christian Tradition.
Prophecy and Canon represents the third publication arising from research supported by the University of Notre Dame Center for the Study of Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity. Through this work, Blenkinsopp not only contributes to the academic discourse but also promotes a more nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding biblical texts and their interpretations.
"This is an important book, not only as a contribution to the study of Jewish origins . . . but more, for the author's approach to the Hebrew Bible as canon. . . . Blenkinsopp has applied the insights of sociological studies, particularly those of Max Weber and Otto Plöger, to the study of canon. In showing that canon functions at the very center of one of the most basic conflicts in a religious community, and in fact functions to preserve tension rather than to settle the conflict, Blenkinsopp has made an important contribution to the study of canon." —Journal of Biblical Literature
"Joseph Blenkinsopp dives head on into the question. He portrays the prophets in a very authentic role of interpreting earlier laws and traditions so that these continue to be normative and unifying guides amid new problems and possibilities." —The Bible Today
"This study is systematic in approach and yet views the Old Testament from within itself and not from purely Christian perspectives. . . . It forms an imaginative and scholarly reconstruction of the process of canonization that provides a badly-needed ecumenical dimension to the question of scriptural authority." —Theological Studies
"An imaginative work, informed by the social sciences, which argues that the tripartite form of the Hebrew Bible mirrors tensions among rival claimants to interpret common religious tradition. The law (Pentateuch) developed in response to claims put forth by institutionally unattached prophets; in a counterdevelopment, the prophetic writings came to assert a balance between this free prophecy and the priestly-scribal order that lay behind the normative Pentateuch. Finally, the writings reflect various ways in which prophecy was absorbed, transformed, and contained within developing priestly-scribal theocracy. Blenkinsopp conludes with brief theological reflections based upon his argument. This is a major statement, reordering perspectives on the Hebrew Bible, and standing at the heart of modern attempts to recover the dynamic process by which tradition became scripture." —Choice
- Winner of National Religious Book Award (United States).
ISBN: 9780268015596
Dimensions: 216mm x 140mm x 13mm
Weight: 291g
224 pages