The Production and Trade of Fish as Source of Economic Growth in the First Century CE Galilee : Galilean Economy Reexamined

The article challenges the model of economic oppression in Galilee and argues that the development of Galilean fishing industry and trade gave an economic boost to the local economy. There has emerged a significant interest in ancient fishing technologies and fish production in recent classical scholarship. The article uses these discussions, together with recent archaeological findings in Galilee, especially in Magdala, to reconstruct a more accurate and nuanced portrait of the fishing economy in the region. It is argued that the expansion of the Galilean fishing economy opened up new economic possibilities not only for the elite but also for the members of local fishing collectives.Peer reviewe

Jewish Cultural Encounters with the Greco-Roman Worlds : A Critical History of Research and New Theoretical Perspectives

Peer reviewe

"Friendly" pharisees and social identity in Acts

Peer reviewe

Galilean Jews and Christians in Context : Spaces Shared and Contested in the Eastern Galilee in Late Antiquity

The article examines Jewish and Christian groups in the eastern rural Galilee in relation to synagogues and churches that can be dated to Late Antiquity. The author first provides an overview of recent scholarly discussions about Jewish-Christian relations elsewhere in the ancient world. He then discusses Galilean synagogues and their diversity, and proposes that the building and renovation of rural Galilean synagogues in Late Antiquity attests to the vitality of village settlements in the region. The Christian churches and communities surrounding them that had connections with pilgrimage were also part of this diversity. The author suggests that local Jewish and Christian communities in late antique Galilee cherished their particular traditions by constructing specific spaces which set them apart from the rest of the society and reinforced their collective identity. Despite these attempts at separation, the author claims that there were also social and cultural interactions between different local communities.Peer reviewe

Erik H. Erikson's identity theory and the formation of early Christianity

Many scholars have recently maintained that it is difficult if not impossible to postulate the definite parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity in antiquity. It is argued in this paper that recent criticisms against the 'parting of the ways'-model resemble criticisms levelled against the classical identity theory formulated by Erik H. Erikson. His identity theory emphasises the sense of personal sameness and historical continuity. In recent decades, however, it has become common to question whether the notion of unified and consistent self does justice to diverse social realities in which individuals construct their sense of who they are. Furthermore, the developmental stage model claims to be universal and culturally neutral while, as a matter of fact, it is implicitly moralistic and value-laden. In case of the 'parting of the ways'-model it has become clear that the model does not match the evidence showing an intense interaction between various Jewish and Christian communities during the first centuries CE. In addition, it has been claimed that the model is not an unbiased historical account but serves Christian theological interests. Comparing the 'parting of the ways'-theory with the Eriksonian identity theory highlights the problems inherent in both theories. It is suggested that psychological and social-psychological theories arguing for the flexible and dynamic nature of identity construction are best suited to describe the emergence of early Christian identity in relation to Jews and Judaism.Many scholars have recently maintained that it is difficult if not impossible to postulate the definite parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity in antiquity. It is argued in this paper that recent criticisms against the 'parting of the ways'-model resemble criticisms levelled against the classical identity theory formulated by Erik H. Erikson. His identity theory emphasises the sense of personal sameness and historical continuity. In recent decades, however, it has become common to question whether the notion of unified and consistent self does justice to diverse social realities in which individuals construct their sense of who they are. Furthermore, the developmental stage model claims to be universal and culturally neutral while, as a matter of fact, it is implicitly moralistic and value-laden. In case of the 'parting of the ways'-model it has become clear that the model does not match the evidence showing an intense interaction between various Jewish and Christian communities during the first centuries CE. In addition, it has been claimed that the model is not an unbiased historical account but serves Christian theological interests. Comparing the 'parting of the ways'-theory with the Eriksonian identity theory highlights the problems inherent in both theories. It is suggested that psychological and social-psychological theories arguing for the flexible and dynamic nature of identity construction are best suited to describe the emergence of early Christian identity in relation to Jews and Judaism.Many scholars have recently maintained that it is difficult if not impossible to postulate the definite parting of the ways between Judaism and Christianity in antiquity. It is argued in this paper that recent criticisms against the 'parting of the ways'-model resemble criticisms levelled against the classical identity theory formulated by Erik H. Erikson. His identity theory emphasises the sense of personal sameness and historical continuity. In recent decades, however, it has become common to question whether the notion of unified and consistent self does justice to diverse social realities in which individuals construct their sense of who they are. Furthermore, the developmental stage model claims to be universal and culturally neutral while, as a matter of fact, it is implicitly moralistic and value-laden. In case of the 'parting of the ways'-model it has become clear that the model does not match the evidence showing an intense interaction between various Jewish and Christian communities during the first centuries CE. In addition, it has been claimed that the model is not an unbiased historical account but serves Christian theological interests. Comparing the 'parting of the ways'-theory with the Eriksonian identity theory highlights the problems inherent in both theories. It is suggested that psychological and social-psychological theories arguing for the flexible and dynamic nature of identity construction are best suited to describe the emergence of early Christian identity in relation to Jews and Judaism.Peer reviewe

Anti-Judaism, Anti-Semitism in the New Testament and its Interpretation

New Testament, anti-Judaism, antisemitismPeer reviewe

Lazarus II Christianity

Non peer reviewe

Introduction

Non peer reviewe

Child Jesus and the Changes in the World Politics

Kertomukset Jeesuksen syntymästä ovat legendanomaisia, mutta niiden sadunomaisen tunnelman alta löytyy viittauksia ajanlaskun alun poliittiseen tilanteeseen. Jeesus syntyi maailmaan, jossa ensin hellenistinen ja myöhemmin roomalainen kulttuuri kohtasivat juutalaisen kulttuurin. Artikkelissa käsitellään sitä, mitä arkeologia paljastaa uusien kulttuuristen vaikutteiden ja juutalaisuuden kohtaamisesta Jeesuksen kotiseudulla, millaiseen yhteiskunnalliseen tilanteeseen Jeesus syntyi ja miten uusi maailmanpoliittinen tilanne näkyi varhaiskristittyjen kuvauksissa hänen syntymästään. Maailmanpolitiikan muutokset auttavat ymmärtämään, kuinka monet joulukertomusten tutut piirteet tarjosivat vaihtoehdon Rooman imperiumin viralliselle propagandalle.Peer reviewe