A Rivalry of Genius: Jewish and Christian Biblical Interpretation in Late Antiquity - Paperback

by Marc Hirshman (Author)

Compares Rabbinic midrash and Patristic exegesis in late antiquity and provides an introduction to the various forms of Patristic literature.

By comparing interpretations of the Hebrew Bible by Jews, Christians, and Gnostics in Late Antiquity, this book provides a unique perspective on these religious movements in Palestine. Rival interpretations of the early Church and the Midrash are set against the backdrop of the pagan critique of these religions and the gnostic threat that grew within both Christianity and Judaism. The comparison of the exegetical works of Christianity and Judaism illuminates the later development of the two religions and offers fresh insight into the Bible itself.

Author Biography

Marc Hirshman teaches midrash, talmud, and Rabbinic thought at the University of Haifa, the Hebrew University, and Oranim. He is a fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.