Overview

By the mid-second century Christian writers were engaging in debates with educated audiences from non-Jewish Graeco-Roman cultural backgrounds. A remarkable feature of some of these texts is how extensively they refer to the Jewish scriptures, even though those scriptures were unfamiliar to non-Jewish Graeco-Romans. In Worshipping a Crucified Man, Jeremy Hudson explores for the first time why this should have been so. As the basis for his argument, Hudson examines three works by Christian converts originally educated in Graeco-Roman traditions: Justin Martyr's First Apology, Tatian's Oratio and Theophilus of Antioch's Ad Autolycum. He considers their literary strategies, their use of quotations and allusions and how they present the Jewish scriptures, all against the background of the Graeco-Roman literary culture familiar to both authors and audiences. The scriptures are presented as a critically defining feature of Christianity, instrumental in shaping the way the new religion presented itself, as it strove to engage with, and challenge, the cultural traditions of the Graeco-Roman world. This book will engage scholars interested in the very earliest centuries of Christianity and in the central role the Jewish scriptures played in the new religion's self-presentation.

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It may seem irrational that, in their arguments for the superiority of their religion, Christian intellectuals would appeal to the writings of the oft-despised Jews rather than the agreed canonical authorities of the Greek philosophical tradition. Jeremy Hudson's innovative and careful analysis of three such intellectuals and of their different strategies and reading methods offers important new insights into a significant moment in the development of early Christian thought and of the uses of Scripture - essential reading for all students of early Christianity. Judith M. Lieu, Lady Margaret's Professor Emerita, University of Cambridge   In this innovative book, Jeremy Hudson shows how some Christian apologists used the Jewish scriptures in such a way as to accommodate their ostensibly pagan audience, as well as presenting them as a rival body of texts, thought worthy of displacing pagan literary culture. The case is presented clearly, but in a nuanced manner, reflecting current scholarship on such subjects as biblical hermeneutics and ancient Christian identity. Dr James Carleton Paget, Reader in Early Christianity and Ancient Judaism, University of Cambridge   Jeremy Hudson's carefully crafted, highly detailed and well written study forces us to look anew at the texts and ideas of early Christian Apologists, with which we may have become all too familiar. He forcefully demonstrates that Christianity confronted Graeco-Roman society with a belief that seemed to lack any reason or sensibility. Once explained against the background of the tradition from which it emerged, however, it assumed a power that totally transformed that society. Josef Lössl, Professor of Religious Studies and Theology, Cardiff University   Why did the Christian Apologists in the second century appeal to Jewish scriptures when they wanted to persuade Graeco-Roman audiences that Christianity was true? That is the question which Jeremy Hudson proposes to address in this careful analysis...Hudson's conclusion is balanced as always. Having utilised JMG Barclay's threefold distinction of 'audiences' - declared, implied ('constructed'), and intended - throughout the book, he considers it coherent and plausible to see all three Apologists as addressing real Graeco-Roman audiences, not just internal Christian communities...One hopes this book will also encourage readers to dive (again) into the ever-fresh writings of the Apologists themselves, and more importantly to take on board Tatian's remark (Or. 12.4) that 'great lovers of God' are formed by studying the scriptures themselves. Matthew Jarvis OP, New Blackfriars, Vol 103 (1107), September 2022, pp 688-91   The success of this study is captured in how salient that conclusion seems despite how inevitable this relationship feels to most readings of early Christianity. When I tell friends and colleagues about the important contributions in this book, I will talk about it as an addition to evolving scholarly conversations that see Jewish and Christian intellectual culture as a part of the larger context of culturally rich and strategically creative communities that sought to claim space and influence in the Roman Empire.   Allan Georgia, in Church History, vol. 91.4  Dec 2022  

It may seem irrational that, in their arguments for the superiority of their religion, Christian intellectuals would appeal to the writings of the oft-despised Jews rather than the agreed canonical authorities of the Greek philosophical tradition. Jeremy Hudson's innovative and careful analysis of three such intellectuals and of their different strategies and reading methods offers important new insights into a significant moment in the development of early Christian thought and of the uses of Scripture - essential reading for all students of early Christianity. Judith M. Lieu, Lady Margaret's Professor Emerita, University of Cambridge In this innovative book, Jeremy Hudson shows how some Christian apologists used the Jewish scriptures in such a way as to accommodate their ostensibly pagan audience, as well as presenting them as a rival body of texts, thought worthy of displacing pagan literary culture. The case is presented clearly, but in a nuanced manner, reflecting current scholarship on such subjects as biblical hermeneutics and ancient Christian identity. Dr James Carleton Paget, Reader in Early Christianity and Ancient Judaism, University of Cambridge Jeremy Hudson's carefully crafted, highly detailed and well written study forces us to look anew at the texts and ideas of early Christian Apologists, with which we may have become all too familiar. He forcefully demonstrates that Christianity confronted Graeco-Roman society with a belief that seemed to lack any reason or sensibility. Once explained against the background of the tradition from which it emerged, however, it assumed a power that totally transformed that society. Josef Loessl, Professor of Religious Studies and Theology, Cardiff University Why did the Christian Apologists in the second century appeal to Jewish scriptures when they wanted to persuade Graeco-Roman audiences that Christianity was true? That is the question which Jeremy Hudson proposes to address in this careful analysis...Hudson's conclusion is balanced as always. Having utilised JMG Barclay's threefold distinction of 'audiences' - declared, implied ('constructed'), and intended - throughout the book, he considers it coherent and plausible to see all three Apologists as addressing real Graeco-Roman audiences, not just internal Christian communities...One hopes this book will also encourage readers to dive (again) into the ever-fresh writings of the Apologists themselves, and more importantly to take on board Tatian's remark (Or. 12.4) that 'great lovers of God' are formed by studying the scriptures themselves. Matthew Jarvis OP, New Blackfriars, Vol 103 (1107), September 2022, pp 688-91

It may seem irrational that, in their arguments for the superiority of their religion, Christian intellectuals would appeal to the writings of the oft-despised Jews rather than the agreed canonical authorities of the Greek philosophical tradition. Jeremy Hudson's innovative and careful analysis of three such intellectuals and of their different strategies and reading methods offers important new insights into a significant moment in the development of early Christian thought and of the uses of Scripture - essential reading for all students of early Christianity. Judith M. Lieu, Lady Margaret's Professor Emerita, University of Cambridge   In this innovative book, Jeremy Hudson shows how some Christian apologists used the Jewish scriptures in such a way as to accommodate their ostensibly pagan audience, as well as presenting them as a rival body of texts, thought worthy of displacing pagan literary culture. The case is presented clearly, but in a nuanced manner, reflecting current scholarship on such subjects as biblical hermeneutics and ancient Christian identity. Dr James Carleton Paget, Reader in Early Christianity and Ancient Judaism, University of Cambridge   Jeremy Hudson's carefully crafted, highly detailed and well written study forces us to look anew at the texts and ideas of early Christian Apologists, with which we may have become all too familiar. He forcefully demonstrates that Christianity confronted Graeco-Roman society with a belief that seemed to lack any reason or sensibility. Once explained against the background of the tradition from which it emerged, however, it assumed a power that totally transformed that society. Josef Lössl, Professor of Religious Studies and Theology, Cardiff University   Why did the Christian Apologists in the second century appeal to Jewish scriptures when they wanted to persuade Graeco-Roman audiences that Christianity was true? That is the question which Jeremy Hudson proposes to address in this careful analysis...Hudson's conclusion is balanced as always. Having utilised JMG Barclay's threefold distinction of 'audiences' - declared, implied ('constructed'), and intended - throughout the book, he considers it coherent and plausible to see all three Apologists as addressing real Graeco-Roman audiences, not just internal Christian communities...One hopes this book will also encourage readers to dive (again) into the ever-fresh writings of the Apologists themselves, and more importantly to take on board Tatian's remark (Or. 12.4) that 'great lovers of God' are formed by studying the scriptures themselves. Matthew Jarvis OP, New Blackfriars, Vol 103 (1107), September 2022, pp 688-91  

Jeremy Hudson's carefully crafted, highly detailed and well written study forces us to look anew at the texts and ideas of early Christian Apologists, with which we may have become all too familiar. He forcefully demonstrates that Christianity confronted Graeco-Roman society with a belief that seemed to lack any reason or sensibility. Once explained against the background of the tradition from which it emerged, however, it assumed a power that totally transformed that society. Josef Loessl, Professor of Religious Studies and Theology, Cardiff University

It may seem irrational that, in their arguments for the superiority of their religion, Christian intellectuals would appeal to the writings of the oft-despised Jews rather than the agreed canonical authorities of the Greek philosophical tradition. Jeremy Hudson's innovative and careful analysis of three such intellectuals and of their different strategies and reading methods offers important new insights into a significant moment in the development of early Christian thought and of the uses of Scripture - essential reading for all students of early Christianity. Judith M. Lieu, Lady Margaret's Professor Emerita, University of Cambridge In this innovative book, Jeremy Hudson shows how some Christian apologists used the Jewish scriptures in such a way as to accommodate their ostensibly pagan audience, as well as presenting them as a rival body of texts, thought worthy of displacing pagan literary culture. The case is presented clearly, but in a nuanced manner, reflecting current scholarship on such subjects as biblical hermeneutics and ancient Christian identity. Dr James Carleton Paget, Reader in Early Christianity and Ancient Judaism, University of Cambridge Jeremy Hudson's carefully crafted, highly detailed and well written study forces us to look anew at the texts and ideas of early Christian Apologists, with which we may have become all too familiar. He forcefully demonstrates that Christianity confronted Graeco-Roman society with a belief that seemed to lack any reason or sensibility. Once explained against the background of the tradition from which it emerged, however, it assumed a power that totally transformed that society. Josef Loessl, Professor of Religious Studies and Theology, Cardiff University

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Dr Jeremy Hudson studied History at Christ's College, Cambridge. After working for some years in personnel and finance he took an MA (with Distinction) in Biblical Studies at King's College, London and then a PhD at Wolfson College, Cambridge. His main research interest is the way early Christian texts make use of the scriptures.

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