"Some of our most basic analytical categories, such as `religion,' `Judaism,' and even `gospel,' do not map onto ancient conceptions or language." This insight, gained from long study in the biblical world, governs Josephus, Judea, and Christian Origins. Steve Mason combines recently published essays with new studies to produce a coherent, sequential exploration of "methods and categories" important for the study of Roman Judea and Christian beginnings.
This book takes up basic but often overlooked questions of historical method in studying first-century Judea and the origins of Christianity. Many of these questions concern the use of Josephus (the first-century Jewish historian whose work is of crucial importance for this period) for reconstructing this history. Chapters deal with Josephus' authority, his method of publication and audiences, "Judaism," Pharisees, Essenes, "gospel," and much else.
