Two Puzzling Baptisms

Roger Aus's meticulous, carefully executed analysis of Jewish comparanda sheds new light on two perennially puzzling Pauline passages. This richly rewarding study especially exemplifies how an informed, first-hand understanding of Rabbinic sources can illuminate New Testament exegesis. -- Carl Holladay, Emory University, U.S.A.
This careful study by Roger Aus examines 1 Cor 10:1-5 and 15:29 on the basis of Israelite and early Jewish analogies. A broad spectrum of texts is investigated: prophetic and sapiential writings, Philo and Josephus, as well as rabbinic sources. New light from these texts is cast upon various aspects of Paul's peculiar statements regarding baptism, including the genre of 1 Cor 10:1-5. Roger Aus is one of the few scholars capable of making Israelite and early Jewish literature in such breadth fruitful for the interpretation of early Christian texts. In view of studies like this, appeal to, or rejection of, the commentary of (Strack-) Billerbeck will simply no longer suffice. -- Jens Schröter, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany